When is a company dormant for tax purposes?

If a company has stopped trading and has no other income then the company is usually classed as dormant for Corporation Tax purposes.

A company is usually dormant for Corporation Tax if it:

  • has stopped trading and has no other income, for example investments
  • is a new limited company that hasn’t started trading
  • is an unincorporated association or club owing less than £100 Corporation Tax
  • is a flat management company

HMRC can also send a notification if they think a company is dormant. This notice will state that a company or association is dormant and is not required to pay Corporation Tax or file Company Tax Returns.

Limited companies are still required to file annual accounts and a confirmation statement even if the company is dormant for Corporation Tax and according to Companies House. A company defined as ‘small’ by Companies House can instead file ‘dormant accounts’ and doesn’t have to include an auditor’s report.

A dormant company must also ensure they deregister for VAT within 30 days of the company becoming dormant and close any unused PAYE schemes. A company can stay dormant indefinitely, however there are costs associated with this option. This might usually be done if for example a company is restructuring its operations or wants to retain use of a company name, brand or trademark.

Source: HM Revenue & Customs Tue, 03 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0100

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