By Bébhinn Egan, 28th October 2025

If you’ve just received an involuntary strike-off notice from the Companies Registration Office (CRO), your heart probably sank. A strike-off is serious, but here’s the critical thing: you still have time to act. Once you receive an involuntary strike-off notice, you have approximately 28 days before the notice is published in the CRO Gazette, and another 28 days after publication before your company is officially dissolved. This window of opportunity is your lifeline. 

In this guide, we’ll explain what an involuntary strike-off means, why it happens, and most importantly, the five immediate steps you need to take to restore your company’s good standing.

What is an Involuntary Strike-Off?

An involuntary strike-off occurs when the CRO initiates the removal of your company from the register due to non-compliance. Unlike a voluntary strike-off (which you choose), an involuntary strike-off is forced upon you by regulatory authorities. The CRO can commence strike-off proceedings if your company has committed any of the following violations:

• Failed to file an annual return for one year.
• Failed to register for taxes or comply with Revenue requirements.
• Breach of the requirement to have an EEA resident director.
• No current directors registered with the CRO.
• Company being wound up with no active liquidator.
• Failed to notify the CRO of a change in registered office address.
• Failed to deliver beneficial ownership information to the Registrar of Beneficial Ownership.

The consequences of allowing an involuntary strike-off to proceed are severe for both you and your company, which is why taking immediate action is critical.

The Timeline: How Long Do You Really Have?

Here’s how the involuntary strike-off process unfolds according to the CRO:

1. Day 1: The CRO issues a statutory strike-off notice to your company’s registered office address, stating the grounds for strike-off and specifying the remedial steps the company can take.
2. Day 28: If remedial action has not been taken, a notice of impending strike-off will be inserted in the CRO Gazette. At this stage, you can still stop the process by filing outstanding returns.
3. Day 56: Twenty-eight days after the notice appears in the CRO Gazette, the company will be struck off the register, unless all outstanding returns have been filed or the statement has been delivered to Revenue.

This means you have roughly 8 weeks from receipt of the initial notice to act.

The Serious Consequences of Involuntary Strike-Off

Before we dive into the key action steps, it’s essential to understand what’s at stake. Allowing your company to be involuntarily struck off can result in:

Personal liability for directors: You lose the protection of limited liability. This means creditors can pursue you personally for company debts. Shareholders can also become personally liable for outstanding debts if the company continues to trade after dissolution.

Loss of company assets: All property and assets belonging to your company become the property of the State. You have no claim to them.

Criminal prosecution: Directors of involuntarily struck-off companies can face prosecution under the Companies Act 2014, resulting in substantial fines.

Director disqualification: The Corporate Enforcement Authority  can apply to the High Court for a disqualification order against you under Section 842(h) of the Companies Act 2014, banning you from acting as a director or being involved in company management. The length of the disqualification period is a matter for the Court.

Additional legal costs: If the CEA brings proceedings against you, you may be ordered to pay their legal costs and investigation expenses.

Damage to your business reputation: An involuntary strike-off creates a permanent record that may affect your ability to secure funding, partnerships, and future business opportunities.

The CRO does pursue prosecutions, particularly targeting directors of companies with significant debts, repeat offenders with a history of involuntary strike-offs, and cases where companies ignored creditor or Revenue obligations.

Immediate Steps to Take Upon Receiving an Involuntary Strike-Off Notice

Step 1: Don’t panic but do act immediately

The moment you receive an involuntary strike-off notice, treat it as a priority matter. Gather the notice and any related correspondence and carefully read the grounds for strike-off outlined by the CRO. Understanding exactly why your company is facing strike-off is the foundation for your response.

Step 2: Identify and rectify the specific breach

Each involuntary strike-off notice specifies the grounds for the strike-off action. Your task is to identify and fix that breach. Common reasons include:

Outstanding annual returns: If your company has failed to file annual returns, you must file these immediately. You may face late filing fees, but filing is essential to comply with CRO requirements and stop the strike-off process.

