How can I tell if a company is dormant?
A company is called dormant by Companies House if it’s had no ‘significant’ transactions in the financial year. Significant transactions does not include: filing fees paid to Companies House, penalties for late filing of accounts and money paid for shares when the company was incorporated.
Dormant companies will also file a set of Dormant Accounts at Companies House. Dormant accounts filed at Companies House need not include a profit and loss account or directors report.
Un-audited dormant accounts are much simpler than those of a trading company but must show:
- An abbreviated balance sheet containing statements above the directors signature to the effect that the company was dormant throughout the accounting period
- Any previous years' figures for comparison - even though there are no items of income or expenditure for the current year
- Certain notes to the balance sheet.