If you run a UK limited company, you will eventually encounter Companies House forms. Some are used to appoint or remove directors. Others change a registered office, update shareholders, report new shares, amend a company's SIC code or notify Companies House that a company is being closed.

The challenge is that the forms often have short reference codes, AP01, TM01, AD01, SH01, CS01, DS01 and many others, which can make company administration seem more complicated than it is. This guide explains the most important Companies House forms, what each one does, when you need it, and when you should use an online filing service instead of a paper form.

Quick answer: A Companies House form is an official document used to register a company, report a change, or file statutory information with the UK registrar. The correct form depends on the change you are making and the type of company involved.

Companies House maintains separate form collections for limited companies, LLPs, overseas companies and other entities. The official forms should always be checked before filing because forms and filing procedures can change.

What Are Companies House Forms?

Companies House forms are official documents used to submit information about a company to the registrar. They cover major events in a company's life, from incorporation through to changes in ownership, management and registered details, and ultimately strike-off or dissolution. For a typical UK private limited company, forms can be used to report:

• The appointment or resignation of directors
• The appointment or removal of a company secretary
• Changes to director details
• Changes to the registered office
• Changes to shareholders and share capital
• New share allotments
• Changes to a company's SIC code
• Changes to People with Significant Control (PSCs)
• Company name changes
• Changes to accounting reference dates
• Company strike-off applications
• Certain charges and security interests

Companies House states that every company must send information to the registrar, including annual accounts, confirmation statements and changes to company details.

Companies House Forms vs Online Filing

One important point for modern company administration is that you do not always need to download and post a paper form. Companies House provides online filing through its digital services, and many common changes can be submitted electronically. Online filing can be quicker, provides an acknowledgement of submission and includes built-in checks designed to reduce errors. Companies House says it aims to process most online filings within 24 hours, although processing times can vary.

Some information can also be filed using commercial company secretarial or accounting software. Paper forms still matter, however, particularly where a particular filing is not available through the online service or where a specific document needs to be submitted in paper form.

Why the distinction matters

If you simply search Google for "Companies House form for changing a director", you may find an old PDF or third-party explanation. A better approach is to identify the event you need to report, find the corresponding official form or online service, and check the latest Companies House guidance before filing.

The Most Common Companies House Forms

The following forms cover many of the changes encountered by UK limited companies.

These are among the forms Companies House lists for limited companies. The form number is important, but the reason for filing is even more important. Using a similar-looking form for the wrong corporate event can lead to rejection or an inaccurate public record.

Company Formation and Name Changes

IN01: Incorporate a Company

IN01 is the form associated with registering a new company. It is relevant when establishing a company rather than making a routine change to an existing business. For a new entrepreneur, this is effectively the starting point of the company's Companies House record. Information involved in incorporation includes matters such as:

• Proposed company name
• Registered office
• Company type
• Directors
• Shareholders or members
• Share capital
• People with Significant Control
• Articles of association

Many new companies are incorporated online rather than by completing a paper IN01.

NM01: Change a Company Name

If an existing company wants to change its registered name, NM01 is the relevant paper form. Changing a registered company name is different from changing a trading or brand name. For example:

Legal company: Greenfield Consulting Ltd
Trading name: Greenfield Advisory

The company might change its trading identity without changing its legal name. If it wants the legal name recorded at Companies House to change, the appropriate company name-change process must be followed.

Forms for Directors and Company Secretaries

Directors are central to company administration, so Companies House provides several forms specifically for them.

AP01: Appoint an Individual Director

AP01 is used to notify Companies House about the appointment of an individual director. For example, if a startup appoints a second director, the company must update its Companies House record. The appointment should not simply be treated as an internal decision. The appropriate statutory information must be reported to Companies House.

TM01: Remove or Resign a Director

TM01 is used to notify Companies House that an individual director's appointment has been terminated. This could follow:

• A resignation
• Removal under the company's constitution and applicable law
• Another termination of appointment

A director leaving the company and transferring their shares are separate events. Filing TM01 does not itself transfer their shares. That distinction is particularly important in founder exits.

CH01: Change a Director's Details

If an existing individual director's registered particulars change, CH01 may be relevant. This is different from appointing a new director or terminating an appointment. The key principle is simple:

AP01 = appointment
TM01 = termination
CH01 = change to particulars

Company Secretary Forms

Companies House also has corresponding forms for company secretaries:

• AP03 – appointment of an individual secretary
• AP04 – appointment of a corporate secretary
• TM02 – termination of a secretary's appointment
• CH03 – change of particulars for an individual secretary
• CH04 – change of particulars for a corporate secretary

Not every UK private limited company is required to have a company secretary, so the requirements depend on the company's structure and circumstances.

