First Gazette Notice for Compulsory Strike-Off: What It Means and What to Do

A first gazette notice for compulsory strike-off is an official public notice published by Companies House to warn that it intends to remove a company from the register - and dissolve it - unless a valid reason is given why it should remain. If you are wondering what is a first gazette notice, it is the registrar's formal public warning that a company faces removal from the register. It is issued under the registrar's powers in section 1000 of the Companies Act 2006, which allows the registrar to strike off a company that appears no longer to be carrying on business or in operation. Receiving or spotting one of these notices is a serious matter: if nothing is done, the company will cease to exist in law.

What the Notice Looks Like and Where It Is Published

The notice is published in The Gazette - the UK's official journal of record. Companies House uses the appropriate regional edition (London, Edinburgh, or Belfast) depending on where the company is registered. The notice sets out the company's name, company number, and a statement that the registrar proposes to strike it off. It can be found by searching The Gazette's website by company name or number and also appears on the Companies House public register.

Because The Gazette is a public legal document, the notice is visible to anyone - creditors, customers, suppliers, and competitors alike - giving interested parties the chance to object before dissolution takes effect.

Why Companies House Issues a First Gazette Notice

The registrar does not issue a compulsory strike-off notice at random. The most common triggers are:

• Overdue confirmation statement. Every company must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months. If a company misses its deadline and does not respond to reminders, Companies House may conclude it is inactive and begin strike-off proceedings.
• Overdue annual accounts. Private limited companies must file accounts within nine months of their accounting reference date. Persistent failure to file can prompt a gazette notice. See our guide to understanding company accounts for the key deadlines.
• No valid registered office or mail returned undelivered. A company must maintain a valid registered office address at all times. If statutory mail is returned to Companies House because the address is wrong or the company cannot be reached, the registrar may begin strike-off proceedings.
• Reasonable cause to believe the company is not in operation. Section 1000 of the Companies Act 2006 gives the registrar broad discretion to act when a combination of missed filings and returned correspondence suggests a company has stopped trading without being formally wound up.

It is worth noting this is the compulsory route - initiated by the registrar - as distinct from the voluntary route where directors apply to dissolve the company themselves using form DS01. For more on the difference, see our article on what is compulsory strike-off.

The Strike-Off Timeline

The process follows a defined sequence set out in the Companies Act 2006:

Stage	What happens
Warning letters	Companies House sends one or more formal letters to the registered office warning that it intends to strike off the company. Many companies never receive these if the address is out of date.
First Gazette notice	The registrar publishes the first gazette notice for compulsory strike-off in The Gazette. This is the public warning stage. The company (and anyone else with an interest) has the opportunity to object or remedy the issue.
Minimum 2-month gap	The registrar must wait not less than 2 months after the first notice before proceeding. This gives directors, creditors, and other interested parties time to act.
Second (final) Gazette notice	If no valid objection has been received and no action has been taken to remedy the underlying problem, the registrar publishes a second notice confirming the intention to dissolve.
Strike-off and dissolution	The company is formally struck off the register and ceases to exist as a legal entity. The dissolution date is also published in The Gazette.

The timeline from first notice to dissolution can therefore be as short as two months if no action is taken, though in practice it is often longer.

What Happens to Company Assets on Dissolution

When a company is dissolved, any assets it still holds do not simply disappear. Under the doctrine of bona vacantia (literally "ownerless goods"), all assets remaining at dissolution - including bank balances, property, and intellectual property rights - vest automatically in the Crown. Recovering them requires applying to the Crown for a discretionary waiver, which takes time and incurs costs. The practical lesson is clear: do not allow a company to be struck off while it still holds assets or owes money to creditors. For a fuller explanation, see what happens when a company is dissolved.

How to Object to or Suspend the Strike-Off

Anyone with a legitimate interest can object. You do not need to be a director - creditors, members (shareholders), employees, or anyone else who would be adversely affected can all take action.

• File the overdue documents. If the strike-off was triggered by a missed confirmation statement or overdue accounts, filing them promptly is usually the fastest route to having the process suspended. Companies House will typically discontinue the strike-off once it can see the company is engaging with its filing obligations.
• Write to the registrar with evidence. Any person can write to Companies House setting out why the company should not be struck off - for example, that it is actively trading, that there are outstanding creditor claims, or that it is a party to ongoing legal proceedings. Evidence should be enclosed where possible.
• Apply to court if necessary. In urgent cases - for example, where dissolution would destroy an ongoing contract or leave a creditor without recourse - it may be necessary to seek a court order suspending the strike-off process.

Once a valid objection is received, Companies House publishes a further Gazette notice confirming the suspension. The underlying issue must still be resolved for the suspension to become permanent.

What It Means for You

If you are a creditor

Act immediately. Once the company is dissolved, recovering what you are owed becomes significantly more complicated. You can object to the strike-off on the grounds of an outstanding debt, or consider whether petitioning for the company's liquidation is more appropriate so that a licensed insolvency practitioner can distribute assets in an orderly way.

If you are a customer or supplier

You may face disruption to supply, undelivered orders, or the loss of deposits. Contact the company directly to understand its position. If you have money or goods at risk, you have standing to object to the strike-off and may need to take independent legal advice.

If you are a director

You have the most direct ability - and responsibility - to act. Check why the notice was issued (usually a missed confirmation statement or overdue accounts) and file any outstanding documents promptly. Update the registered office address if mail is not reaching the company. If the company is genuinely no longer trading, you can let the process continue - but only once all debts are settled and all assets distributed. Allowing a company with liabilities to be struck off exposes you to personal risk.

How to Check a Company's Status and Filing History

The quickest way to see whether a company has a gazette notice against it is to search the Companies House public register by company name or number. You can review all filings - gazette notices, confirmation statements, accounts, and officer records - to understand the company's position and what has (or has not) been filed.

Use our free company search tool to check a company's current status and filing history in seconds - no account required. You can also monitor a company's status and filing changes over time so you are alerted the moment something changes on the register.