Start with the company's exact registered name or number, use the Companies Registry Online System public record search and examine any official intended-removal and completed-removal notices. Confirm the latest position with the Registrar General where records are unclear.
First, collect the correct company details
Ask for the registered company name as shown on the Certificate of Incorporation, along with the company number if available. A trading name, abbreviation or spelling variation may not produce the record you are expecting. For an older company, retain any previous name or registration documents as well.
Also note the incorporation anniversary and the latest registered annual return the company can locate. Those facts help distinguish a records-access problem from a late filing. Checking the status is particularly important when a friend, relative or business adviser is making an enquiry for someone who is not available to log into CROS.
Use the Companies Registry public record search
The Registrar General's Companies Registry describes CROS, its online system, as providing a Public Record Search. Start at the official Registry website and follow the public record search link. Search for the full company name or company number and carefully compare identifying details with the documents in hand.
Availability of a name in search results does not, by itself, prove that every annual return is up to date. If the public search cannot resolve the company's present status or filing history, request confirmation through the official Registry channels rather than interpreting a missing result as an automatic strike-off.
Check the official strike-off publications
The Registry maintains a public section for removal of companies in default under section 489 of the Companies Act. Its published index identifies an August 2024–March 2025 exercise and a January–February 2026 exercise relating to failure to file annual returns. Review the correct company name and number in both the intended-removal and removal publications.
An initial notice of intended removal is a warning stage. It should not be described as evidence that the company was finally removed. The Registry explains that a company in default may be given a notice and a period to remedy the default, followed by a separate published removal decision. The precise notice and its date matter.
Be careful with 2026 notices about other requirements
Not all Registry notices deal with overdue Annual Returns. A notice dated 27 April 2026 postponed intended removal of certain profit companies for failure to file a Return of Beneficial Ownership, until further notice. The notice expressly said that the underlying filing obligation remained in place.
That postponement relates to the beneficial ownership notices identified in the Registry announcement. It should not be treated as a general amnesty for every late annual return or as cancellation of the January–February 2026 annual-return removal exercise. Read the heading and applicable documents of each official notice.
What to do after checking the result
If the company appears active, verify which annual returns have actually been registered, the next anniversary-based deadline, and any related change notices or beneficial ownership filings. If it appears on an intended-removal list, promptly verify the notice date and whether the default can still be remedied under the current process.
If an actual removal is confirmed, request the relevant restoration requirements before submitting routine post-incorporation filings. The Companies Registry publishes an application to restore a company name to the register (Form 24); the correct process can depend on the grounds and status of removal. Seek legal advice where necessary.
Record what was checked and when
Keep a dated record of the search, the exact company identifier, the notice pages viewed and any response received from the Registrar. Registry status and pending filing records can change, so a screenshot or older certificate should not be treated as permanent evidence of good standing.
For business decisions involving banking, contracts, tenders or ownership changes, obtain the appropriate current Registry evidence. BizReg Consulting can assist with organising the relevant records and next-step checklist without making a determination on behalf of the Registrar.
Questions business owners ask
Does an overdue annual return mean the company was struck off?
No. Late filing and actual removal are different questions. Verify the company's current status and any formal strike-off notice.
Can a company appear on an intended-removal list without being removed?
Yes. The Registry distinguishes intended-removal notices from completed-removal notices. Review the appropriate publication.
Did the April 2026 postponement cancel all company strike-offs?
No. The 27 April notice concerned specified intended removals for failure to file a Return of Beneficial Ownership. It did not declare a blanket cancellation of annual-return filing obligations.
Official references
Check the current source before making an application, as requirements and procedures can change.