Can my company use the DS01 route?

The DS01 voluntary strike-off route under section 1003 of the Companies Act 2006 is available to a UK solvent company that (a) has not traded or changed its name in the past 3 months, (b) is not the subject of formal insolvency proceedings, (c) has no winding-up petition presented, (d) has settled all HMRC and creditor liabilities, and (e) has distributed all remaining assets to shareholders. If your company fails any of these tests, the DS01 route is not appropriate — for an insolvent company, the correct route is liquidation under the Insolvency Act 1986; for a company with material assets that cannot be distributed before dissolution, a Members' Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) may be more appropriate.

How much does the DS01 application cost?

The Companies House fee for a DS01 application is £8 if filed online via the gov.uk strike-off service, or £10 if filed on paper using Form DS01 v9.0 (02/26 edition). The fee is non-refundable. There are additional incidental costs — Gazette notice publication (covered by the Companies House fee), the cost of notifying creditors, the cost of any final HMRC clearance application, and the cost of any pre-strike-off accounting and tax wind-down. In the United Kingdom, a complete DS01 close typically costs £200-£500 for a simple solvent company with no employees and no pension scheme.

Who must sign the DS01?

A majority of the company's directors must sign the DS01 application. For a sole-director company, the one director signs alone. For a 2-director board, both must sign. For a 3-director board, 2 must sign. For a 5-director board, 3 must sign. Our template adapts the signing block to reflect the signing directors' count and roles. The directors' personal liability for accuracy of the DS01 declaration is significant — knowingly filing false particulars is an offence under section 1010 of the Companies Act 2006 and may give rise to fraudulent trading liability.

What does HMRC look at?

HMRC is the single most common objector to UK DS01 strike-off applications. HMRC checks (i) all Corporation Tax returns up to the cessation date are filed and any outstanding tax is paid; (ii) any PAYE scheme is closed (P32 + Employer Payment Summary); (iii) any VAT registration is cancelled (VAT 7 + final return); (iv) final accounts have been filed at Companies House. Where outstanding tax remains, HMRC will object during the Gazette period and the registrar will pause the strike-off. The Expert version of our template includes a structured HMRC clearance checklist with fields for clearance letter status — strongly recommended for any company with material tax history.

Can a creditor stop the strike-off?

Yes — any creditor (including HMRC, a landlord, a former employee, or any trade supplier) may object to the strike-off during the 2-month Gazette period. The objection is made directly to Companies House with evidence of the unpaid liability. If sustained, the registrar suspends the strike-off and the directors must either settle the debt or convert the close to a Members' Voluntary Liquidation. Section 1006 of the Companies Act 2006 specifically requires every interested party — including all known creditors — to receive a copy of the DS01 within 7 days of filing, giving them the opportunity to object early.

Can the company be brought back after strike-off?

Yes. Under section 1024 of the Companies Act 2006, any former director, member, creditor, employee or other interested party may apply to Companies House for administrative restoration of the dissolved company within 6 years of dissolution. Section 1029 allows court restoration for longer periods — up to 20 years for most claims, and longer for personal injury claims. Restoration revives the company as though it had never been dissolved — assets that had vested in the Crown as bona vacantia revert to the company, and creditors may pursue undischarged claims against the directors. UK directors should retain records for at least 6 years from dissolution to manage this risk.

What records must I keep after strike-off?

Section 388 of the Companies Act 2006 requires accounting records to be retained for 3 years from the date they are made (for private companies) or 6 years (for public companies). HMRC requires Corporation Tax records to be retained for 6 years from the end of the relevant accounting period. Employer pension scheme records must be retained for 15 years. Our template captures the retention period and storage location in Expert mode. Records may be required for any restoration application under CA 2006 ss.1024-1034, any HMRC enquiry, or any creditor claim within the Limitation Act 1980 limitation period (6 years for contract / tort claims, 12 years for deeds).

