103 documents in this section
Companies House Forms: A Practical Guide for UK Companies
Running a UK limited company means dealing with Companies House at some point, and for most directors that means working out which form to file and when.
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AP02: Appointing a Corporate Director at Companies House
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Appointing a Company Secretary: Filing Form AP03
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Appointing a Corporate Secretary: Filing Form AP04
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Appointing a Manager or Judicial Factor to a CIC or Charity
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Articles of Association for a UK Private Limited Company
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Cancelling Treasury Shares and Filing Form SH05
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Changing Your Company Name with Form NM01: A Practical Guide
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Changing Your Company’s Accounting Reference Date (AA01)
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Changing Your Company’s Registered Office Address (AD01)
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Choosing a Limited Company Name: UK Legal Rules Explained
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Company and Corporate Law Glossary: Key UK Terms
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Company Meetings and Resolutions: A Guide for UK Directors
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Company Strike Off and Dissolution: A Practical Guide
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Confirmation Statement (CS01): Your Yearly Companies House Filing
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Directors and Secretaries: Duties and Responsibilities
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Filing Annual Accounts at Companies House: A UK Guide
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Filing Dormant Company Accounts with Form AA02
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Filing Form CC01: Notice of Restriction on Articles
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Filing Form PSC01: Notifying Companies House of a New PSC
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Filing Form PSC07: Notifying Companies House of a Ceased PSC
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Filing Form SH06: Notice of Cancellation of Shares
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Filing Notice of a Resolution with Companies House
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Filing PSC02: Notifying a Relevant Legal Entity with Control
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Filing PSC03: Notice of Other Registrable Persons at Companies House
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Form 980DEC: Notice of Declaration to Non-Assenting Shareholders
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Form AA06: Subsidiary Guarantee Notice to Companies House
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Form AD02: Register an Alternative Inspection Location
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Form AD03: Moving Company Records to a SAIL Address
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Form AD04: Returning Company Records to the Registered Office
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Form AD05: Changing Your Company’s Situation Explained
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Form AP01: Appointing a New Company Director
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Form CC02: Notice of Removal of Restriction on Articles
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Form CC04: Notifying Companies House of Object Changes
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Form CC05: Notifying Companies House of a Constitution Change
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Form CC06: Reporting a Court-Ordered Constitution Change
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Form CH05: Changing a Manager’s Service Address
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Form EH01: Elect to Keep Director Info on Central Register
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Form EH02: Keep Director Home Addresses on Central Register
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Form EH03: Keep Your Register of Secretaries on the Central Register
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Form EH04: Keep PSC Register on Central Public Register
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Form EH05: Keep Members’ Register on Central Register
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Form EH06: Notifying Companies House of Member Changes
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Form EW01: Withdraw Directors’ Register from Central Register
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Form EW02: Remove Directors’ Home Addresses from Register
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Form EW03: Withdraw Secretaries’ Central Register Election
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Form EW04: Withdrawing PSC Information from the Central Register
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Form EW05: Withdraw Members’ Register from Public Record
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Form NAC01: Notice of Court Application to Cancel Share Warrants
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Form NM02: Changing Your Company Name by Resolution
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Form NM03: Confirming a Company Name Change at Companies House
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Form NM04: Changing a Company Name via the Articles
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Form NM05: Changing a Company Name by Directors’ Resolution
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Form NM06: Seeking Comments on a Company Name Change
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Form RM01: Registering Appointment of a Receiver or Manager
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Form RM02: Notifying Companies House of Cessation
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Form SH01: Reporting New Share Allotments to Companies House
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Form SH02: Share Consolidation, Sub-division and Redemption
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Form SH04: Notifying the Sale or Transfer of Treasury Shares
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Form SH07: Notifying Companies House of Cancelled Shares
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Form SH08: Renaming a Class of Shares at Companies House
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Form SH09: Unlimited Company Allotting a New Share Class
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Form SH10: Notifying Companies House of Share Rights Changes
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Form SH11: Notice of a New Class of Members Explained
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Form SH12: Notice of Variation of Class Rights (Non-Share)
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Form SH13: Notifying Companies House of a Member Class Name
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Form SH14: Notifying Companies House of Share Redenomination
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Form SH15: Reducing Capital After a Redenomination
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Form SH16: Applying to Court to Cancel a Special Resolution
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Form SH17: Cancelling a Special Resolution at Companies House
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Form SH19: Statement of Capital After Capital Reduction
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Form TM03: Ending a Manager or Receiver Appointment
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How to Change a Company Name Using Form NM01
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How to Change a Company’s Registered Office with AD01
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How to Change a UK Company Name: A Practical Guide
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How to Change a UK Company’s Constitution: A Guide
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How to Change Director Details at Companies House (CH01)
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How to File Form TM01 to Remove a Company Director
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How to Incorporate a Limited Company in the UK
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How to Register a UK Company Using Form IN01
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How to Remove a Company Secretary Using Form TM02
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How to Set Up and Register a Limited Company Online
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How to Strike Off a UK Company Using Form DS01
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How to Withdraw a Company Striking Off Application (DS02)
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Keeping Your Company Records Accurate at Companies House
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Notice of PSC Statements (PSC08): A UK Company Guide
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Notice of Subscribers: Companies with Share Capital
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Notifying Companies House of a Share Buyback (SH03)
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People with Significant Control (PSC): UK Guide
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PSC04: Notify Companies House of PSC Detail Changes
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PSC05: Notify Changes to a Relevant Legal Entity’s Details
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Re-registering a Company: Changing Your Legal Status
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Registering Company Charges Created On or After 6 April 2013
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Registrar’s Powers: RP Forms for Correcting the Register
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Section 980 Notice: Buying Out Non-Assenting Shareholders
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Section 984 Notice to Non-Assenting Shareholders Explained
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SH19 Form: Statement of Capital After Warrant Cancellation
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SH50 Trading Certificate: How Public Companies Apply
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Share Capital Explained: A Guide for UK Company Owners
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Special Resolution Notice to Change a UK Company Name
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Updating a Corporate Director’s Details with Form CH02
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Updating Company Secretary Details at Companies House (CH03)
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Updating Corporate Secretary Details at Companies House (CH04)
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Written Special Resolution to Change a Company Name
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Written by Brad Askew
Legal Tech Founder
Legal Tech Founder
Civil & Commercial Law background · Founder of LegalDocuments.co.uk
We’re not a law firm — we help you find the right legal support. For advice on your situation, speak to a legal adviser or find a solicitor.
