Form DS01: the strike-off walkthrough
Filing form DS01 itself is simple; the parts directors miss are who has to sign it, who has to be told about it and by when, and what happens for the two months after Companies House receives it. The current fee is £13 online or £18 by post. A majority of the company’s directors must sign (both, if there are two; at least two of three if there are three), and a copy must go to every creditor, employee, shareholder, non-signing director and pension trustee within 7 days of filing. Once Companies House accepts it, a first Gazette notice opens a 2-month objection window, and the company is only dissolved if nobody, most commonly HMRC or another creditor, objects in that time. This walkthrough covers the mechanics; whether striking off is the right route at all is covered on our strike-off page. gov.uk, strike off your company from Companies Register
Check you actually qualify first
Companies House will reject or later challenge a DS01 if, in the last 3 months, the company has traded or sold off stock, changed its name, or if it is threatened with liquidation or has a Company Voluntary Arrangement in place. Run the strike-off objection risk checker before you file, not after, since a rejected or objected-to application wastes the fee and the time.
The fee and who signs
£13 to file online, £18 by post. A majority of directors must sign: both directors if there are two, at least two of three if there are three, and so on. A sole director signs alone.
Who you must notify, and by when
Within 7 days of sending the form to Companies House, a copy must go to everyone with a genuine interest: all creditors, employees, shareholders, any director who did not sign, and the trustees of any employee pension fund. This is a legal requirement, not a courtesy, and missing someone off the list is one of the more common reasons a strike off unravels later. Our creditor list template helps make sure nobody on the creditor side gets missed.
What happens after you file
Once Companies House accepts the DS01, it publishes a first Gazette notice, which opens a 2-month window in which anyone (most commonly HMRC, if tax is owed, or another creditor) can object. If nobody objects, a second Gazette notice confirms the strike off and the company is dissolved. If someone does object, the strike off is suspended and the company stays on the register, still owing its normal filing duties, until the objection is resolved. The strike-off objection timeline shows how to read the Gazette notice and works through the dates.
If the company has debts
An objection from HMRC or a creditor is likely, and the debts are not written off just because the company is eventually struck off. See company strike off for why a debt-laden strike off usually fails, and creditors’ voluntary liquidation for the proper route when the company cannot pay what it owes.
Common questions
How much does it cost to file form DS01?
Since 1 February 2026, £13 to file online or £18 by post, down from the previous £33/£44. Check gov.uk for the current fee before you file, since Companies House fees do change.
Who has to sign form DS01?
A majority of the company’s directors. With two directors, both sign. With three, at least two of the three sign. A sole director signs alone.
How long does strike off take after filing DS01?
Typically around 2 to 3 months in total: Companies House publishes a first Gazette notice, which opens a 2-month objection window, and the company is dissolved shortly after if nobody objects.
Do I have to tell HMRC I am filing a DS01?
You must send a copy of the DS01 to every creditor, which includes HMRC if the company owes any tax, within 7 days of sending it to Companies House. HMRC is also one of the most likely parties to object if a genuine debt is outstanding.
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