Key Takeaways
Most routine companies house forms (AD01, AP01, CS01, PSC01, DS01, AA01 and others) can be filed online, and deadlines are strict-automatic late filing penalties apply for accounts, while persistent non-compliance with other filings can lead to striking off.
The confirmation statement (CS01) has replaced the annual return since 30 June 2016 and must be filed at least once every 12 months to keep company information up to date on the public register.
Changes to your registered office address, directors, corporate directors, and people with significant control must be reported promptly using the correct forms, typically within 14 days.
Accurate company records at Companies House are a legal requirement. Mistakes can lead to fines, prosecution, or even the company being struck off the register.
This article gives a practical, form-by-form overview with plain-English explanations of when to use each form, what information is required, and the deadlines you need to hit.
Introduction: What Are Companies House Forms and Why They Matter
Companies House is the UK registrar of companies, and every limited company and limited liability partnership must use official companies house forms to report changes and file regular updates. These standardised documents-available in both digital and paper formats-are the mechanism for updating the public register with new information about directors, shareholders, registered office address, accounting reference date, and people with significant control. Companies House provides digital and paper forms for company incorporation and compliance, starting with form IN01, which is used to register a new company in the UK. At incorporation, founders also submit a Memorandum of Association (a legal statement signed by initial shareholders) and Articles of Association, which define a company's internal rules and regulations.
From incorporation through to closure, companies must keep Companies House in sync with their internal company records, and forms are the way this happens. Many companies house forms can be filed online, making the process faster than ever. While a full, constantly updated collection of forms is available on the official companies house website, this article focuses on the most commonly used forms that most small and medium-sized businesses will encounter. Later sections cover specific form codes-AD01, AP01, CS01, PSC01, DS01, AA01 and more-along with practical filing tips.
How Companies House Filing Works in Practice
Most filings with Companies House are now handled electronically. WebFiling is the official online service for Companies House submissions, and Companies House online services allow web filing of documents with immediate acknowledgment. A free user guide for Companies House online service is available for anyone getting started. That said, many forms still have paper equivalents for situations where online filing is not possible.
The key types of events that trigger a filing obligation include changing your registered office address, the appointment or termination of a director or corporate director, share allotments, changes in people with significant control, and changes to your accounting reference date. Each of these events has a corresponding form, and most must be filed within 14 days. Filing deadlines must be observed to avoid late filing penalties-Companies House issues over 200,000 late-filing penalties annually, so this is not a theoretical risk.
Every company has a filing deadline for accounts (9 months after the accounting reference date for private companies) and a 12-month review period for the confirmation statement. Late submissions of accounts trigger automatic civil penalties, and persistent non-compliance can result in the company being struck off. All directors must verify their identity using GOV.UK One Login before filing documents, a requirement introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
Keeping the registered office current matters because this is where official notices, legal documents, and communications from HMRC and Companies House are deemed to be served. If your address is wrong, you may miss critical correspondence. Paper forms for filing at Companies House are slower and more prone to errors, so online filing is the recommended approach wherever possible. Once registered, companies can store details for future filings, saving time on repeat submissions.
Form submissions to Companies House are published on the public register, so directors should review carefully before submission to ensure that new information is complete and accurate. The legal responsibility for submitted forms lies with the company directors.
Forms for Changing Company Details (Address, Name, and Accounting Dates)
These forms update core company information-the registered office, the company name, and the accounting reference date-all of which are visible on the public register and used by third parties to identify and contact your company.
AD01 – Change of Registered Office Address. The AD01 form is for changing registered address. You would use it whenever your company moves premises, switches to a new accountant's service address, or relocates to a single alternative inspection location. The new address must be in the same UK jurisdiction where the company was incorporated (England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland). There is no fee, and the change takes legal effect only once the register is updated-not when the board passes its resolution. Filing online is typically processed within 24 hours.
NM01 – Change of Company Name. When a company adopts a new registered name-whether through a written special resolution or other company application process-form NM01 is used to notify Companies House. The new name must not be identical or too similar to an existing name on the register, and certain sensitive words require additional approval. Once accepted, Companies House issues a certificate of incorporation on change of name, and the name return appears on the public record.
