help! company name and closing it.

davmail

A year ago i registered a company name for free,as i was unemployed,and thought it might be a good idea to try to start my own business one day,i never traded or used it,it was a 'dead' company,this weekend i had a letter from the governments small business unit informing me i had to send some kind of return,or i would be fined £5000;00 pounds!!! i have no idea as to what to do,someone told me if i did not do it,i would soon have baliffs round my flat taking my stuff!!!i am worried as to what to do,can anyone help or advise me as to what to do.....many thanks.

jaybeetoo

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/about/pdf/gba10.pdf

Brassedoff

If you don't need it, apply for it to be struck off. It will cost you £10

Wywth

davmail wrote: »

A year ago i registered a company name for free,as i was unemployed,and thought it might be a good idea to try to start my own business one day,i never traded or used it,it was a 'dead' company,this weekend i had a letter from the governments small business unit informing me i had to send some kind of return,or i would be fined £5000;00 pounds!!! i have no idea as to what to do,someone told me if i did not do it,i would soon have baliffs round my flat taking my stuff!!!i am worried as to what to do,can anyone help or advise me as to what to do.....many thanks.

With whom did you register it?

If with Companies House, how did you register it for free?

"some kind of returm" - how the heck are we supposed to help you if you don't tell us what exactly you are being requested to do??? :cool:

Who did you speak to that suggested bailiffs would be round your flat if you don't comply? :huh:

Lomast

davmail wrote: »

this weekend i had a letter from the governments small business unit

Never heard of a small business Unit, what exactly have you recieved and from whom

earthstorm

Wywth wrote: »

With whom did you register it?

If with Companies House, how did you register it for free?

"some kind of returm" - how the heck are we supposed to help you if you don't tell us what exactly you are being requested to do??? :cool:

Who did you speak to that suggested bailiffs would be round your flat if you don't comply? :huh:

some agents will allow you to register a ltd company free, but if you dont plan to use the ltd company then when you do get the initial paperwork by post from Companies House you have to make sure that you fill in the form to make the company Dormant and then each year you have to remember to pay the £14 to fill your returns.
If you dont log your company as Dormant then you will be faced with corporation tax etc. and if you dont fill returned when requested then you will be fined, which i assume what the £5,000 fine will be for. as the OP will have his annual returns letter that he need to follow its instructions to file returns by a certain date.

So OP you have not been fined, you just need to file your returns or as other say dissolve the company if you no longer need it.

Wywth

earthstorm wrote: »

some agents will allow you to register a ltd company free, ...

Like who? Companies House make a charge for each formation. How can any agent afford to pay for that without any kickback?

The only agents who advertise a 'free' service I know of require you to open a business bank account with their affiliated bank who then bung them £50 for doing so.

e.g. http://www.ukplc.com/products-and-services/business-services/barclays-business-bank-account.html

(the bank probably won't allow a business account to be formed if there is no business or at least a viable business plan)

thecompanywarehouse.co.uk even have the cheek to advertise a free service, but charge £1.00 to email you the documents afterwards.

Expect to pay between £16.99 and £19.99 for an online agent to incorporate a company, allow you to keep the £50 if you then go onto open a business bank account with their affiliated bank(s) and won't then charge you a quid for sending you an email.

Still waiting a full response to my post#4 before being able to advise the OP further.
All talk of a limited company etc is pure speculation otherwise.
(and it's not a £5k fine for failing to return an annual return for a private limited company either )

HappyMJ

Wywth wrote: »

Like who? Companies House make a charge for each formation. How can any agent afford to pay for that without any kickback?

The only agents who advertise a 'free' service I know of require you to open a business bank account with their affiliated bank who then bung them £50 for doing so.

e.g. http://www.ukplc.com/products-and-services/business-services/barclays-business-bank-account.html

(the bank probably won't allow a business account to be formed if there is no business or at least a viable business plan)

thecompanywarehouse.co.uk even have the cheek to advertise a free service, but charge £1.00 to email you the documents afterwards.

Expect to pay between £16.99 and £19.99 for an online agent to incorporate a company, allow you to keep the £50 if you then go onto open a business bank account with their affiliated bank(s) and won't then charge you a quid for sending you an email.

Still waiting a full response to my post#4 before being able to advise the OP further.
All talk of a limited company etc is pure speculation otherwise.
(and it's not a £5k fine for failing to return an annual return for a private limited company either )

As you say the free ones get commission by getting you to open a bank account....or they send your name, number and address to lots of companies. Some people will buy the services and they get money which make up for the fees charged.

Brassedoff

Wywth wrote: »

Like who? Companies House make a charge for each formation. How can any agent afford to pay for that without any kickback?

The only agents who advertise a 'free' service I know of require you to open a business bank account with their affiliated bank who then bung them £50 for doing so.

e.g. http://www.ukplc.com/products-and-services/business-services/barclays-business-bank-account.html

(the bank probably won't allow a business account to be formed if there is no business or at least a viable business plan)

thecompanywarehouse.co.uk even have the cheek to advertise a free service, but charge £1.00 to email you the documents afterwards.

Expect to pay between £16.99 and £19.99 for an online agent to incorporate a company, allow you to keep the £50 if you then go onto open a business bank account with their affiliated bank(s) and won't then charge you a quid for sending you an email.

Still waiting a full response to my post#4 before being able to advise the OP further.
All talk of a limited company etc is pure speculation otherwise.
(and it's not a £5k fine for failing to return an annual return for a private limited company either )

Correct. I was intrigued.

earthstorm

Wywth wrote: »

thecompanywarehouse.co.uk even have the cheek to advertise a free service, but charge £1.00 to email you the documents afterwards.

they advertise FREE company formation which they do provide the £1 is a delivery cost.

but even then you will still have to pay a £14 a year fee to companies house, even a dormant company you have to file annual accounts and returns. If you fail to provide them then you will be fined and have the company struck off.

earthstorm

Wywth wrote: »

(and it's not a £5k fine for failing to return an annual return for a private limited company either )

i agree

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/about/gbhtml/gp5.shtml

Max. £1.500 for a Private Company