Tick what the company did in its financial year. The checker applies Companies House's test and HMRC's test separately, because a company can be dormant for one and not the other, and says what it still files. Nothing is saved, and you don't need an account.
For this year
Dormant for Companies House and HMRC
Companies House: dormantNothing it did breaks this test.
HMRC: dormantNothing it did breaks this test.
What it still files
Dormant accounts to Companies House, 9 months after the year end (if the company is small)
A confirmation statement, at least once every 12 months
A Company Tax Return only if HMRC has sent a notice to deliver one
Companies House: a company is dormant if it had no significant accounting transaction in the year2: none of the sums of money it must record as received or spent3. The only ones ignored are the subscribers’ payment for their shares at formation, fees for changing name, re-registering or the confirmation statement, and late filing penalties2.
HMRC: a company is dormant for Corporation Tax if it is not trading and has no other income. HMRC counts buying, selling, renting property, advertising, employing someone and getting interest as trading1.
What it still files: accounts every year (dormant accounts, if it is small and dormant for Companies House), a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months4, and a Company Tax Return only if HMRC asks for one1.
File for your company
Search the Companies House register. Your company page shows every date that applies to it, and what to file next.
Questions
Does a bank charge stop my company being dormant?
For Companies House, yes. A bank charge is money the company spent, and only the subscribers’ share money, a few Companies House fees and late filing penalties are ignored. HMRC doesn’t count a bank charge as trading.
My company only earns bank interest. Is it dormant?
No, for either. Interest is money received, so it breaks Companies House’s test, and HMRC counts getting interest as trading.
Does a dormant company still file?
Yes. It files accounts with Companies House and a confirmation statement every year. It files a Company Tax Return only if HMRC sends a notice to deliver one.
Do I tell Companies House the company is dormant?
No. Your accounts show it. You tell HMRC, and you tell HMRC again when the company starts trading.
How we wrote this. Drafted with AI assistance from the sources above. Every fact was then checked against GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk and HMRC’s manuals, last on 24 October 2026. It is general information, not advice on your own situation. Editorial policy