Can you strike off a company with debts?
Not while it owes more than €150. A company's liabilities must be €150 or less before it can apply for voluntary strike-off. Debts can be paid, or formally written off by the creditor. Revenue debts must be cleared before Revenue will give its letter. If the company can't pay what it owes, a creditors' voluntary liquidation is usually needed.
Debts to suppliers and lenders
Pay them, or ask the creditor to write them off formally in writing. Creditors can object to a strike-off during the CRO's 90-day notice period, so leaving debts unpaid usually stops the process anyway.
Money owed to Revenue
Revenue only gives its letter of no objection when there are no outstanding tax liabilities, so any tax owed must be paid first. See the Revenue letter.
Loans from directors
A director's loan to the company is a liability too. A director can write it off formally, which brings the company's liabilities down. Take tax advice on how the write-off is treated.
When the company can't pay
If the company can't pay its debts as they fall due, a strike-off isn't the right route. A creditors' voluntary liquidation deals with the creditors properly and protects the directors. Letting an insolvent company be struck off for not filing can lead to directors being disqualified. See strike-off or liquidation.
Last checked 13 November 2026 against CRO and Revenue guidance. This is general information, not legal advice for your company.