I am closing my very small limited company. There's only c£5k assets (all cash in bank), no debts, no other assets, no employees etc, so it qualifies for dissolution/ striking off without needing an MVL. The company has been semi dormant for a number of years, earning only interest from a business savings account, incurring minimal expenses (domain fees and similar), as I took a permanent in house role. The company was deregistered for VAT in Feb.
I'm hoping someone can help with a sense check of what I believe are the practical steps and the order of them to process the closure and striking off:
I'm not certain about the timing of the capital distribution in closing the company bank account - should this be done before the final Year End date (as shown in the steps I have outlined above) so the capital balances show as zero in the final accounts, or if the capital distribution should be after the final Year End date...
As a completely alternative approach, my wife has spare basic rate tax band... Is it acceptable for me to transfer my 75% into my wife's name so she has 100% of the shares, and then distribute the funds to my wife as dividends paying 8.75% on the amount in excess of the £500 dividend allowance?
Many thanks.
I'm hoping someone can help with a sense check of what I believe are the practical steps and the order of them to process the closure and striking off:
- Change Company Year End via Companies House to a chosen closure date that allows for the steps below including distribution of funds.
- Prepare final accounts to new Company end of year and calculate final CT due
- Distribute remaining funds before YE date, leaving funds in current account to pay final CT. (Will be distributed as capital, not dividends, and in 75/25 proportion between myself and my wife in line with shareholding; my wife is also a director and Co Secretary)
- Complete final accounts to Year End date, now showing zero capital balances following capital distribution.
- File final accounts with HMRC, but not Companies House
- Pay final CT
- Close company current account
- File DS01 to dissolve company
- Claim BADR on tax return
I'm not certain about the timing of the capital distribution in closing the company bank account - should this be done before the final Year End date (as shown in the steps I have outlined above) so the capital balances show as zero in the final accounts, or if the capital distribution should be after the final Year End date...
As a completely alternative approach, my wife has spare basic rate tax band... Is it acceptable for me to transfer my 75% into my wife's name so she has 100% of the shares, and then distribute the funds to my wife as dividends paying 8.75% on the amount in excess of the £500 dividend allowance?
Many thanks.

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