Tax compliance issues: If Revenue has notified the CRO about non-compliance, contact Revenue immediately. Register your company for taxes if it hasn’t been done, or file outstanding tax returns (Form 11F). Resolve any outstanding tax obligations without delay.

Missing company directors or secretary: If the CRO has no current directors or company secretary on record, file the necessary forms to update your company’s officer details.

Beneficial ownership information: If you haven’t filed beneficial ownership information with the Registrar of Beneficial Ownership, complete and submit this documentation immediately.

Registered office address: If your company failed to notify the CRO of an address change, file the updated address form right away.

The specific action depends on your circumstances, but the principle is the same: address the breach that triggered the strike-off notice.

Step 3: File your response with the CRO

Once you’ve rectified the breach, formally notify the CRO that you’ve taken corrective action. Submit the relevant forms and evidence demonstrating that your company is now compliant. For example, if the issue was missing annual returns, file those returns along with any required late fees. If it was an address change, submit the updated registration form.

The CRO will review your submission. If they’re satisfied that you’ve resolved the breach, they can halt the strike-off process. This stops the publication of the strike-off notice in the CRO Gazette and prevents your company from being dissolved.

Ensure your submission reaches the CRO before the 28-day deadline from your initial notice. Missing this deadline means your company moves to the next stage of the strike-off process, making reversal significantly more difficult.

Step 4: Close your company bank account (If necessary)

If your company is genuinely no longer needed and you’ve decided that closure is the right path forward, close the company bank account before taking further action. Any funds remaining in the account will be frozen when the company is struck off. By closing the account proactively, you can ensure proper handling of any remaining funds and avoid complications down the line.

If your company has ceased trading and has minimal liabilities (less than €150), you may be eligible for a voluntary strike-off instead of fighting the involuntary strike-off. However, you must bring all filings up to date before applying for voluntary strike-off.

Step 5: Seek professional guidance

It’s always best to work with a specialist like Company Bureau who understand the intricacies of Irish company law.

Professional advisors can help you determine whether your company should be:

• Brought back into compliance (if the breach is rectifiable and you want to continue operating)
• Voluntarily struck off (if the company is genuinely no longer needed and meets the criteria)
• Placed into Members’ Voluntary Liquidation (if the company is solvent but winding down)
• Placed into Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (if the company is insolvent)

Trying to cut corners or ignore the situation will only compound your problems. Professional guidance upfront is far more cost-effective than facing director disqualification, prosecution, or personal liability later.

Can a Struck-Off Company Be Restored?

Good news: if your company has already been struck off, restoration is possible within 20 years of dissolution. If fewer than 12 months have passed since dissolution, you can apply for administrative restoration by the CRO. If more than 12 months have passed, you’ll need to make a High Court restoration is required.

However, restoration is more complicated and costly than preventing the strike-off in the first place. Prevention is always better than cure.

Key Takeaways

Receiving an involuntary strike-off notice is alarming, but it’s not the end of the road. You have time to take corrective action and stop the process. The key is to act immediately, identify the specific breach, rectify it, and formally notify the CRO of your compliance.

The consequences of allowing an involuntary strike-off to proceed are severe: loss of limited liability, personal liability for company debts, potential director disqualification, and criminal prosecution. Directors have a legal duty under Irish company law to close a company properly. Ignoring an involuntary strike-off notice is not a viable strategy.

If you’re unsure about how to proceed or your company faces complex circumstances, seek professional guidance immediately. The investment in professional advice is minimal compared to the personal and financial devastation of an unresolved involuntary strike-off.

Your company’s future depends on the actions you take in the next 28 days. Don’t delay.

Disclaimer: This article is for guidance purposes only. It does not constitute legal or professional advice. No liability is accepted by Company Bureau for any action taken or not taken in reliance on the information set out in this article. Professional or legal advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of this article. Any and all information is subject to change.