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UK DS01 Strike-Off Pack — Voluntary Dissolution

Draft a UK voluntary strike-off pack for filing with Companies House under Part 31 Chapter 1 of the Companies Act 2006 (sections 1003-1011). Consolidates the board resolution authorising the application, the directors' eligibility and solvency confirmations under sections 1004 and 1005, the section 1006 cover statement listing all parties that must be notified within 7 days, and — in Expert mode — the HMRC clearance checklist, the bona vacantia warning under section 1012, the restoration caveat under sections 1024-1034, the directors' continuing duties under sections 171-177, and the prohibition on fraudulent trading under Insolvency Act 1986 section 213. Built around the Companies House DS01 form (version 9.0, February 2026 edition) — £8 online / £10 paper.

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DS01 STRIKE-OFF PACK — VOLUNTARY DISSOLUTION

Holbrook Consulting Services Limited (Company No. 09876543) · Companies Act 2006 Ss.1003-1011 · 4 June 2026

TO: The Registrar of Companies
Companies House
Crown Way, Maindy, Cardiff CF14 3UZ

BY: Holbrook Consulting Services Limited (Company No. 09876543), acting by a majority of its directors.

RE: Application for voluntary striking off — Holbrook Consulting Services Limited

Filed online (£8 fee) on 4 June 2026

1. Board resolution. At a meeting of the board of directors of Holbrook Consulting Services Limited, a private limited company (Ltd) incorporated on 12 March 2015 with registered office at Sunningdale House, 27 Mariner Road, Bristol BS1 4XY, held on 4 June 2026, the following resolutions were unanimously passed:

(a) THAT the company, having ceased trading and having no further commercial purpose, should be voluntarily struck off the register of companies pursuant to section 1003 of the Companies Act 2006;
(b) THAT the application for striking off be made on Form DS01 (version 9.0, 02/26 edition) and filed with Companies House online (£8 fee);
(c) THAT a majority of the directors — 2 of 3 — be authorised to sign and submit the DS01 application; and
(d) THAT each director undertakes to procure that, within 7 days of the application being made, a copy of the application is sent to every interested party identified in this Pack in accordance with section 1006 of the Companies Act 2006.

2. Statutory eligibility — Companies Act 2006 ss.1004 and 1005. The directors confirm, having made due enquiry, that the company satisfies the eligibility conditions for voluntary striking off:

(a) No trading in the past 3 months: Confirmed — no trading activity in the 3 months preceding the application.
(b) No change of name in the past 3 months: Confirmed.
(c) No insolvency proceedings: Confirmed — no formal insolvency proceedings have been commenced and the company is not subject to administration, voluntary arrangement, or scheme of arrangement.
(d) No winding-up petition presented: Confirmed — no winding-up petition has been presented or notice given.

3. Section 1006 — 7-day notification schedule. The directors must send a copy of the DS01 application to every interested party within 7 days of filing. Failure to notify is an offence punishable by up to 12 months' imprisonment for England and Wales companies, plus an unlimited fine. The directors confirm the following notification status:

(a) Creditors — copy of DS01 sent to all known creditors within 7 days of filing.

(b) Employees — copy of DS01 sent to all employees within 7 days of filing, accompanied by P45 and any redundancy notification under ERA 1996 s.86.

(c) HMRC — copy of DS01 sent to HMRC Corporation Tax and (where applicable) PAYE / VAT units within 7 days. HMRC objection power preserves the right of the Crown to object during the Gazette period.

(d) Pension fund managers / trustees — Not applicable (no pension scheme).

(e) Landlord (registered office and any business premises) — copy of DS01 sent within 7 days.

4. HMRC clearance and tax wind-down (Expert). Prior to the strike-off becoming effective, the directors confirm the position on each of the following:

(a) Corporation Tax filings up to date: Yes — final CT600 filed.

(b) PAYE scheme closed: Yes — P32 and final P11D / Employer Payment Summary filed.

