SH07 Form UK: Cancel Public Company Shares (2026)
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Part ofCompanies House Forms UK
If a public company has cancelled shares, there is a specific filing that needs to reach Companies House to keep the public register accurate. Form SH07 is the notice that captures that change, along with an updated statement of capital showing where the share structure now stands.
It is a short form on the face of it, but the circumstances behind the cancellation, and the figures that need to be recorded, deserve proper attention. This page walks through what SH07 is for, when a public company is required to file it, the information it needs to contain, and the common pitfalls that trip people up.
If you are weighing up whether SH07 is the right form for your situation, or you want a second opinion before you submit anything, a call with one of our experienced legal advisers can give you clarity based on what you describe.
What this document is
SH07 is the Companies House form used by a public limited company (PLC) to report that shares have been cancelled. Cancellation in this context means the shares are taken out of the issued share capital and cease to exist as a unit of ownership.
The holder no longer has rights attached to those shares, whether to vote, to receive a dividend, or to any share of the company's assets on a winding up. A public company is required to cancel shares in certain situations set out in the Companies Act 2006, for example where shares have been forfeited or surrendered, or where the company has acquired its own shares and must cancel them within the statutory timeframe.
Once cancellation has happened, the filing obligation kicks in. The form itself asks for the date of cancellation, the description and number of shares affected, and must be accompanied by a statement of capital reflecting the company's share capital straight after the cancellation takes effect.
How to use this document
- Confirm SH07 is the right form for what has happened. Share cancellation comes in several flavours, and not every reduction in share capital is dealt with by SH07. If the cancellation is part of a court-approved reduction of capital, or a buyback, different forms may be involved. Identify the trigger first.
- Check the one-month deadline. Where the cancellation has happened in order to comply with the relevant obligations under the Companies Act 2006, the notice to Companies House must be delivered within one month of the cancellation date. Missing that window can cause problems for the company and its officers, so diarise the deadline as soon as the cancellation is effective.
- Prepare the statement of capital. The statement of capital is not an afterthought, it is a core part of what SH07 does. It must set out the total number of shares, their aggregate nominal value, any amount unpaid on those shares, and, for each class of shares, the prescribed particulars of the rights attached. Get the figures straight before you start the form.
- Complete the SH07 form accurately. Fill in the company name and number, the date of cancellation, and the details of the shares being cancelled, including class and nominal value. Double check the totals tie back to your statement of capital. Arithmetic errors on share capital filings are a common cause of rejection.
- File with Companies House and update internal records. Submit SH07 to Companies House, either on paper or through the appropriate online channel where available. Once filed, update the company's register of members, the register of allotments where relevant, and any shareholder records held by a registrar. Keep a copy of the filed form with the company's statutory books.
Common questions
Q Who needs to file form SH07?
SH07 is used by public limited companies in the UK that have cancelled shares and need to notify Companies House of the resulting change to their share capital. It is not the form for private limited companies cancelling shares through a reduction of capital, which uses a different process. If you are unsure whether your company falls within the scope of SH07, it is worth checking before you file anything.
Q How long do I have to file SH07 after shares are cancelled?
For cancellations that take place in order to comply with the relevant Companies Act 2006 obligations, the notice must reach Companies House within one month of the date the shares are cancelled. Leaving the filing until later than that can create compliance issues for the company. Mark the deadline clearly from the moment the cancellation takes effect.
Q What is a statement of capital and why does SH07 need one?
A statement of capital is a snapshot of the company's issued share capital at a particular point in time. It shows how many shares there are, their nominal value, any unpaid amounts, and the rights attached to each class. SH07 must be accompanied by a statement of capital reflecting the position immediately after the cancellation, so the public register stays accurate.
Q What happens to the shareholder whose shares were cancelled?
Once shares are cancelled, they no longer exist. The former holder has no remaining rights in respect of those shares, including no voting rights, no entitlement to future dividends, and no claim on the company's assets attributable to those shares. Whether the former holder receives anything in exchange depends entirely on the reason for the cancellation and the terms under which it happened.
Q Does cancelling shares always reduce the company's share capital?
In most cases, yes, because the shares that were part of the issued capital have been removed. However, the mechanics depend on the route taken and how the cancellation interacts with any reserve. Some cancellations are tied to a formal reduction of capital process, others flow from forfeiture or treasury share rules. The statement of capital filed with SH07 will show the end position.
Q What if I get the SH07 form wrong?
Companies House may reject a form that contains errors, inconsistencies, or missing information, which means the filing is not treated as made until a corrected version is accepted. That can push you past the one-month deadline. If the wrong information has already been filed, a correction may be possible, but it is better to get the numbers and classes right the first time.
Q Is there a filing fee for SH07?
Companies House filing fees change from time to time and depend on whether you file on paper or electronically. Rather than relying on a figure that may be out of date, check the current fee schedule on gov.uk before you submit. Factor any fee into your timing so that payment issues do not cause the filing to miss the deadline.
Sources
This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.
- Guidance · UK GovCompanies House form SH07 (Notice of cancellation of shares by a public limited company)gov.uk
- LegislationCompanies Act 2006, Part 18 (Acquisition by a company of its own shares)legislation.gov.uk
- Guidance · Companies HouseCompanies House filing guidancegov.uk
Legal disclaimer
This article is for general information only. It is a tool to help you find your way — not legal advice, and not a substitute for speaking to a qualified adviser about your situation.