Form DS01 is the Companies House application for voluntarily striking a company off the register. Directors use it when a company is no longer needed and meets the legal conditions for closure. You can apply online for £13 or submit a paper application for £18.Before you strike off a company, deal with its tax affairs, creditors and remaining assets. Dissolution ends the company’s legal existence. If you later discover money in a company account, restoring the company may be necessary to recover it.For a company dissolved following a voluntary DS01 application, the restoration route is a court order. Administrative restoration is unavailable.
What is form DS01 used for?
Form DS01 starts the voluntary strike-off process. Submitting it does not close the company immediately: Companies House must process the application and publish a proposed strike-off notice in The Gazette.This route may suit a business that has stopped operating or a company formed for a project that never started. It is not a substitute for formal insolvency proceedings.DS01 also differs from compulsory strike-off. Voluntary strike-off starts with the directors’ application; compulsory strike-off is initiated by the registrar.
When can you strike off a company?
The company must meet the statutory eligibility conditions. Generally, during the previous three months, it must not have:
- Traded or otherwise carried on business.
- Changed its registered name.
- Sold stock or other property held for sale in the ordinary course of its business.
Activities needed to conclude the company’s affairs, comply with statutory duties or arrange the application are permitted. For example, settling a supplier’s outstanding invoice is different from accepting new customer orders. Insolvency proceedings and certain arrangements with creditors can also prevent an application. A dormant status alone does not establish eligibility: check the company’s actual circumstances.
How much does form DS01 cost?
| Application method | Companies House fee |
|---|---|
| Online strike-off application | £13 |
| Paper form DS01 | £18 |
These are application fees, not the total cost of closing a business. Accounts preparation, tax work and professional assistance may cost extra.Companies House says to use the paper form only if you cannot apply online. Paper applications generally take longer to process.
How to complete the voluntary strike-off process
1. Resolve the company’s financial affairs
Prepare final statutory accounts and a Company Tax Return for HMRC, and pay outstanding tax. GOV.UK states that final accounts do not have to be filed with Companies House.Deal with employee wages, redundancy obligations and the closure of relevant tax registrations. Check for outstanding customer payments and expected tax refunds before proceeding.
2. Deal with remaining assets
Review company bank accounts, payment balances, property and other assets before dissolution. Arrange lawful distributions or transfers with the appropriate tax treatment.
Do not overlook money that may arrive later. An expected refund can create a recovery problem if the company is dissolved before it is received.
3. Obtain the required directors’ approval
The application requires a majority of directors:
| Number of directors | Signatures required |
|---|---|
| One | One |
| Two | Both |
| Three | At least two |
| Four | At least three |
For an online application, have the company number, authentication code and an email address for each signing director ready. Use the current official DS01 form if applying by post.
4. Notify the required people
Within seven days of applying, send a copy of the application to shareholders, creditors, employees, relevant pension fund managers or trustees, and directors who did not sign.Notification duties also cover people who enter relevant roles after the application. Keep evidence of the copies sent.
5. Monitor the company record
Check Companies House correspondence and The Gazette. A proposed strike-off notice follows an accepted application. If there is no reason to delay, dissolution can follow after the statutory notice period.
How long does it take to strike off a company?
Companies House cannot complete voluntary strike-off until at least two months after the proposed strike-off notice appears in The Gazette. This period starts with publication, rather than the date you submit form DS01.Processing time comes before that notice period. Objections or problems with the application can extend the overall timescale. Avoid planning around a guaranteed dissolution date.A second Gazette notice confirms dissolution.
Can HMRC or a creditor object?
A creditor or another interested party can object where there is a valid reason, such as an unpaid debt or legal claim. Evidence is required, and the objection follows publication of the proposed strike-off notice.An outstanding issue with HMRC can therefore disrupt closure. Filing a DS01 application does not settle a tax bill or resolve a disputed invoice.If the company is already dissolved, an objection cannot reverse dissolution. An eligible applicant may need to seek court restoration instead.
Can you withdraw form DS01?
You can withdraw the application while the company remains on the register. Withdrawal is required if the company becomes ineligible, for example because it resumes trading or becomes insolvent.Use the Companies House online withdrawal service or paper form DS02. Only one director needs to sign the withdrawal.After dissolution, withdrawal is no longer available. You must consider restoration.
What happens to money left in the company?
The company’s bank account is frozen on dissolution, and remaining money and assets pass to the Crown as bona vacantia.For example, directors might close a company and later discover an overlooked account balance. That balance does not become their personal money when the company is dissolved. They need to establish the appropriate recovery route, which may involve restoring the company.Check bank accounts and expected receipts before applying, rather than treating asset recovery as a routine final step.
Can a company be restored after a DS01 application?
Yes, but a company dissolved through voluntary strike-off requires court restoration. It cannot use form RT01 for administrative restoration.The court route generally has a six-year application limit from dissolution. Applications relating to personal injury claims are an exception. Eligibility depends on the applicant’s connection to the company and the circumstances.Restoration may be needed to recover company assets, resume business or pursue a claim. The work and costs depend on the purpose of restoration, the company’s filings and the relevant jurisdiction.
Frequently asked questions
Is form DS01 a company restoration form?
No. DS01 applies for voluntary strike-off. Restoring a company dissolved through this process requires a court order.
Can one director sign form DS01?
One director can sign if they are the company’s sole director. A company with two directors needs both signatures; larger boards require a majority.
Can I submit form DS01 online?
Yes. Companies House provides an online strike-off service costing £13. The paper application costs £18.
Does submitting DS01 close a company immediately?
No. Processing and Gazette notices come before dissolution. The statutory waiting period is at least two months after the proposed strike-off notice.
Can I strike off a company that owes money?
Strike-off is not a debt-resolution procedure. Creditors can object, and insolvency restrictions may prevent an application. Resolve liabilities and assess eligibility before applying.
Can I cancel a DS01 application after dissolution?
No. Withdrawal applies only while the company remains registered. After voluntary dissolution, consider court restoration.