DS01 – Strike off your company

One of the final parts of closing your company is to complete a DS01 form with Companies House. This easiest way to do this is online. The online service is quicker to complete than the paper form and has inbuilt checks to make sure your application is completed correctly. Plus, it’s cheaper to apply online. It costs only £8 and you can pay the fee using a debit or credit card.

What is the DS01?

This is the form you complete to strike off and dissolve your company with Companies House. It’s the final step of closing your business. The process itself is straightforward, but you do have certain responsibilities you must comply with. Generally speaking, for our clients the DS01 form is submitted  once all tax accounts have been settled (as the HMRC are usually the only creditor at this point in the process).

The striking off process takes around 3 months, and in this time it is absolutely critical that all bank accounts are closed. If any bank account still has funds in it once the company is dissolved, your bank will freeze those funds and they cannot be accessed until the company is re-instated. And the reinstatement of a company is costly and takes a LONG time.

How Do I File a DS01 Form?

The actual process is very simple, and before you started you need just three things (a) be a Director of the company, (b) have your company number (c) have your company authentication code.

1. Go to the gov.uk website and Apply to strike off and dissolve a company
2. Read the section about “Who to tell about the company closing”
3. Sign into Companies House. If you don’t have an account with them already then create one using the “Register” link. The Registration process takes only a minute or two;
4. Submit your company number
5. To ensure you have entered the correct company number review the summary of the company information such as company name, and registered office address.
6. Enter your company authentication code.
7. Select your name from the list of Directors shown.
8. Complete the “Sign the Declaration” page;
9. Choose to pay by “Credit or Debit card”
10. Follow the remaining steps of submitting your card details and finalising the submission of the DS01 form.

How Do I File a DS01 Form (in pictures)?

Step 1 – Go to the gov.uk website

Step 2 – Read the section about “Who to tell about the company closing”

Step 3 – Sign into Companies House (or Register)

Step 4 – Add your company number

Step 5 – Confirm your company credentials

Step 6 – Add your authentication code

Step 7 – Confirm the Director who is completing this form

Step 8 – Confirm your answers.

Step 9 – Confirm the application

Step 10 – Confirm your payment information

Step 11 – Follow through the remaining steps of adding your credit card details, confirm payment, and confirm the form has been successfully submitted.