DS01 Form UK: Strike Off a Company from the Register
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If a company has stopped trading and the directors want to wind things up without going through a formal liquidation, Form DS01 is the route most owners take. It's the application filed at Companies House to have a company's name removed from the register, which ultimately dissolves the company.
The process is designed for solvent companies that have finished their business and have no outstanding creditors or ongoing disputes. On this page I'll walk through how the DS01 route works, who can sign the application, what Companies House does once it receives the form, and the points directors often underestimate.
If you're weighing up whether DS01 is right for your situation rather than a members' voluntary liquidation, a short call with an experienced legal adviser can help you think it through.
What this document is
Form DS01 is the Companies House application used by directors of a private limited company to ask the registrar to strike the company off the register. Once the strike off goes through and the dissolution is published in the Gazette, the company ceases to exist as a legal entity.
The form itself is short, but it carries real weight because it triggers the end of the company's life. The application has to be signed by the directors or by a majority of them, and a filing fee is payable to Companies House (check gov.uk for the current amount).
Before a company can be struck off this way, it needs to meet certain conditions: it must not have traded or changed its name in the previous three months, it must not be the subject of any insolvency proceedings or creditor agreements, and it must not have disposed of assets for value in the run-up to the application. If any of those apply, DS01 is not the right route and directors should look at alternative procedures such as a members' voluntary liquidation.
How to use this document
- Check the company qualifies for strike off. Before touching the form, confirm the company has not traded, sold stock for value, or changed its name in the last three months. Make sure there are no ongoing legal actions, insolvency proceedings, or creditor arrangements in place. If any of these apply, DS01 is not appropriate.
- Deal with assets, debts and records first. Any money or property still held by the company when it dissolves becomes bona vacantia and passes to the Crown, so settle debts, close bank accounts, distribute remaining assets to shareholders, and sort out employees and final payroll. Keep statutory records safe for at least seven years after dissolution.
- Notify interested parties within seven days of applying. By law, copies of the DS01 must be sent to creditors, employees, shareholders, pension trustees, and any directors who did not sign the form. This gives them the chance to object. Missing anyone out can lead to the strike off being refused or the company being restored later.
- Complete and submit the DS01 to Companies House. Fill in the company name and number, obtain signatures from the directors or a majority of them, and pay the filing fee. The form can be submitted online or by post. Companies House will then publish a notice in the relevant Gazette stating that the company is about to be struck off.
- Wait out the notice period and monitor objections. The registrar cannot strike the company off until at least two months after the Gazette notice is published. During this window anyone with a legitimate interest can object. If no objections succeed, a second notice is published confirming the dissolution, and the company ceases to exist on that date.
Common questions
Q Who can sign a DS01 application?
The application must be made by the directors of the company. If there is only one director, that person signs alone. If there are two, both must sign. Where there are three or more directors, a majority of them need to sign the form. Directors who did not sign should still be sent a copy of the application within seven days of it being submitted to Companies House.
Q How long does the DS01 strike off process take?
From submitting the form to the company being dissolved usually takes around two to three months. Companies House publishes a notice in the Gazette, and the registrar cannot proceed until at least two months have passed. If there are no objections, a second Gazette notice confirms dissolution shortly after the period ends. Objections or errors in the paperwork can extend the timeline significantly.
Q What happens to company assets when it's struck off?
Anything the company still owns at the point of dissolution, including cash in bank accounts, property, intellectual property, and unpaid debts owed to the company, passes to the Crown under the principle of bona vacantia. Recovering those assets later is possible but difficult and often costly. Directors should make sure everything is distributed or dealt with before the company is struck off.
Q Can directors still be held liable after a company is dissolved?
Yes. Dissolution does not wipe out personal liabilities that directors, officers, or members may already have incurred. Personal guarantees given to banks or landlords remain enforceable. Directors can also face action for wrongful or fraudulent trading, and if the company is later restored to the register, claims against it can be revived. Strike off is not a way to escape accountability.
Q Can a struck-off company be restored to the register?
Yes, in certain circumstances. A former director, member, creditor, or other interested party can apply to restore the company, usually within six years of dissolution. Restoration may be administrative (through Companies House) or by court order depending on the situation. Once restored, the company is treated as if it had never been dissolved, and claims and liabilities become live again.
Q What's the difference between strike off and liquidation?
Strike off via DS01 is a simple administrative route for a solvent company with no debts and no complications. Liquidation is a formal process run by a licensed insolvency practitioner, used when a company has creditors to pay off (compulsory or creditors' voluntary liquidation) or when shareholders want a tax-efficient wind-up of a solvent company with substantial assets (members' voluntary liquidation).
Q Do I need to tell HMRC before applying for strike off?
Yes. HMRC should be informed, final corporation tax, PAYE, and VAT returns submitted, and any tax owing paid before the DS01 is filed. HMRC is one of the parties that can object to a strike off if taxes are outstanding, and an objection will stop the process. Closing the PAYE scheme and deregistering for VAT are also sensible steps before applying.
Sources
This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.
- Guidance · UK GovStrike off your limited company from the Companies Register (gov.uk)gov.uk
- Guidance · UK GovForm DS01: Striking off application by a companygov.uk
- LegislationCompanies Act 2006, Section 1003legislation.gov.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.