Form ET1 UK: Employment Tribunal Claim Guide 2025
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If you have fallen out with your employer over dismissal, discrimination, unpaid wages, or another workplace issue that you cannot resolve through internal channels, Form ET1 is the document that formally opens a case at the Employment Tribunal. It is the claimant's first opportunity to set out who they are, who they are bringing the claim against, what happened, and what they want the tribunal to do about it.
Getting it right matters, because a poorly drafted ET1 can be struck out, watered down, or lead to avoidable delays. This guide walks through what the form is, how it fits into the wider tribunal process, what belongs in each section, and how to draft a Details of Claim that actually holds up to scrutiny.
It is written for claimants in England, Wales, and Scotland who are either self-representing or simply want to understand what they are signing before it goes in.
What this document is
Form ET1 is the official claim form used to begin proceedings at the Employment Tribunal in Great Britain. Whether the dispute involves unfair dismissal, discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, unlawful deductions from wages, a redundancy issue, whistleblowing, or a breach of contract on termination, the ET1 is where the claim starts.
It can be submitted online through the gov.uk service or sent by post to the relevant tribunal office. Before filing, most claimants must first notify ACAS under the Early Conciliation scheme and obtain a certificate number, which goes on the form.
Strict time limits apply, often three months less one day from the event complained of, so moving promptly is essential. The form asks for the claimant's contact details, the respondent employer's details, employment dates and pay information, the type of claim being brought, a narrative Details of Claim section, and the remedy sought.
Once accepted, the tribunal serves a copy on the respondent, who then has a set period to file their ET3 response.
How to use this document
- Complete ACAS Early Conciliation first. Before you can lodge an ET1 for most claim types, you need to contact ACAS and go through Early Conciliation. This usually takes up to six weeks and ends with a certificate containing a reference number. You must enter this number on the ET1 or the tribunal is likely to reject your claim. 2. Gather your employment details and evidence. Pull together your start and end dates, job title, gross and net pay figures, notice period, contract, payslips, any grievance correspondence, dismissal or disciplinary letters, and anything else that supports what happened. You do not attach all of this to the ET1, but you need the facts and figures accurate before you start drafting. 3. Identify the correct respondent and claim types. The respondent is usually the employing entity named on your contract or payslip, not the branch or manager. Tick every claim type that applies, unfair dismissal, discrimination, unpaid wages, holiday pay, and so on. Missing a claim here can make it harder to add later, so think carefully before submitting. 4. Draft the Details of Claim carefully. This is the narrative heart of the form. Set out the facts in chronological order, link each set of facts to the legal claim it supports, and state clearly what outcome you are asking for. Aim for clarity over volume. A tight, well-structured account reads far better than a long emotional narrative. 5. Submit, keep copies, and watch the post. File the ET1 online or by post within the time limit, and keep a full PDF or photocopy along with your ACAS certificate. The tribunal will send a copy to your employer, who then has a fixed period to file an ET3 response. Diary that deadline and start preparing for the case management stage.
Common questions
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Common questions
Q How long do I have to submit an ET1?
Most employment tribunal claims must be brought within three months less one day from the date of the act complained of, for example the effective date of dismissal or the last discriminatory act. Some claims, such as equal pay or statutory redundancy pay, have different limits. The ACAS Early Conciliation period can extend the deadline slightly. If you are close to the limit, act quickly because tribunals rarely allow late claims.
Q Do I have to use ACAS before filing the ET1?
In most cases yes. Early Conciliation through ACAS is a mandatory step for the majority of employment tribunal claims. You contact ACAS, they offer both sides the chance to resolve matters without a hearing, and at the end you receive a certificate with a reference number. That number goes on your ET1. Without it, the tribunal will usually reject the claim unless a specific exemption applies.
Q Is there a fee to submit Form ET1?
At the time of writing there is no fee to issue an ET1 in the Employment Tribunal. Fees were previously charged but were abolished following a Supreme Court decision. Fees could be reintroduced in future, so it is worth checking gov.uk for the current position before you file. You may still incur costs if you instruct a representative or if costs are ordered against you in limited circumstances.
Q What happens after I submit the ET1?
The tribunal reviews the form, and if it is accepted a copy is sent to the respondent, who has 28 days to file a response on Form ET3. The case is then allocated for case management, where directions are issued about disclosure, witness statements, and hearing dates. Some matters settle before the hearing, often through ACAS or private negotiation. Others proceed to a full merits hearing.
Q Can I bring more than one type of claim on the same ET1?
Yes, and you generally should. If your situation involves, for example, unfair dismissal and race discrimination and unlawful deduction of wages, all three can be listed on a single ET1. Tick each relevant claim type and make sure the Details of Claim section explains the facts that support each one. Keeping related claims together avoids duplication and usually produces a cleaner case.
Q What remedy can I ask for?
Typical remedies include compensation for lost earnings, a basic and compensatory award for unfair dismissal, injury to feelings awards for discrimination, declarations that your rights were breached, and in some cases reinstatement or re-engagement in the original role. State clearly on the ET1 what you are seeking. You can refine the figures later once you have prepared a schedule of loss, but the headline remedy should be on the form.
Q Can I amend the ET1 after it has been submitted?
Amendments are possible but not automatic. You need to apply to the tribunal explaining what you want to change and why, and the other side can object. Small corrections are usually allowed easily, but adding new claims, particularly out of time, is much harder. This is why it pays to get the ET1 as accurate and complete as you reasonably can before submitting it in the first place.
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.
- Guidance · UK GovMake a claim to an employment tribunal (gov.uk)gov.uk
- Guidance · UK GovForm ET1 – Claim form (gov.uk)gov.uk
- Official SourceACAS Early Conciliationacas.org.uk
- Guidance · UK GovEmployment Tribunal Rules of Proceduregov.uk
Legal helpline
Unsure how to frame your tribunal claim?
The way you describe events and pick claim types on an ET1 shapes everything that follows. An experienced legal adviser can help you think through your options and what to watch out for, based on what you describe on the call.
- Plain-English answers to your specific questions about the ET1
- Practical perspective on the claim types that may fit your situation
- What to watch out for when drafting your Details of Claim
- Guidance tailored to what you describe about your employment dispute
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.