diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 0e73e2c58..9431adf56 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -14,11 +14,16 @@ class User < ApplicationRecord
     organisation_id: :organisation
   }.freeze
 
-  scope :active, -> { where(active: true) }
-  scope :inactive, -> { where(active: false) }
+  scope :active, -> { where(deactivated_at: nil) }
+  scope :inactive, -> { where.not(deactivated_at: nil) }
 
   delegate :service_owner?, :partner_organisation?, to: :organisation
 
+  def active
+    deactivated_at.blank?
+  end
+  alias_method :active?, :active
+
   def organisation
     if Current.user_organisation
       return Organisation.find(Current.user_organisation)
diff --git a/spec/factories/user.rb b/spec/factories/user.rb
index bfa314425..4d886e369 100644
--- a/spec/factories/user.rb
+++ b/spec/factories/user.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
   factory :administrator, class: "User" do
     name { Faker::Name.name }
     email { Faker::Internet.email }
-    active { true }
+    deactivated_at { nil }
+    anonymised_at { nil }
     password { "Ab1!#{SecureRandom.uuid}" }
     mobile_number { Faker::PhoneNumber.phone_number }
     mobile_number_confirmed_at { 1.day.ago }
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@
     end
 
     factory :inactive_user do
-      active { false }
+      deactivated_at { Date.yesterday }
     end
 
     trait :new_user do
diff --git a/spec/features/users_can_sign_in_spec.rb b/spec/features/users_can_sign_in_spec.rb
index 02732e82d..b00ef593b 100644
--- a/spec/features/users_can_sign_in_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/users_can_sign_in_spec.rb
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ def log_in_via_form(user, remember_me: false)
 
   context "when the user has been deactivated" do
     scenario "the user cannot log in and sees an informative message" do
-      user = create(:partner_organisation_user, active: false)
+      user = create(:partner_organisation_user, deactivated_at: DateTime.yesterday)
 
       visit root_path
       log_in_via_form(user)
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ def log_in_via_form(user, remember_me: false)
 
       expect(page.current_path).to eql home_path
 
-      user.active = false
+      user.deactivated_at = DateTime.now
       user.save
 
       visit home_path
diff --git a/spec/mailers/report_mailer_spec.rb b/spec/mailers/report_mailer_spec.rb
index 057839b50..a4b5d427d 100644
--- a/spec/mailers/report_mailer_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/mailers/report_mailer_spec.rb
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 
     context "when the user is inactive" do
       before do
-        user.update!(active: false)
+        user.update!(deactivated_at: DateTime.yesterday)
       end
 
       it "should raise an error" do
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@
     end
 
     context "when the user is inactive" do
-      let(:user) { create(:administrator, organisation: organisation, active: false) }
+      let(:user) { create(:administrator, organisation: organisation, deactivated_at: DateTime.yesterday) }
 
       it "should raise an error" do
         expect { mail.body }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, "User must be active to receive report-related emails")
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@
     end
 
     context "when the user is inactive" do
-      before { user.update!(active: false) }
+      before { user.update!(deactivated_at: DateTime.yesterday) }
 
       it "should raise an error" do
         expect { mail.body }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, "User must be active to receive report-related emails")
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@
 
       context "when the user is inactive" do
         before do
-          user.update!(active: false)
+          user.update!(deactivated_at: DateTime.yesterday)
         end
 
         it "should raise an error" do
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@
 
     context "when the user is inactive" do
       before do
-        user.update!(active: false)
+        user.update!(deactivated_at: DateTime.yesterday)
       end
 
       it "should raise an error" do
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@
 
     context "when the user is inactive" do
       before do
-        user.update!(active: false)
+        user.update!(deactivated_at: DateTime.yesterday)
       end
 
       it "should raise an error" do
diff --git a/spec/models/user_spec.rb b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
index 00333f501..7ea40ac71 100644
--- a/spec/models/user_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
@@ -104,18 +104,18 @@
 
   describe "scopes" do
     it "shows active users for active scope" do
-      create(:administrator, active: true)
-      create(:administrator, active: true)
-      create(:administrator, active: false)
+      create(:administrator, deactivated_at: nil)
+      create(:administrator, deactivated_at: nil)
+      create(:administrator, deactivated_at: DateTime.yesterday)
 
       expect(User.active.size).to eq(2)
       expect(User.active.last.active).to eq(true)
     end
 
     it "shows inactive users for inactive scope" do
-      create(:administrator, active: true)
-      create(:administrator, active: true)
-      create(:administrator, active: false)
+      create(:administrator, deactivated_at: nil)
+      create(:administrator, deactivated_at: nil)
+      create(:administrator, deactivated_at: DateTime.yesterday)
 
       expect(User.inactive.size).to eq(1)
       expect(User.inactive.last.active).to eq(false)
@@ -148,4 +148,28 @@
       expect(user.valid?).to be_truthy
     end
   end
+
+  describe "#active" do
+    it "is aliased as active?" do
+      user = build(:partner_organisation_user)
+
+      expect(user.active?).to be true
+    end
+
+    context "when the user has no deactivated date" do
+      it "is active" do
+        user = build(:partner_organisation_user, deactivated_at: nil)
+
+        expect(user.active?).to be true
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "when the user has a deactivated date" do
+      it "is not active" do
+        user = build(:partner_organisation_user, deactivated_at: DateTime.yesterday)
+
+        expect(user.active?).to be false
+      end
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/services/report/send_state_change_emails_spec.rb b/spec/services/report/send_state_change_emails_spec.rb
index a67dccf76..5822e159a 100644
--- a/spec/services/report/send_state_change_emails_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/report/send_state_change_emails_spec.rb
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 
   let!(:report) { create(:report, state: state) }
   let!(:partner_organisation_users) { create_list(:administrator, 5, organisation: report.organisation) }
-  let!(:inactive_po_user) { create(:administrator, organisation: report.organisation, active: false) }
+  let!(:inactive_po_user) { create(:administrator, organisation: report.organisation, deactivated_at: DateTime.yesterday) }
   let!(:service_owners) { create_list(:beis_user, 2) }
-  let!(:inactive_service_owner) { create(:beis_user, active: false) }
+  let!(:inactive_service_owner) { create(:beis_user, deactivated_at: DateTime.yesterday) }
 
   let(:recipients) { ActionMailer::Base.deliveries.map { |delivery| delivery.to }.flatten }