(c) VAT deregistered: Yes — VAT 7 filed and final VAT return submitted.

(d) Outstanding Corporation Tax / HMRC liabilities: £0.00 — final CT600 filed for the period ending 31 March 2026 showing no outstanding Corporation Tax. Final VAT return submitted 28 April 2026; VAT 7 deregistration confirmed 14 May 2026.. These must be settled in full before strike-off, or HMRC will object during the Gazette period.

(e) HMRC clearance letter: Received — confirming no further tax liabilities are outstanding.

(f) Final accounts filed at Companies House: Yes.

5. Asset distribution and bona vacantia (Companies Act 2006 s.1012). Any asset held by the company at the moment of dissolution passes to the Crown as bona vacantia under s.1012 of the Companies Act 2006. Recovery requires application to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department and is discretionary, slow and not guaranteed.

(a) Remaining assets distributed: Yes — all assets distributed to shareholders before dissolution.
(b) Asset distribution detail:
All distributable reserves (£42,800 retained earnings) paid as a pre-dissolution dividend to the two shareholders on 22 May 2026. Tangible assets (office furniture, IT equipment, BVR £1,200) sold to staff and proceeds added to the dividend pool. Bank account closed 30 May 2026 with nil balance. No assets remain at the date of application.
(c) Distribution method: pre-dissolution dividend or distribution from distributable reserves.
(d) Bona vacantia warning acknowledged: Yes — directors acknowledge that any asset remaining at dissolution passes to the Crown.

6. Restoration caveat and directors' continuing duties. Under sections 1024-1034 of the Companies Act 2006, a dissolved company may be administratively restored to the register within 6 years of dissolution (s.1024) or restored by court order in extended circumstances (s.1029). Creditors, shareholders, HMRC, the Crown (bona vacantia), and former employees all have standing to apply. Directors' duties under sections 171-177 of the Companies Act 2006 continue until dissolution, and the directors remain personally liable for breach of those duties (and for any fraudulent trading under s.213 Insolvency Act 1986) notwithstanding strike-off.

Restoration caveat acknowledged: Yes — directors acknowledge the restoration framework and the continuing exposure to creditor / HMRC / Crown claims.

Directors' continuing duties detail:
The directors acknowledge their continuing duties under Companies Act 2006 ss.171-177, the prohibition on fraudulent trading under Insolvency Act 1986 s.213, and the risk of personal liability for any creditor or HMRC claim revived through administrative restoration under ss.1024-1034 within 6 years of dissolution. Both directors will retain copies of company books and tax records for the prescribed period.

7. Record retention. Books, accounts, returns and other company records must be retained for 6 years from the dissolution date (HMRC tax records, Companies Act books). Storage location: Off-site secure storage at Holbrook family solicitors (Carter and Daughters LLP, Bristol) — file ref CD-HCS-2026-DISSOLUTION.. Failure to retain records is an offence under section 388 of the Companies Act 2006 (accounting records) and may also give rise to liability under the Limitation Act 1980 in any later restoration or creditor claim.

8. Directors' declaration. The undersigned directors of Holbrook Consulting Services Limited declare that, having made due enquiry, the company is eligible for voluntary striking off under sections 1003-1011 of the Companies Act 2006, that no insolvency or winding-up proceedings have been commenced, that all known creditors and other interested parties will be notified within 7 days of filing the DS01 in accordance with section 1006, and that the directors will continue to comply with their duties under sections 171-177 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the Insolvency Act 1986 until dissolution is effective.

This Pack and the underlying DS01 application are governed by the law of England and Wales.

DIRECTOR (SIGNING DS01)

Catherine Mary Holbrook

Managing Director · 4 June 2026

Date: ____________________

DIRECTOR (SIGNING DS01)

Anthony James Holbrook

Finance Director · 4 June 2026

Date: ____________________

Available as a print-ready PDF or an editable Microsoft Word (.docx) file.

