How to object to a company being struck off
Who can object, and when?
Any shareholder or other interested party, such as a creditor owed money, can object once the notice of the proposed strike-off has been published in The Gazette, and the objection must arrive before the company is struck off. An objection sent before the notice appears is not valid.
The same objection process applies whether the registrar started the strike-off or the directors applied to close the company. What the notice means and how the registrar reaches it are explained in our guide to the first Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off; this guide covers the objection itself.
Key facts:
- The Gazette notice gives either 2 months or 28 days from its date before the company can be struck off (GOV.UK).
- Online objections are accepted until the strike-off date; objections by email or post must arrive at least 2 weeks before it (GOV.UK).
- Evidence must be less than 6 months old, show the company's full name including the ending, and be under 4MB per file (GOV.UK).
- A successful objection means the company will not be struck off for another 6 months (GOV.UK).
- On 1 October 2026, 423,006 companies carried a proposal to strike off (UK Company Data, strike-off study).
Do you have a valid reason?
You need a reason to stop the company leaving the register, and being owed money is the standard one. GOV.UK gives two examples: you have a legal claim against the company, or it owes you money.
Other situations that justify an objection:
- You have started, or are about to start, court proceedings against the company.
- The company holds money or property you have a claim to.
- For a voluntary strike-off, the directors applied when the company was not eligible: for example it traded, changed its name or disposed of property for value in the last 3 months, or was subject to insolvency proceedings.
- For a voluntary strike-off, you were an existing creditor and the directors did not send you a copy of the application within 7 days, as the law requires.
Disagreeing with how the company was run is not enough on its own. Companies House expects the objection to lead somewhere, usually recovery of a debt.
Work out your deadline
Your deadline is the strike-off date, counted from the date of the Gazette notice, and the safe deadline is earlier. Find the notice date in the company's filing history ("First Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off" or "First Gazette notice for voluntary strike-off") or on The Gazette website.
| Notice says | Earliest strike-off | Deadline online | Deadline by email or post |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 months from the date of the notice | 2 months after the notice date | Before the strike-off date | At least 2 weeks before the strike-off date |
| 28 days from the date of the notice | 28 days after the notice date | Before the strike-off date | At least 2 weeks before the strike-off date |
The 28-day period applies to companies the registrar believes were registered on a false basis. Do not wait for the last day: if the online service is unavailable or your evidence is rejected, you will have no time to fix it.
Prepare your evidence
Evidence is what makes an objection succeed, so prepare it before you open the form. Companies House sets out specific rules.
Each document must:
- Be less than 6 months old.
- Show the full name of the company, including the correct ending such as "Limited" or "Ltd".
- Support your reason for objecting, for example invoices showing the company owes you money.
- Be less than 4MB, as an image, Excel, Word or PDF file.
A practical pack for a trade creditor:
- The unpaid invoices, or a statement of account dated within the last 6 months that lists them.
- Your most recent chaser or letter before action, if it is within 6 months.
- Any court claim form or judgment, if proceedings have started.
If your invoices are older than 6 months, issue a fresh statement of account or a formal demand letter so you have a current document that names the company correctly. Check the exact company name on the register: an invoice addressed to a trading name or a misspelt name may not meet the rule.
Submit the objection
The online service is the fastest route and the only one with a deadline at the strike-off date itself. You need a Companies House account to use it, and you can create one before you start.
- Sign in to the Companies House strike-off objection service.
- Enter the company number and choose the reason for objecting.
- Upload your evidence files.
- Submit and keep the confirmation.
If you cannot object online, or need support because of a disability or health condition, contact Companies House, which can help you use the service or accept the objection by email or post. Remember that email and postal objections must arrive at least 2 weeks before the strike-off date.
What happens after you object?
If Companies House accepts the objection, the filing history shows that strike-off action has been suspended, and the company will not be struck off for another 6 months. Check the filing history a few days after submitting so you know the objection has registered.
The 6 months are not a rest period. Companies House expects you to make progress towards resolving the issue, and it says sending another invoice is unlikely to be enough. Starting legal action to recover the debt is the kind of step that may justify more time.
A realistic plan for those 6 months:
- Week 1. Send a letter before action giving a deadline to pay.
- Month 1. If unpaid, issue a county court claim, or for an undisputed debt over £750, consider a statutory demand. A company that does not pay a valid demand for 3 weeks is deemed unable to pay its debts (Insolvency Act 1986, s.123).
- Before month 6. Contact Companies House with evidence of progress if you need more time, or tell it you no longer object once you are paid.
If you do not contact Companies House before the 6 months end and the company still meets the conditions, it will be struck off. If that happens, the routes left are slower and more expensive; see what to do when a dissolved company owes you money.
Should you object at all?
Object when the company has assets, income or a reason to pay you, and when you are prepared to take action within 6 months. An objection that is not followed by recovery steps only delays the strike-off.
Some signs help you judge. A company that is also overdue with its accounts is more likely to have been abandoned: on 1 October 2026, 58% of companies under a strike-off proposal were overdue with their accounts (strike-off study). Look at the last balance sheet for cash and debtors, and at the charges register for secured lenders who rank ahead of you. Our list of Companies House red flags covers other signals.
The cheapest objection is the one you make in time because you saw the notice early. To be alerted when a customer gets a strike-off proposal, add it to a watchlist through our API with a free key.
General information, not legal advice.
Sources
- Object to a limited company being struck off, GOV.UK, accessed 17 October 2026.
- Object to a limited company being struck off: make an objection, GOV.UK, accessed 17 October 2026.
- Object to a limited company being struck off: after you object, GOV.UK, accessed 17 October 2026.
- Striking off or dissolving a limited company, GOV.UK, accessed 17 October 2026.
- Companies Act 2006, section 1000: power to strike off company not carrying on business or in operation, legislation.gov.uk, accessed 17 October 2026.
- Insolvency Act 1986, section 123: definition of inability to pay debts, legislation.gov.uk, accessed 17 October 2026.
FAQ
How do I object to a company being struck off?
Wait until the strike-off notice is published in The Gazette, then use the Companies House online objection service, which needs a Companies House account. Choose your reason, such as the company owing you money, and upload evidence less than 6 months old that shows the company's full name, such as unpaid invoices. Online objections must be made before the strike-off date.
What is the deadline to object to a strike-off?
The company can be struck off 2 months after the Gazette notice, or 28 days if the notice says so. Online objections must be made before that date. If you object by email or post, your objection must arrive at least 2 weeks before the strike-off date. Leave yourself time in case your evidence is rejected and needs replacing.
What evidence do I need to object to a strike-off?
Documents that support your reason for objecting, for example invoices or a statement of account showing the company owes you money. Each document must be less than 6 months old, clearly show the company's full name including the ending such as Limited, and be under 4MB as an image, Excel, Word or PDF file. A court claim form is strong evidence.
What happens after a strike-off objection is accepted?
The company will not be struck off for another 6 months. During that time Companies House expects you to make real progress, such as starting legal action; sending another invoice is unlikely to be enough. Before the 6 months end, contact Companies House to ask for more time with evidence of progress, or to say you no longer object.
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