Guidance

Guide to liquidation (winding up) and re-using a company name

Guidance on how a director can apply to wind up their company and the restrictions on re-using a company name.

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This publication provides general information only. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate, but it is not a full and authoritative statement of the law and you should not rely on it as such. The Insolvency Service cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions as a result of negligence or otherwise.

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Please only attend our offices if you have an appointment.

For information about the insolvency process contact the Insolvency Service helpline. The helpline is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 3pm on Friday.

We can give you information about processes administered or regulated by the Insolvency Service. This includes bankruptcy, debt relief orders and company liquidations.

We cannot give you: legal or financial advice, information on specific insolvency cases, information or advice about other government departments or information about redundancy payments.

If you are contacting about an existing bankruptcy or compulsory company liquidation case, use our ‘contact an official receiver’ guidance.

Published 5 February 2016
Last updated 27 April 2018 + show all updates
  1. Update to section 7.1. You can make the application in any court which has jurisdiction to hear the application.

  2. link to High Court winding up petition included.

  3. Changes in line with the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016.

  4. Changed to improve search engine optimisation for re-using a company name.

  5. Updated to reflect changes to fees

  6. Changes to reusing a company name

  7. Link added to options when a company is insolvent

  8. First published.