What Is a UK DS01 Strike-Off Pack?

A UK DS01 strike-off pack is a consolidated corporate instrument prepared by the directors of a British limited company, plc, LLP, CIC or other registered entity in advance of filing Form DS01 with Companies House to apply for voluntary striking off under section 1003 of the Companies Act 2006. The Pack does three things at once: it documents the board resolution authorising the application; it sets out the directors' confirmations of eligibility under sections 1004 and 1005 (no trading or change of name in the past 3 months; no formal insolvency proceedings; no winding-up petition presented); and it records the section 1006 notification schedule — the list of every interested party who must receive a copy of the DS01 within 7 days of filing. Failure to notify is a criminal offence punishable by up to 12 months' imprisonment for England & Wales companies, or 6 months for Scotland and Northern Ireland companies, plus an unlimited fine.

In the United Kingdom in 2026, voluntary strike-off is the cheapest and fastest way to close a solvent company that has ceased trading. The DS01 form (current version 9.0, dated 02/26) is filed online at gov.uk for £8 or on paper for £10, and Companies House publishes a first Gazette notice opening a two-month objection period. Where no sustained objection arises — most commonly from HMRC, a creditor, or the Crown via the Treasury Solicitor's Bona Vacantia Division — Companies House publishes a second Gazette notice and the company is dissolved. The directors must distribute all remaining assets before the dissolution moment, because anything left at the date of dissolution passes to the Crown as bona vacantia under section 1012 of the Companies Act 2006. Recovery via the Bona Vacantia Division is slow, discretionary and not guaranteed.

The DS01 process is fundamentally a director-driven, low-cost mechanism. It is not appropriate for an insolvent company (which requires liquidation under the Insolvency Act 1986), and it is not appropriate where the company still has tangible assets that have not been distributed. UK directors must remember that their duties under Companies Act 2006 sections 171-177 — and the prohibition on fraudulent trading under Insolvency Act 1986 section 213 — continue until dissolution, and that the dissolved company may be administratively restored to the register within 6 years under section 1024 (or for longer periods on application to court under section 1029). A creditor, former employee, HMRC or the Crown may apply for restoration and pursue the directors personally for unsettled claims.

What's Covered in This Template

Our UK DS01 Strike-Off Pack template generates a complete board-level instrument aligned with Companies Act 2006 ss.1003-1034 and the Companies House DS01 v9.0 (02/26) framework.

Board Resolution

Unanimous board resolution authorising voluntary strike-off under section 1003 Companies Act 2006 and the filing of DS01 v9.0 (02/26) — online or paper with the correct fee (£8 / £10).

Eligibility Confirmation (ss.1004 + 1005)

Directors' confirmation that the company has not traded or changed its name in the past 3 months, is not in formal insolvency proceedings, and has no winding-up petition presented.

Section 1006 — 7-Day Notification Schedule

Express schedule of notifications to creditors, employees, HMRC, pension trustees, and landlord — with the criminal penalty for failure (up to 12 months / 6 months by jurisdiction).

Jurisdiction-Adaptive Penalty Wording

Penalty for failure to notify adapts to England & Wales (up to 12 months), Scotland and Northern Ireland (up to 6 months) — and the Companies House office address adapts to Cardiff / Edinburgh / Belfast.

Single or Majority of Directors

Adapts to a sole-director company (one signature) or a board with multiple directors (majority must sign DS01 per CA 2006 s.1003).

HMRC Clearance Checklist (Expert)

CT600 filings, PAYE scheme closure, VAT 7 deregistration, outstanding Corporation Tax / PAYE / VAT liabilities, HMRC clearance letter status, and final accounts filing — the single most common objection ground.

Asset Distribution & Bona Vacantia Warning (Expert)

Express warning under section 1012 Companies Act 2006 that any asset remaining at dissolution passes to the Crown; distribution method (capital reduction ss.641-643, pre-dissolution dividend, or ESC C16 / s.1030A informal distribution).

