In the UK, various approaches can be employed to close a limited company, each based on the financial situation of the business.
One such method involves using a DS01 form, which serves to officially dissolve a limited company and remove its name from the Companies House register.
Once this process is complete, the company no longer exists in the eyes of the law.
For a DS01 form to be valid, it must be signed by a majority of the company’s directors.
Before submitting the form, it is crucial to address any remaining company assets, including closing bank accounts and transferring domain names.
Include the Following Information in the Form:
- Company number.
- Full company name.
- Signatures of directors (if there are more than two directors, a majority must sign).
- Contact information for addressing any queries from Companies House.
As part of the dissolution process, the DS01 form must be sent to all relevant parties within seven days of its submission to Companies House.
This group includes creditors, employees, pension scheme administrators, shareholders, suppliers, and any directors who did not sign the form.
NOTE – Click here if you want to learn how to close your limited UK company.
How Do I Get a Companies House DS01 Form?
The DS01 form can be downloaded and printed from the official government website, https://www.gov.uk/.
Once completed, the form should be posted to Companies House.
The appropriate address depends on the company’s initial registration location, which can be easily found online. Possible addresses are:
- Cardiff – The Registrar of Companies, Companies House, Crown Way, Cardiff, Wales, CF14 3UZ
- Belfast – The Registrar of Companies, Companies House, Second Floor, The Linenhall, 32-38 Linenhall Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT2 8BG
- Edinburgh – The Registrar of Companies, Companies House, Fourth Floor, Edinburgh Quay 2, 139 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH3 9FF
NOTE – This link about director’s loans might also be useful for you to read.
How Much Does a DS01 Form Cost?
A £10 fee is required for company dissolution, payable by postal order or cheque to Companies House.
It is important to note that a cheque from the company being dissolved is not an acceptable form of payment.
NOTE – You might find this post useful talking about closing a limited company with debts.
What Happens Next?
After submitting the DS01 form, Companies House will send a letter confirming whether the form has been correctly completed.
If approved, a notice of the company’s pending dissolution will be published in the local Gazette, either in London, Belfast, or Edinburgh, again depending on the initial registration location.
If no objections are raised, the company will be removed from the register after the two months specified in the notice.
A final notice will then be published in the Gazette, signifying the company’s legal dissolution.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the DS01 form and its role in dissolving a limited company in the UK.
If you need help with a Companies House DS01, you can contact us here or request a quote here.
And before you go…You might also find this post useful. It explains how to close a ltd company without paying tax.
