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How to issue a winding up petition - forms and fees to wind up a company to recover any money you're owed.

• Overview

  You can apply to the court to close or ‘wind up’ a company if it cannot…

• Apply

  You must send the right form to the court before they can deal with your…

• The court hearing

  If the court accepts your petition, they’ll arrange a date for a hearing.…

This page provides links to guidance produced by, or relating to, the Insolvency Service

• Updated: 21 December 2021

Apply to cancel a winding up (liquidation) order so your company can continue to trade - find out the form you need and what happens at the hearing

Compulsory and voluntary liquidation, the liquidation process, how liquidation affects company directors and the role of a liquidator

Detailed information about the Insolvency Service’s investigation and enforcement work, how we achieve our outcomes and how to complain about misconduct.

• Updated: 22 January 2020

What happens if your company cannot pay its debts and is given a court judgment, statutory demand or winding-up order by your creditors

Find out how to account for VAT and who to contact if you're an insolvency practitioner and you're appointed over insolvent VAT-registered businesses.

• Updated: 23 October 2025

• Updated: 11 February 2016

Where to make a complaint about anything relating to insolvency including the Insolvency Service, an official receiver, an insolvency practitioner, or a bankrupt you suspect of wrongdoing or misconduct. You can also report a limited company or its directors for...

• Updated: 24 May 2018

Use this form to apply to the court to close or wind up a company if it can't pay its debts. This is also known as 'compulsory liquidation'.