Restoration Caveat ss.1024-1034 (Expert)

Express acknowledgement that the dissolved company may be administratively restored to the register within 6 years (or by court order for longer periods), with creditor / HMRC / Crown standing to apply.

Directors' Continuing Duties (Expert)

Acknowledgement of continuing duties under Companies Act 2006 ss.171-177 and the prohibition on fraudulent trading under Insolvency Act 1986 s.213, which continue until dissolution and beyond.

Record Retention Schedule (Expert)

Retention period (6 years standard for HMRC tax records and Companies Act books; 15 years for employer pension scheme records) with storage location — required under section 388 Companies Act 2006 and the Limitation Act 1980 limitation framework.

Form DS01 v9.0 (02/26)

Aligned with the current Companies House DS01 form (version 9.0, February 2026 edition) — paper £10 / online £8.

TO: Companies House Address Block

Adapted to the correct Companies House office — Cardiff (England & Wales), Edinburgh Quay 2 (Scotland), or The Linenhall, Belfast (Northern Ireland).

How to Create a UK DS01 Strike-Off Pack

Follow these steps to prepare the strike-off pack and the underlying DS01 application.

1
Identify the Company and Confirm Eligibility
Enter the company's full legal name, Companies House number, registered office address, date of incorporation and entity type (Ltd, plc, LLP, CIC, other). Confirm — having made due enquiry — that the company satisfies the eligibility tests under sections 1004 and 1005 of the Companies Act 2006: no trading or name change in the past 3 months, no formal insolvency proceedings, no winding-up petition presented. A British company that fails ANY of these tests is not eligible for voluntary strike-off and the application will be rejected by the registrar or objected to during the Gazette period.
2
Pass the Board Resolution and Identify the Signing Directors
Enter the application date and the filing method (online £8 or paper £10). Identify the signing directors — DS01 requires a majority of directors to sign (a sole director can sign alone). Our template generates the board resolution paragraph and adapts the signature block for one or two signing directors. Select the governing jurisdiction (England & Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland) — this controls the Companies House office address and the penalty wording for failure to notify.
3
Confirm the Section 1006 Notification Schedule
Confirm whether each interested party has been (or will be) notified within 7 days of filing: creditors, employees, HMRC, pension fund trustees, landlord. Where a category is "not applicable" (e.g. no employees, no pension scheme), the template marks it accordingly. Failure to notify is a criminal offence — up to 12 months' imprisonment (England & Wales) or 6 months (Scotland / Northern Ireland) plus an unlimited fine. The duty under section 1007 is CONTINUING — anyone who later becomes an interested party must also be notified within 7 days.
4
Complete the Expert HMRC Clearance & Asset Distribution Sections
In Expert mode, confirm the HMRC clearance position: CT600 filings up to date, PAYE scheme closed, VAT 7 filed, outstanding liabilities settled, HMRC clearance letter received (or pending). Confirm asset distribution before dissolution — by capital reduction (CA 2006 ss.641-643), pre-dissolution dividend, or ESC C16 / s.1030A informal distribution (HMRC concession, capped at £25,000). Expressly acknowledge the bona vacantia warning under section 1012 — anything left passes to the Crown via the Government Legal Department.
5
Acknowledge the Restoration Caveat & Continuing Duties
In Expert mode, acknowledge the administrative restoration framework under Companies Act 2006 sections 1024-1034 — a creditor, member, former employee, HMRC or the Crown may apply within 6 years of dissolution to restore the dissolved British company to the register. Acknowledge that directors' duties under ss.171-177 continue until dissolution, and that the prohibition on fraudulent trading under Insolvency Act 1986 s.213 carries continuing personal liability. Record the retention period for company books and tax records (6 years standard) and the storage location.

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Legal Considerations

UK voluntary strike-off is procedurally simple but carries continuing exposure for directors. Get the eligibility, notification, asset distribution and HMRC clearance right and the process is smooth — get any of them wrong and the application will fail or the directors will face personal liability.