AA01 – Change of Accounting Reference Date. Form AA01 is used to change a company's accounting reference date, either to extend or shorten the financial year. This directly affects subsequent accounts filing deadlines. Restrictions apply: a company generally cannot extend its accounting period beyond 18 months, and extensions are limited to once every five years unless aligning with a parent or subsidiary undertaking. Shortening is more flexible.
Each of these forms can usually be filed online or by post, but online submission is normally faster and provides immediate acknowledgment.
Forms for Directors, Secretaries and Corporate Directors
Companies House must always hold an up-to-date list of company officers, including individual directors, corporate directors, and company secretaries where applicable. Director/Secretary Changes forms are used to manage director or secretary details, and multiple forms exist for changing officer details across different categories.
AP01 and AP02 – Appointment. Use form AP01 to appoint a director. The form requires the person's full name, any former names used in the past 20 years, date of birth, nationality, service address (which becomes public), and usual residential address. For a corporate director appointment-where a company acts as director-use form AP02, which is for appointing a corporate director and requires registration details rather than personal particulars. Both must be filed within 14 days of the appointment.
AP03 and AP04 – Secretary Appointment. For a secretary appointment, use AP03 (for individuals) or AP04 (for a corporate body). Secretaries are optional for most private companies, but if one is appointed, their details must appear on the register.
TM01 and TM02 – Termination. Use form TM01 to terminate a director when they resign, are removed, or otherwise cease to hold office. Form TM02 is for terminating a company secretary (a corporate secretary termination follows the same process). Filing promptly ensures the public register matches the current board structure-delays can create confusion for creditors, banks, and other parties who rely on Companies House data.
CH01–CH04 – Changes to Particulars. The CH01 form changes particulars for a natural director (a director's details change such as a new service address or name correction). The CH02 form changes particulars for a corporate director (a corporate director's details change). The CH03 form changes particulars for a natural secretary (a secretary's details change), and the CH04 form changes particulars for a corporate secretary (a secretary change for a corporate body). All must be filed within 14 days.
Share Capital and Ownership Changes (SH01, SH02 and PSC Forms)
Companies house forms are used both to record changes to share capital and to record who ultimately controls the company through the PSC (person with significant control) regime. These filings ensure that the register accurately reflects ownership.
SH01 – Return of Allotment of Shares. Companies can issue more shares after incorporation-for example, when bringing in new investors or rewarding employees. Form SH01 is used for allotting shares with a statement of capital, and it updates the company's public record with the number, class, and nominal value of the new shares. It must be submitted within one month of allotment to keep ownership information in line with internal company records. Share transfers within a company require specific forms as well, depending on the nature of the transaction.
SH02 – Change of Share Capital. Form SH02 is for changing existing shares in a company-covering consolidation, subdivision, redenomination, or reduction of share capital. Some reductions require a special resolution or court order, and the register must reflect the updated share structure once processed.
PSC Forms (PSC01, PSC02 and others). Companies must register anyone with more than 25% of shares or voting rights in the PSC Register. Form PSC01 is used to notify Companies House of an individual person with significant control, while PSC02 covers a relevant legal entity with significant control. Trigger events-such as someone acquiring more than 25% of shares-must be reported within 14 days. Failure to maintain accurate PSC records is a criminal offence, and the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 has added enforcement powers including identity verification of PSCs.
Confirmation Statement, Annual Return and Company Records
The confirmation statement (CS01) is a snapshot of key company information. The confirmation statement replaced the annual return on 30 June 2016, and every company must file a confirmation statement annually.
The confirmation statement is filed using form CS01. It must be filed every 12 months (within 14 days of the end of your review period) and confirms details such as the registered office, directors, share capital, shareholders, and PSCs. You can also use it to report certain changes if they have not already been filed on separate forms. The filing fee is £50 online or £110 by paper.
The historic annual return (AR01) applied to periods before the introduction of the confirmation statement. Those older versions are now only relevant for archival purposes-you may still find them referenced on the National Archives website, but they have been replaced for all current filing periods.
The confirmation statement fits alongside your internal company records. The public register should mirror the company's statutory registers-the register of members, register of directors, PSC register and others. Although Companies House stores much of this information, the company is still legally required to maintain its own statutory registers, which are distinct from the online public record. In a dispute or inspection, internal records are crucial evidence and should be kept up to date alongside all filings.
