How to File DS01 Form: Companies House Dissolution Guide 2026
The DS01 form is used to dissolve (strike off) a UK limited company from Companies House. This guide explains eligibility, how to complete the form, what happens next, and where professional help makes sense.
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Quick answer
To strike off a UK company, a director files form DS01 with Companies House. The fee is £13 online or £18 by post (from 1 February 2026). The company must be inactive: no trading or name change in the last three months and no insolvency proceedings.
What is the DS01 form?
The DS01 form is the official Companies House form used to apply for voluntary strike-off of a UK limited company. When a director files a DS01, they are asking Companies House to remove the company from the register — effectively dissolving it.
DS01 is used for voluntary dissolution — where the directors choose to close the company. It is separate from compulsory strike-off (initiated by Companies House for non-compliance) and formal liquidation (used when the company has debts or creditors). For solvent companies with no significant assets or liabilities, DS01 is the simplest and most cost-effective route to closure.
DS01 is only appropriate if the company has not traded or changed its name in the last 3 months, has no pending legal proceedings, and is not subject to insolvency proceedings. If the company has debts, formal liquidation is required.
DS01 eligibility: can you use it?
Before filing a DS01, you must confirm that your company meets the eligibility criteria set out in the Companies Act 2006. Filing a DS01 when the company is ineligible is a criminal offence.
- The company must not have traded or carried on business in the last 3 months
- The company must not have changed its name in the last 3 months
- There must be no pending applications to the court, or pending legal proceedings
- The company must not be subject to any insolvency proceedings
- All statutory filings must be up to date (confirmation statements, accounts)
- The company must not have disposed of property for value in the last 3 months (other than normal trading)
If you are unsure whether your company qualifies for DS01, HynoGo's dissolution service includes a pre-submission eligibility check before filing anything.
How to complete the DS01 form
The DS01 form itself is relatively short, but every field must be completed correctly. Errors or missing information will result in rejection by Companies House, restarting the 2-month objection window.
- Company number: your 8-digit Companies House registration number (e.g. 12345678)
- Company name: exactly as it appears on the Companies House register — including 'Limited' or 'Ltd'
- Director signatures: the DS01 must be signed by a majority of directors. For a single-director company, one signature is sufficient. For two directors, both must sign.
- Date: the form must be dated and submitted promptly — it cannot be pre-signed and held
- Filing fee: Companies House charges £13 online or £18 by post (fees from 1 February 2026)
How to file DS01 with Companies House
You can file DS01 in two ways: online through the Companies House WebFiling portal, or by post to the Companies House Cardiff or Belfast office. Online filing is strongly recommended — it is faster, cheaper (£8 vs £10), and provides an immediate receipt.
- Online: Sign in to Companies House WebFiling → File a document → DS01 Strike Off Application. You will need your company authentication code.
- By post: Download DS01 from companies house.gov.uk, complete by hand or digitally, sign, and post to Companies House, Crown Way, Cardiff CF14 3UZ. Include a cheque for £18 payable to 'Companies House'.
- Via HynoGo: HynoGo's dissolution service handles the entire process — eligibility check, form preparation, Companies House submission, and gazette monitoring — from £149.
If you do not have your company authentication code, you can request a new one from Companies House. It is posted to the registered office address and takes approximately 5 business days.
What happens after you file DS01?
Once Companies House accepts your DS01 application, the process follows a fixed statutory timeline:
- Week 1–2: Companies House sends a letter to the registered office confirming the application
- Week 2–4: Companies House publishes a notice in the Gazette (official public record) — this starts a 2-month objection window
- Week 8–10: If no objections are received, Companies House publishes a second Gazette notice confirming the company is struck off
- Company dissolved: the company is removed from the Companies House register — it no longer legally exists
The total DS01 process typically takes 2–3 months from filing to final dissolution. During the objection period, creditors, HMRC, or any interested party can object to the dissolution.
Common reasons DS01 applications are rejected
- Outstanding confirmation statement or accounts — Companies House will not process DS01 if filings are overdue
- Company name or signature mismatch — must exactly match the Companies House record
- Company traded within the last 3 months — even one invoice sent resets the 3-month window
- Pending HMRC investigation or tax return — HMRC can object to dissolution
- Missing authentication code — required for online filing
- Company has assets — if the company has significant assets, they become 'bona vacantia' (property of the Crown) upon dissolution. Assets must be distributed before filing DS01.
DS01 vs voluntary liquidation: which do you need?
DS01 (voluntary strike-off) is appropriate for companies that are solvent, have settled all debts and liabilities, and simply want to close. It is the cheapest and simplest option.
Members' Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) is appropriate for solvent companies with significant retained profits that shareholders want to extract tax-efficiently as capital distributions. MVL requires a licensed insolvency practitioner and is more expensive, but can be tax-advantageous for profitable company closures.
Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation (CVL) is for insolvent companies that cannot pay their debts. An insolvency practitioner is mandatory.
HynoGo handles DS01 voluntary dissolution. For MVL or CVL, we can refer you to a licensed UK insolvency practitioner.
HynoGo's UK company dissolution service
HynoGo's dissolution service covers the complete DS01 process: eligibility check, form preparation, Companies House filing, and monitoring through to final gazette notice. The service is designed for UK LTDs formed by non-resident directors who may find Companies House systems unfamiliar.
The service includes confirmation that all outstanding filings are up to date before DS01 submission, reducing the risk of rejection. Most HynoGo dissolution clients have their DS01 filed within 2–3 business days of providing their company details.
Official sources
Figures and rules last checked against these sources on October 4, 2026.
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