Companies House Forms Explained: CS01, DS01, AD01, TM01 and More
Companies House uses dozens of numbered forms to manage every change to a UK limited company’s public record, and using the wrong one is one of the most common reasons filings get rejected. This guide from Filing Accounts UK explains exactly what each of the most commonly used Companies House forms does, when to use it, what it costs, and where to file it — using only verified facts from official Companies House guidance.
At Filing Accounts, we file these forms for UK small businesses every day. You can check your company’s current filing history on the Companies House public register, and browse the full official list on the GOV.UK Companies House forms collection.
CS01 — Confirmation Statement
What it’s for: The Confirmation Statement confirms the non-financial details Companies House holds about your company are correct — registered office, directors, shareholders, PSCs, and SIC codes. It replaced the old Annual Return in 2016.
Deadline: At least once every 12 months, within 14 days of the end of your review period.
Fee: £50 online (from 1 February 2026), £110 by paper.
File it: Companies House WebFiling
For the full breakdown, see our guide on Confirmation Statement vs Annual Accounts.
DS01 — Strike Off a Company (Voluntary Dissolution)
What it’s for: DS01 applies to have a company removed (struck off) from the Companies House register — used when a company has stopped trading and has no outstanding liabilities. It’s only suitable for solvent companies with no unresolved debts, disputes, or agreements with creditors.
Fee: £13 online, £18 by paper (cheque or postal order only, not from the company’s own account).
Signing requirement: A majority of directors must sign — for example, both directors of a two-director company.
Process: Once accepted, a notice is published in The Gazette, opening a 2-month objection window. If nobody objects, the company is dissolved — typically 2–3 months from application in total. You must also notify all interested parties (shareholders, creditors, employees) within 7 days of applying; failing to do so is an offence.
Official guidance: Strike off a company from the register (DS01) — GOV.UK
AD01 — Change of Registered Office Address
What it’s for: Notifies Companies House of a change to your company’s registered office address. The new address must be in the same UK jurisdiction the company is registered in (England & Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland).
Fee: Free to file online.
File it: Change a company’s registered office address (AD01) — GOV.UK
AP01 — Appointment of Director
What it’s for: Notifies Companies House that a new individual director has been appointed. You’ll need their full name, service address, date of birth, nationality, occupation, and any former names.
Fee: Free to file online.
Note: Since 18 November 2025, new directors must complete identity verification before the appointment can be registered.
See our full guide: How to Change Director in Companies House.
TM01 — Termination of Appointment of Director
What it’s for: Notifies Companies House that a director has resigned or been removed. File this “as soon as possible” after the event — leaving it can cause issues with banks, suppliers, and HMRC if the public record is out of date.
Fee: Free to file online.
Note: A company must always retain at least one director; TM01 cannot leave a company with zero directors.
CH01 — Change of Director’s Details
What it’s for: Updates an existing director’s personal details — for example, a change of name or service address — without changing who the director is.
Fee: Free to file online.
SH01 — Return of Allotment of Shares
What it’s for: Notifies Companies House that a company has issued new shares — for example, to a new investor or founder. It records that shares were allotted; it does not document the terms of issue or investor rights, which sit in separate investment paperwork.
Deadline: Within one month of the share allotment.
Fee: Free to file online.
NM01 — Notice of Change of Company Name by Resolution
What it’s for: Notifies Companies House of a company name change agreed by the members, typically passed as a special resolution. You cannot trade under the new name until Companies House confirms the change.
Fee: Free to file online, where permission for the new name isn’t required.
See our full guide: How to Change Your Company Name at Companies House.
AA01 — Change of Accounting Reference Date
What it’s for: Changes your company’s Accounting Reference Date (ARD) — the date your financial year ends. Useful for aligning year-ends across a group of companies, or adjusting your first accounting period.
Fee: Free to file online.
MR01 — Register a Charge
What it’s for: Registers a charge (such as a mortgage or fixed/floating charge) against company assets, typically as part of business financing or lending arrangements.
Deadline: A strict window applies (normally 21 days from creation of the charge) — this should be diarised carefully in any financing checklist, as late registration can affect the charge’s validity.
PSC01, PSC04 and PSC07 — People With Significant Control
What they’re for: PSC01 registers a new individual with significant control (more than 25% ownership or voting rights). PSC04 updates an existing PSC’s details. PSC07 records that someone has stopped being a PSC.
Deadline: Within 14 days of the change being confirmed.
Fee: Free to file online.
See our full guide: How to Change PSC in Companies House.
Companies House Forms at a Glance
| Form | Purpose | Fee (online) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| CS01 | Confirmation Statement | £50 | 14 days after review period ends |
| DS01 | Strike off / dissolve a company | £13 | N/A (voluntary) |
| AD01 | Change registered office address | Free | As soon as possible |
| AP01 | Appoint a director | Free | Within 14 days |
| TM01 | Remove/terminate a director | Free | Within 14 days |
| CH01 | Change director’s details | Free | Within 14 days |
| SH01 | Return of share allotment | Free | Within 1 month |
| NM01 | Change company name | Free | N/A |
| AA01 | Change accounting reference date | Free | Before the current deadline |
| MR01 | Register a charge | Free | Normally 21 days |
| PSC01/04/07 | PSC appointed / updated / ceased | Free | Within 14 days |
Fees correct as of 2026 per official Companies House guidance. Always confirm current fees on GOV.UK before filing, as these are subject to change.
Common Mistakes When Filing Companies House Forms
Using the Wrong Form for the Situation
AP01, TM01, and CH01 all relate to directors but do very different things. Filing the wrong one is one of the most common reasons submissions are rejected.
Missing Short Filing Windows
SH01 must be filed within one month, and MR01 has a strict deadline of around 21 days — considerably tighter than the 14-day windows that apply to most other company changes.
Forgetting to Notify Interested Parties After a DS01
Directors must notify all interested parties within 7 days of submitting a DS01 strike-off application. Failing to do so is a criminal offence, separate from the DS01 filing itself.
Applying for Strike-Off With Unresolved Debts
DS01 is only appropriate for solvent companies. If your company has debts it cannot pay, a formal insolvency process is required instead, and creditors can object to a DS01 application.
Trading Under a New Name Too Early
After filing NM01, you must wait for Companies House to confirm the change before using the new company name — trading under it too early can create confusion on contracts and invoices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CS01 and annual accounts?
CS01 confirms your company’s non-financial details are correct. Annual Accounts report your company’s financial performance. They’re separate filings — see our full comparison guide.
How much does it cost to strike off a company with DS01?
£13 if filed online, or £18 by paper application (cheque or postal order only).
Which form do I use to remove a director?
TM01 — Termination of Appointment of Director. Use AP01 to appoint a new one, and CH01 to update an existing director’s details.
Is there a fee to change my registered office address?
No. Filing AD01 online to change your registered office address is free.
How long does DS01 strike-off take?
Typically 2–3 months from application, including a 2-month objection window published in The Gazette after the application is accepted.
Which form do I use to update a PSC’s details?
PSC04. Use PSC01 for a newly identified PSC, and PSC07 if someone stops being a PSC. See our full PSC guide.
Can I file these forms myself, or do I need an accountant?
Most of these forms can be filed directly by a director via Companies House WebFiling. Many directors choose to use an accountant to reduce the risk of rejected filings and missed deadlines.
Need Help Filing With Companies House? Talk to Filing Accounts UK
With dozens of forms, different deadlines, and different fees, it’s easy to file the wrong one or miss a short window. At Filing Accounts, we handle Companies House filings — from Confirmation Statements to director and PSC changes — for UK small businesses, so your public record stays accurate and compliant.
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