Accounts, Dormant Companies and Closing a Company
Every company must deal with its annual accounts obligations and, at some stage, may become dormant or decide to close. Each scenario has specific companies house forms.
Annual accounts must be filed by the deadline based on the accounting reference date-9 months for a private limited company, 6 months for a public company. Late filing triggers automatic civil penalties: £150 if up to one month late, rising to £1,500 for more than six months. If a company files late two years in a row, penalties double. Directors are individually responsible for delivering accounts on time, and persistent non-compliance can lead to prosecution or disqualification.
AA02 – Dormant Company Accounts. Dormant accounts are filed for companies with no trading activity. Form AA02 is used for filing dormant accounts, and dormant accounts must be filed annually with Companies House even if the company has had no significant accounting transactions. This keeps the company on the register at lower cost and effort.
DS01 – Application for Striking Off. To dissolve a company, file form DS01. Companies must apply for striking off the register when directors wish to close a solvent company and remove it from the register. Dissolution can be initiated by the company directors, and the application for dissolution must be submitted to Companies House. Key conditions include having ceased trading, not having changed the company name recently, and ensuring there is no outstanding company withdrawal or objection from creditors.
Even when applying for strike-off, directors must ensure that all outstanding filings-accounts, confirmation statement, PSC updates-are brought up to date and that creditors are notified as required.
Staying Compliant: Practical Tips for Using Companies House Forms
Consistent, accurate filing is essential for maintaining a good compliance record and avoiding unnecessary penalties. Here are practical steps to stay on track:
Set reminders. Use practice management software or simple calendar alerts to track key dates: confirmation statement review period, accounts filing deadline, and any known changes in officers or registered office address.
File online. Filing online through WebFiling is faster, gives instant acknowledgment, and reduces errors compared to paper forms. Keep signed copies or digital records internally for audit and reference.
Review before submission. Directors should check draft forms carefully to ensure new information is consistent with other company records, especially where there are multiple simultaneous changes (for example, share allotments and PSC updates happening at the same time).
Visit the forms index. If you are unsure which form to file, consult the official Companies House forms index and explanatory notes for the most current guidance. Forms change periodically, so always check you are using the latest version.
FAQ: Common Questions About Companies House Forms
How do I know which Companies House form I need to use?
The quickest approach is to identify the type of change-new director appointment, change of registered office, allotment of shares, change in PSC, or change of accounting reference date-and then find the corresponding form code. Each form on the companies house website comes with notes describing who should use it, what information is needed, and any relevant deadlines. This guide covers the most common forms, but the official forms collection is the definitive source for other company types and more specialised filings, including those for a limited liability partnership or LLP.
Can I correct a mistake after filing a Companies House form?
Yes. If a form filed on or after 1 October 2009 contains an error, you can use form RP01 alongside the corrected version of the original form (for example, a corrected AP01) to replace the incorrect filing. The amended document must match the company number, name, and key dates. For some filings-such as accounts or certain charge created notifications-there are specialised correction procedures. If the error is significant, seek professional advice to avoid compounding the problem.
Do I need to keep my own company records if everything is filed at Companies House?
Yes. UK companies are legally required to maintain their own statutory registers-including the register of members, directors, secretaries, and people with significant control-even though much of the same information is also filed at Companies House. You may also need to maintain a record at a single alternative inspection location if your registers are not kept at the registered office. In the event of a dispute or inspection, internal company records are crucial evidence and should be kept up to date alongside all Companies House filings.
What happens if I miss a Companies House filing deadline?
Late filing of accounts triggers automatic financial penalties that increase the longer the delay-from £150 for a private company up to one month late, to £1,500 for over six months. For public companies, penalties range up to £7,500. Repeated late filing in consecutive years causes penalties to double. Persistent failure to file a confirmation statement or other required documents can result in Companies House starting strike-off proceedings, which may ultimately dissolve the company if not rectified in time.
Can all Companies House forms be filed online?
Most commonly used forms-AD01, AP01, CS01, PSC01, DS01, AA01 and others-can now be filed online. Online filing is generally quicker and more convenient than paper submissions. However, a small number of more specialised forms (for example, certain property charge registrations or filings by companies in liquidation) still require paper filing. The Companies House website clearly indicates which forms can be filed electronically and which must be sent by post.
