Last updated Sep 17, 2026 and written by Daniel Tuckey

My Company Is Dormant, But Companies House Shows It as "Active." Is That a Problem?

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No, nothing to worry about. "Active" on Companies House refers to your company's legal existence, not whether it's trading. A dormant company that's still properly registered will show as "Active" the entire time it's dormant.

Key Takeaways

  • "Active" means your company legally exists, it says nothing about whether it's trading.
  • A company can be both "Active" and dormant at the same time, and that's entirely normal.
  • Companies House doesn't display a separate "dormant" status on the public register.

Why Does My Dormant Company Still Say "Active"?

Because "Active" and "dormant" are answering two different questions. "Active" tells you whether the company has been formed and hasn't been dissolved. "Dormant" tells you whether it's currently trading. A company can be, and very often is, both at once.

Companies House doesn't show a separate public status for dormant companies. As long as your company legally exists and hasn't been dissolved or put forward for strike-off, "Active" is exactly what you'd expect to see, dormant or not.

For the fuller picture on dormancy generally, including what to file and what's changed recently, our main guide to making your company dormant covers it all.

FAQs

Is it a problem if my dormant company shows as "Active" on Companies House?

No, this is completely normal. "Active" reflects legal existence, not trading status.

Does Companies House show a separate status for dormant companies?

No, there's no distinct public "dormant" status. Dormant companies typically show as "Active," the same as trading ones.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For the fuller picture, see our main guide to making your company dormant.