Dormant checker (Companies House vs HMRC)
A quick triage tool to help you decide whether you should follow the dormant filing path or the micro-entity path. Always verify with official guidance.
Inputs
Tick anything that happened in the period.
Bank charges / bank interest
For Companies House, bank fees are usually significant transactions.
Sales, invoices, or customer payments
Any trading activity is not dormant.
Payroll / PAYE / salaries
Payroll is a clear activity signal.
VAT registration / VAT returns / VAT payments
Treat as activity unless you’re sure.
Any other transactions (subscriptions, expenses, etc.)
If unsure, tick this.
Important
Companies House and HMRC are different. Even if you are dormant for Companies House purposes, HMRC obligations can differ depending on your situation.
Result
Conservative guidance + next steps.
Companies House view
Likely dormant
Likely dormant for Companies House (based on the answers).
If you are dormant, you still typically must file dormant accounts and a confirmation statement.
FAQ (with next steps)
Bank fees — does that break dormant status?
Often yes (for Companies House). If you have bank fees or other transactions, you likely need accounts rather than dormant filing. See our dormant company guide.
If I’m not dormant, what do I file?
Many small companies file micro-entity accounts under FRS 105. Start with thresholds and eligibility: micro-entity thresholds guide and micro-entity accounts guide.
Companies House vs HMRC — why is it confusing?
They have different concepts and processes. Use this tool as triage, then confirm your path using the guides above.