Inactive limited company question

[CeraUnaVolta]

Hoping someone who understands more about this than me can advise.

A few years ago I was offered some consultancy work, for which I needed to set up a limited company in order to effectively employ myself, invoice, be paid.
I actually ended up only doing this consulting work for two months as the project folded. I then went straight on to another contract job, for which I was employed by an umbrella company. After a year of that, I moved on to another role for which I am employed and salaried, but will finish in a few months.
I filed accounts properly for the small brief earnings of my limited company on time.

My company still exists but I haven’t used it for anything for a couple of years. Is this ok?
Should I close it? If I close this one am I able to open another to do the same thing in future? Or am I able to keep it in existence just not doing anything? I sort of hope at a later date I will use it again for consulting work, but this might not be until late this year or later.

You can keep a company indefinitely as long as you keep up to date with the requirements to file an annual confirmation statement and a set of accounts.

You can also apply to strike this one off (assuming it's solvent and has no outstanding debts) and form another one in the future.

If you don’t file a confirmation statement Companies House may start proceedings to strike the company off.

Thank you @VivX🙏🏻
I need to learn about this stuff properly but you’ve helped reassure me for now, I appreciate the reply.

You can keep the company 'dormant' but you need to register it with Companies House as such, file annual tax returns and a confirmation statement. My DH and I have a company in this state, costs me about £15 a year to file the confirmation statement and whatever fines they impose for not filling the tax return on time 'cos I keep forgetting! I'll work out how to close it at some point when I've got time.

If you do decide to get it struck off, please ensure that everything has been taken out of the company bank account and any IT equipment etc has been transferred to you first. If not, all remaining assets automatically revert to the crown. King Charles is probably rich enough as it is

You can ask HMRC to mark it as dormant, so tax returns won't be due.

You'll still need to file the confirmation statement (now £34) and annual accounts though.

I had asked HMRC to mark as dormant a year ago but they still sent a letter about filing accounts (which I missed because I’m currently away from home for an extended time so got a late fee 🥺) but when I went to file the accounts I was able to file a simple dormant company accounts entry showing no activity. So it confused me.

Good tip, thanks @NumbersaremythingI definitely don’t want KC claiming my stuff!

Accounts are Companies House, not HMRC (Tax Return).
They are 2 separate departments with different requirements.
You'll need to file accounts if you are keeping the company regardless of it being dormant.

I've tried to do that and still keep getting chased for Tax and accounts! I really ought to close it, but other things keep taking priority.

https://www.gov.uk/strike-off-your-company-from-companies-register/apply-to-strike-off