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Form TM02 UK: Terminate a Company Secretary

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Part ofCompanies House Forms UK

Written by Brad Askew Solicitor (non-practising)
Brad is on the roll of solicitors of England & Wales but does not hold a practising certificate and does not provide legal advice.
Updated June 2026 · England & Wales
When a company secretary steps down or is removed from their role, Companies House needs to be told. The form used for this is TM02, and filing it correctly keeps the public register accurate and your company records in order. Getting this wrong, or forgetting to file at all, can cause problems later when banks, investors, or auditors check who holds official positions in your company. This page walks through when TM02 is used, how the filing works, what happens afterwards, and the situations where things get more complicated. If you are unsure whether your particular circumstances call for TM02 or a different filing, a short phone conversation with an experienced legal adviser can help you work out the right approach before you submit anything.

What this document is

Form TM02 is the Companies House notification that records the end of a person's appointment as company secretary. It is not the document that removes them from the role itself. The actual ending of the appointment happens through whatever mechanism applies: a resignation letter, a board resolution, a shareholder decision, or the terms of the person's service contract.

TM02 simply tells Companies House that the change has happened, so the public record can be updated. Every UK company that has a secretary (private companies are not required to have one, but public companies are) must keep Companies House informed when that person leaves.

The form captures basic details: the company name and number, the departing secretary's name, and the date their appointment ended. It can be filed by post using the paper form, or online through the Companies House WebFiling service, which is usually quicker and confirms receipt automatically.

How to use this document

  1. Confirm how the appointment is ending. Before filing anything, make sure you know the legal basis for the secretary leaving. This might be a written resignation, a board resolution removing them, the expiry of a fixed-term appointment, or another cause. The date on TM02 should match the effective date of that event, so get this clear first.
  2. Check your articles and any service contract. Your company's articles of association may set out procedures for appointing and removing a secretary, and the person may have a service agreement with notice periods or other terms. Following the correct internal process matters, because filing TM02 does not override contractual obligations the company may still owe.
  3. Gather the details you need. You will need the company name and registered number, the full name of the departing secretary as it appears on the register, and the termination date. If you use WebFiling, you will also need your company authentication code. Double check the name matches the existing Companies House record exactly.
  4. File TM02 with Companies House. Submit online through WebFiling for the fastest route, or post the paper form to the relevant Companies House office. Online filings are usually processed within a day or two; postal filings take longer. There is no filing fee for TM02 at the time of writing, but check gov.uk for the current position.
  5. Update your internal records. Once Companies House confirms the change, update your statutory register of secretaries to show the termination date. If the secretary held any other roles, such as director, those require separate filings. Tell anyone who needs to know internally, and consider whether bank mandates or authorised signatory lists need updating too.

Common questions

If you're dealing with this kind of situation, speak to an experienced legal adviser who can walk you through it — from £149.

Common questions

Q Does a private company need to replace the secretary after filing TM02?
Private limited companies in England, Wales, and Scotland are not required to have a company secretary at all, so you can leave the role vacant after filing TM02 if you wish. Public companies must have one, and if yours is a PLC you will need to appoint a replacement and file form AP03 or AP04. Check your articles, as some older private company articles still require a secretary.
Q Is there a deadline for filing TM02?
Companies House expects notification of changes to officers to be filed promptly, and the information on the public register should reflect the current position. While the form itself does not carry a specific statutory deadline in the same way as annual accounts, leaving the register out of date can create problems and may amount to a breach of the company's filing duties. File as soon as practical after the termination date.
Q Can the outgoing secretary file TM02 themselves?
In practice TM02 is filed by the company, usually by a director or an existing officer with access to the WebFiling credentials. If a secretary has resigned and the company is slow to update the register, the former secretary can write to Companies House asking that the record be corrected, but they cannot simply log in and file it themselves without the authentication code.
Q What if the secretary disputes their removal?
TM02 is only an administrative notification. If the secretary believes they were removed in breach of contract or without the proper procedure being followed, their remedy is against the company, not Companies House. Disputes of this kind can involve employment claims, contractual claims, or challenges under the articles. Filing TM02 does not prevent such a claim from being brought.
Q Does TM02 apply when a secretary dies?
Yes. Where a secretary has passed away, the company still needs to notify Companies House so the register can be updated. TM02 is used and the termination date will usually be the date of death. Sensitivity with family members and beneficiaries is worth bearing in mind, but from a filing perspective the process is the same as any other termination.
Q What is the difference between TM01 and TM02?
TM01 is used to terminate the appointment of a director. TM02 is used to terminate the appointment of a company secretary. They are separate forms because directors and secretaries are distinct roles under the Companies Act 2006, even where one person happens to hold both. If someone is leaving both roles, you file both forms.
Q Can I file TM02 if the secretary is a corporate entity rather than an individual?
Yes. A company secretary can be a corporate body, and the same form is used to record the end of that appointment. You enter the corporate name and registered number where applicable. The usual care applies about making sure the details match the existing register entry exactly.
If you're dealing with this kind of situation, speak to an experienced legal adviser who can walk you through it — from £149.

Sources

This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.

Brad Askew, Solicitor (non-practising)

Written & reviewed by

Brad Askew Solicitor (non-practising)

Brad is on the roll of solicitors of England & Wales but does not hold a practising certificate and does not provide legal advice. LegalDocuments.co.uk is not a law firm and does not provide regulated legal advice.

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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.