The PRH has suspended the deregistration of companies from the Trade Register – a new law is being prepared

The Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) has suspended the deregistration of companies from the Trade Register until further notice, as the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland (MEAE) is preparing changes to the legislation.

According to the current legislation, the PRH must remove limited liability companies or co-operatives from the Trade Register if they fail to file their financial statements or beneficial owner details by the deadline despite requests for such filings. Deregistered companies may not apply for re-entry into the Trade Register; instead, they must appeal the PRH's decision to the Helsinki Administrative Court.

The MEAE proposes a legislative change that would give companies deregistered due to human error or an unintentional mistake the chance of re-entering the Trade Register by submitting an application to the PRH.

The new law would apply to companies removed from the register since the beginning of 2023.

What does the suspension of the deregistration procedure mean?

The PRH has suspended five deregistration procedures, which have not yet resulted in deregistration. These procedures include limited liability companies and co-operatives that have failed to file their financial statements or beneficial owner details by the deadline.

The suspension means that the companies in the deregistration procedure will not be removed from the Trade Register.

The companies in the deregistration procedure have received reminder letters from the PRH urging them to file the missing details. Although the deregistration procedure has been suspended, the companies that have received reminder letters must submit the missing details to the PRH.

An entry has been made in the Trade Register for some of the companies in the suspended procedures, in which the PRH requests the companies to submit the missing details by the deadline. The entry will be deleted from the company's details when the company submits the missing information.

What does this mean for companies that have already been deregistered?

According to the legislative proposal, the companies removed since 2023 could apply to re-enter the Trade Register. Applying for re-entry could become possible when the new legislation enters into force.

After the new legislation is approved, the PRH will publish instructions on applying for re-entry to the Trade Register at prh.fi.

Submit missing or amended details to the Trade Register

Limited liability companies and co-operatives must submit amended register details, financial statements and beneficial owner details to the Trade Register without a specific request from the PRH.

The purpose of the Trade Register maintained by the PRH is to register reliable, up-to-date details on companies and their responsible persons and to make the details available to everyone. This is important in order to promote business-related interaction and to ensure the transparency of business activities.

The MEAE directs the PRH's activities and is responsible for the legislation regulating the PRH's activities.

For further information, please contact

Trade Register Advisory Service
Email: neuvonta.kaupparekisteri(a)prh.fi
Tel. +358 29 509 5030, Mon-Fri 9.00-15.00

Printable versionLatest update 19.09.2024