What Are Dormant Accounts? UK Guide 2025 for Company Directors

In the UK, every company — whether trading or not — must prepare and file annual financial statements (often just called “accounts”). For large businesses, these accounts can be hundreds of pages long. But for companies that haven’t traded, the process is much simpler.

That’s where dormant accounts come in.

What does “Dormant” mean for a company?

A dormant company is one that has had no significant accounting transactions during its financial year. This means:

• No buying or selling of goods or services

• No paying of salaries

• No earning of interest

Insignificant transactions (which are allowed) include:

• Payment for shares when the company was formed

• Companies House filing fees

• Penalties for late filing

For more details, see our FAQs.

Dormant company accounts format

Dormant accounts are intentionally simple — often just two pages, including:

• A balance sheet

• Statutory declarations signed by a director

If the company traded in past years, there might be extra disclosure notes, but the goal is minimal paperwork.

Why so minimal? Because dormant accounts reflect that your company had no activity during the year. They’re designed to be the least onerous filing option.

Who can prepare dormant accounts?

Almost anyone. You don’t need to hire an accountant — in fact, you can prepare and file them yourself. At Just Dormant Accounts, we’ve automated the process so you can file your dormant company accounts online in just a couple of minutes. File Now

What figures go on the balance sheet?

It depends on your company’s history:

Scenario 1 – Never Traded

• Line for share capital (often £1 per share)

• Line for shares unpaid or cash in hand

Scenario 2 – Traded in Prior Years

• Copy the figures from your last balance sheet (since no transactions occurred this year).

Can a dormant company have a bank account?

Yes — but be careful. If any transactions occur during the year (including bank charges or interest), your company may no longer qualify as dormant for that year.

Tip: Check with your bank to ensure there’s no unexpected activity. For more detail, see our guide: Can a Dormant Company Have a Bank Account?

Dormant company accounts template

Want to see what they look like? Click here to download a sample dormant accounts template.

Filing dormant accounts: your options

Even dormant companies must file accounts by law. You can:

1. File online with Just Dormant Accounts – Fast, simple, no accountant needed.

2. File online with Companies House WebFiling – Free, but you complete the form yourself.

3. File by post using the AA02 form – Slower and riskier near deadlines.

Deadline reminder: Dormant accounts must be filed within 9 months of your company’s financial year-end.

Dormant accounts are the easiest form of company accounts to prepare — but they’re still a legal requirement. If you want the process to be stress-free, let us handle it for you.