This template is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Insolvent companies must NOT use the DS01 voluntary strike-off route — consult a licensed UK insolvency practitioner instead. For solvent strike-off involving material assets or complex tax positions, consult a qualified UK corporate solicitor or chartered accountant.

Reviewed for England & Wales / Scotland / Northern Ireland corporate law

Companies Act 2006 ss.1003-1011 — The Strike-Off Framework

Section 1003 of the Companies Act 2006 empowers the registrar of companies to strike a UK company off the register on the company's application. Section 1004 disqualifies any application by a company that has, in the previous three months, carried on business or changed its name. Section 1005 disqualifies any application where the company is the subject of formal insolvency proceedings, a scheme of arrangement, or a winding-up petition. Section 1006 imposes the 7-day notification duty on the directors — every member, creditor, employee, manager or trustee of a pension fund, and any other interested party must receive a copy of the DS01 within 7 days of the application being made. Section 1007 extends the duty to anyone who later becomes an interested party. Section 1009 governs withdrawal of the application — a Form DS02 may be filed by the directors before dissolution if circumstances change.

Companies Act 2006 s.1012 — Bona Vacantia

Section 1012 of the Companies Act 2006 transfers all property and rights vested in or held on trust for the company at the moment of dissolution to the Crown as <em>bona vacantia</em> — ownerless property. In England and Wales, bona vacantia administration sits with the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department; in Scotland, with the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (KLTR); in Northern Ireland, with the Crown Solicitor's Office. Recovery of bona vacantia assets is discretionary, slow and not guaranteed — the only safe approach is to distribute ALL assets to shareholders before the dissolution moment, by capital reduction under CA 2006 ss.641-643, pre-dissolution dividend from distributable reserves, or — for small amounts up to £25,000 — by ESC C16 / Companies Act 2006 s.1030A informal distribution under HMRC concession.

Companies Act 2006 ss.1024-1034 — Restoration

Administrative restoration under section 1024 of the Companies Act 2006 permits any former director, member, creditor, employee, manager or trustee of a pension fund — or any other interested party — to apply to Companies House within 6 years of dissolution to restore the dissolved British company to the register. Court restoration under section 1029 is available for up to 20 years (or longer in some circumstances) and is the route used by personal injury claimants and other late creditors. Restoration revives the company as though it had never been dissolved — assets that had vested in the Crown as bona vacantia revert to the company, and creditors may pursue undischarged claims. The directors should anticipate this risk and retain records (books, accounts, tax returns) for at least 6 years from dissolution.

Directors' Continuing Duties and Insolvency Act 1986 s.213

UK company directors' duties under sections 171-177 of the Companies Act 2006 continue until dissolution: the duty to act within powers (s.171), to promote the success of the company (s.172), to exercise independent judgment (s.173), to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence (s.174), to avoid conflicts of interest (s.175), not to accept benefits from third parties (s.176), and to declare an interest in proposed transactions (s.177). Where the company is insolvent or close to insolvent, the duty under s.172(3) shifts to the interests of creditors. Section 213 of the Insolvency Act 1986 imposes personal liability on any person knowingly party to fraudulent trading — and the liability survives the dissolution and the strike-off. Where a creditor obtains restoration under CA 2006 ss.1024-1034 and pursues a fraudulent trading claim, the former directors face personal exposure. The DS01 route is therefore inappropriate for any company with unresolved creditor exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Generate Your UK DS01 Strike-Off Pack Now

Use our free template to generate a UK voluntary strike-off pack compliant with Companies Act 2006 sections 1003-1011 and the Companies House DS01 form (version 9.0, February 2026 edition). Board resolution, eligibility confirmation, 7-day notification schedule, HMRC clearance checklist, bona vacantia warning, restoration caveat, directors' continuing duties and record retention schedule — all in one consolidated instrument ready for filing.

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