Form DS01 is how the directors of a solvent company ask Companies House to remove it from the register. Filing the form takes minutes, and since 1 February 2026 it costs just £13 online. Most delays happen before and after the form: a company that isn’t eligible yet, a creditor nobody told, or HMRC objecting because a final return is missing.
This guide walks through the eligibility rules, what to do before you apply, how to file, and what happens next.
Can your company use voluntary strike-off?
You can only apply if, in the last three months, the company has not:
- Traded or carried on business
- Changed its name
- Sold property or rights it held for trading purposes
- Done anything else except what’s needed to close the company down
The company also can’t be in, or about to enter, an insolvency procedure, and it must be able to pay its debts. If it can’t, strike-off is the wrong route — see our guide on how to close a limited company for the alternatives.
Before you apply: get the company ready
- Pay every creditor, including HMRC, suppliers and lenders.
- File any overdue accounts and confirmation statements. Companies House checks for missing filings.
- File the final accounts and CT600 up to the date trading stopped, and pay any Corporation Tax due.
- Close PAYE and deregister for VAT, if the company is registered for either.
- Distribute the remaining cash to shareholders. Up to £25,000 can be treated as capital rather than dividends.
- Close the business bank account. When the company is dissolved, any money left in it passes to the Crown.
Then wait until the three-month window has passed since the company last traded or sold assets.
How to file form DS01: step by step
Step 1: Get board approval
The directors agree to apply for strike-off. A majority of directors must sign the application.
Step 2: Apply online (recommended)
Use Companies House’s online close-a-company service. It costs £13, paid by debit or credit card. It’s quicker than paper and checks the form as you go, so it’s less likely to be rejected. You’ll need the company authentication code.
Step 3: Or apply on paper
If you can’t apply online, the paper DS01 costs £18, paid by cheque or postal order made payable to “Companies House”. The cheque must not come from the company’s own account. Common rejection reasons include a missing fee, a company name or number that doesn’t match the register, and too few director signatures.
Step 4: Send copies within 7 days
Within 7 days of applying, you must send a copy of the application to everyone with an interest in the company:
- Shareholders
- Creditors, including HMRC and lenders
- Employees
- Managers or trustees of any employee pension fund
- Any directors who didn’t sign the form
Failing to do this is a criminal offence. Keep proof of who you sent copies to and when.
What happens after you apply
- Companies House confirms the application and publishes a first notice in The Gazette.
- Two months for objections. Creditors, HMRC or anyone else with an interest can object during this period.
- Dissolution. If there are no objections, the company is struck off and a second Gazette notice confirms it has been dissolved.
From start to finish this usually takes around three months.
Why strike-off applications get suspended
The most common objector is HMRC. It will usually object if a Corporation Tax return is outstanding, tax is unpaid, or PAYE and VAT records haven’t been closed. Companies House then suspends the strike-off until the issue is resolved.
Other creditors can object too, including banks with outstanding loans. The fix is the same: settle the debt or the missing filing, and ask the objector to withdraw.
Changed your mind? Withdrawing a DS01
If the company starts trading again or you decide to keep it, you must withdraw the application using form DS02. You must also withdraw it if the company changes its name, sells assets or becomes subject to an insolvency procedure while the application is pending.
Strike-off with SmartFiling
Most of the work in a strike-off is the preparation: the final accounts, the final CT600, closing PAYE and VAT, and getting the timing right. SmartFiling’s ICAEW chartered accountants handle all of it for a fixed fee, then file the DS01 for you. See our dormant company services or get a free quote — we’ll reply within one working day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an accountant to file a DS01?
No. The form itself is simple. Most directors use an accountant for the final accounts and tax return, which must be done first.
Do I need to file accounts after applying for strike-off?
If accounts fall due while the application is pending, Companies House expects them to be filed. Filing final accounts before applying avoids the issue.
Can a dormant company be struck off?
Yes. A dormant company that has never traded, or stopped more than three months ago, is usually a straightforward strike-off.