Running a UK limited company means dealing with Companies House at some point, and for most directors that means working out which form to file and when. Whether you are appointing a new director, issuing shares, changing your registered office or filing your annual confirmation statement, getting the paperwork right matters.
Errors can lead to rejected filings, late penalties, or a public record that does not reflect the real position of your company. This page walks through the main Companies House forms you are likely to come across, what each one does, and the practical points worth knowing before you file.
If you want to talk through a specific situation with someone who has seen it all before, our telephone guidance line is the fastest way to get clarity.
What this document is
Companies House is the registrar of companies for the United Kingdom. It holds the public record for every limited company, LLP and certain other entities registered in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The register is open for anyone to search, which is why keeping it accurate and up to date is a legal duty placed on company directors rather than an optional piece of admin.
Filings with Companies House cover the full life cycle of a business: incorporation on form IN01, ongoing changes such as director appointments (AP01), director resignations (TM01), share allotments (SH01), changes to the registered office (AD01), and the yearly confirmation statement (CS01). There are also forms for more significant events, such as changing the company name (NM01), registering a charge (MR01), or striking the company off the register (DS01).
Most filings can now be made online through the Companies House service, though paper versions remain available for situations where the online route is not suitable.
How to use this document
01
Work out which form you actually need. Start by identifying exactly what has changed or what you are trying to do. Appointing a director is AP01, removing one is TM01, allotting new shares is SH01, and updating the registered office is AD01. Picking the wrong form is one of the most common reasons filings get rejected, so it is worth checking before you start.
02
Gather the information the form asks for. Each form has its own data requirements, from dates of birth and service addresses for directors, to share class descriptions and prescribed particulars for share allotments. Have the company number, authentication code, and any supporting details ready before you open the online form so you do not lose progress part way through.
03
File online where possible. The Companies House online filing service handles most routine forms and processes them far faster than paper. You will need the company's authentication code to sign in. Paper filings still have a place for certain forms and situations, but expect longer processing times and check gov.uk for the current fee.
04
Check deadlines carefully. Some filings, such as the confirmation statement and annual accounts, have fixed deadlines tied to the company's incorporation date or accounting reference date. Others, such as director changes, must be filed within a set period after the event. Missing a deadline can lead to penalties and, in serious cases, the company being struck off the register.
05
Keep copies and update internal records. Once a filing is accepted, download the confirmation or receipt and update your statutory registers, such as the register of members and the register of directors. The Companies House record and your internal records should match, and the statutory registers remain a legal requirement alongside the public filings.
Whether you have received one of these or need to create one, speak to an experienced legal adviser who can walk you through it — from £79.
Common questions
QWhat is a confirmation statement and how often do I file one?
The confirmation statement, form CS01, is an annual filing that confirms the information Companies House holds about your company is still accurate. It covers details such as directors, registered office, shareholders, and people with significant control. Every active company must file at least one confirmation statement each year, even if nothing has changed. Check gov.uk for the current filing fee.
QHow do I appoint a new director?
A new director is appointed using form AP01 for an individual or AP02 for a corporate director. You will need their full name, date of birth, nationality, occupation, service address, and usual residential address. The filing should be made within 14 days of the appointment taking effect, and your internal register of directors should be updated at the same time.
QWhat form do I use to issue new shares?
Allotments of new shares are reported to Companies House on form SH01, the return of allotment of shares. You will need the number and class of shares allotted, the amount paid or unpaid on each, and the prescribed particulars of the share class. The form should be filed within one month of the allotment, and the company's register of members must be updated.
QHow do I change my registered office address?
A change of registered office is filed on form AD01. The new address must be in the same country of registration as the company, so an England and Wales company cannot move its registered office to Scotland without a more involved process. The change takes effect once it is registered by Companies House, not on the date you submit the form.
QWhat happens if I file a form late?
Late filing of accounts attracts an automatic civil penalty that increases the longer the delay continues. Other late filings may not trigger an immediate fine, but they can lead to the register being inaccurate, which is itself a breach of duty by the directors. Persistent failure to file can result in the company being struck off the register.
QCan I correct a mistake on a form I have already filed?
Yes, in most cases. Some forms have a dedicated correction route, such as RP04 for second filings where the original contained errors. For others, you may need to file an updated version of the original form. It is worth checking the position before filing anything new, because the wrong correction route can make the public record more confusing, not less.
QDo I need to file anything when I close a company?
A solvent company that is no longer needed can apply to be struck off the register using form DS01. Certain conditions must be met, including that the company has not traded or changed name in the previous three months. Insolvent companies follow a different route involving a formal liquidation process rather than a simple strike-off application.
Official Sources
Legal disclaimer
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. We are not solicitors. For advice on your specific situation, please consult a qualified solicitor.
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