The CRO enforcement process is now targeting 1000 companies per week and it is hoped to have started the process for all companies in the backlog by the end of the year.
The involuntary strike off process is as follows:
- First, the CRO issues a 10 Week Warning Email (This is a non-statutory step which is taken by the Registrar in advance of the process that is set down in the Companies Act 2014). This 10 week warning letter is sent to the company’s email address as notified to CRO.
- 10 weeks later, an Involuntary Strike Off Notice is issued by registered post to the company’s registered office address and by ordinary post to the secretary and director/s and at their registered home addresses. The company will be struck off two months after the strike off notice is issued if the remedial steps outlined in the notice are not undertaken – usually the filing of the annual return/s.
- Approximately 28 days after the Involuntary Strike Off Notice is issued, the company will appear in a CRO First Gazette (published on a Wednesday). There is still time even at this stage to avoid strike off and dissolution if the company gets its filings in order or if it goes into liquidation or makes an application to the Court for an extension of time to file its outstanding annual returns.
- Approximately 28 days later the company will be involuntarily struck off.
- 5 days later the company’s name will be published in a Second Gazette, and it is with this final step that the company is dissolved.