Forms for Registered Office and Company Addresses

AD01: Change the Registered Office

AD01 is used to notify Companies House of a change to a company's registered office address. The registered office is the company's official address for receiving statutory correspondence. It is not necessarily the same as:

• A director's home address
• The company's trading premises
• A virtual office used for marketing
• A warehouse
• A company's operational headquarters

Companies House confirms that a limited company can change its registered office address online using the relevant service. A registered office change is therefore a good example of a situation where you should check the online filing option before downloading a PDF.

AD02, AD03 and AD04

These forms relate to a company's Single Alternative Inspection Location (SAIL) and the location of company records. For example:

• AD02 – notify a SAIL
• AD03 – move company records to the SAIL
• AD04 – move records back to the registered office

These are more specialised than AD01 and are easy to confuse if you are simply looking for a way to update a company address.

Forms Relating to Shares and Shareholders

Share-related filings are among the areas where company owners most often confuse different corporate events.

SH01: Allotment of New Shares

SH01 is used to notify Companies House of an allotment of new shares. For example, suppose a company has:

• Founder A: 1,000 shares
• Founder B: 1,000 shares

The company then issues 500 new shares to an investor. That is an allotment of new shares, not simply a transfer of existing shares. The company needs to deal with the relevant statutory filing, including the return of allotment.

Transferring Existing Shares

A transfer is different. Suppose Founder A owns 1,000 existing shares and sells 300 of them to Investor B. No new shares have been created. Ownership of existing shares has changed. This distinction matters because SH01 concerns an allotment of shares, while a transfer involves a different process. The company's own statutory registers and relevant records must also be updated.

A useful rule

Ask:

"Are new shares being created, or are existing shares changing hands?"

If new shares are being issued, you are dealing with an allotment. If existing shares are changing ownership, you are dealing with a transfer.

CS01: The Confirmation Statement

The CS01 is one of the most important Companies House forms because companies must regularly confirm that their registered information is up to date. It replaced the old annual return. A confirmation statement can cover information such as:

• Registered office
• Directors and secretary
• Shareholders and share capital
• SIC codes
• PSC information
• Other company details

Companies House describes CS01 as the form used to confirm that a company's details are up to date. It is important not to treat the confirmation statement as a once-a-year opportunity to report every change. Many changes have their own filing requirements and deadlines and should be reported when they occur. For example, if a company changes its registered office, the appropriate address filing should be made rather than waiting for the next confirmation statement.

Accounts and Accounting Reference Date Forms

Companies House filing is not limited to changes in ownership and management. Companies also have accounting obligations.

AA01: Change Accounting Reference Date

AA01 is used to change a private company's accounting reference date. The accounting reference date determines the company's financial year-end and therefore affects its accounting periods and filing deadlines. Changing it can be useful in certain circumstances—for example, when a company wants its financial year to align more conveniently with a group structure or business cycle.

However, changing the accounting reference date can have consequences for filing deadlines, so it should not be treated as a simple date change. Companies House provides specific guidance on accounting reference dates and company accounts.

Forms for People with Significant Control

A company's People with Significant Control (PSC) are individuals or relevant legal entities that meet the legal criteria for significant control or ownership. Companies House provides several PSC forms, including:

• PSC01 – notify an individual PSC
• PSC02 – notify a relevant legal entity
• PSC03 – notify another registrable person
• PSC04 – change details of an individual PSC
• PSC05 – change details of a relevant legal entity
• PSC06 – change details of another registrable person
• PSC07 – notify that an individual has ceased to be a PSC
• PSC08 – notify PSC statements
• PSC09 – update PSC statements

The correct filing depends on what has actually changed. PSC information should not be treated as interchangeable with shareholder information. A shareholder can be a PSC, but the two concepts are not automatically identical.

Forms for Closing a Company

If a company is no longer required, there are specific procedures for closing it.

DS01: Apply for Strike-Off

DS01 is used to apply to strike a company off the Companies House register. This is commonly associated with voluntary closure of a company that is no longer trading. However, applying for strike-off is not simply a way to avoid debts or liabilities. The company must meet the relevant conditions and properly deal with its affairs before applying.

DS02: Withdraw a Strike-Off Application

If a company has applied for voluntary strike-off but needs to stop the process, DS02 is used to withdraw the application. The timing matters because strike-off is a formal process involving notices and opportunities for objections.

What If You Use the Wrong Companies House Form?

Using the wrong form can create several problems. Companies House may reject the filing if it does not meet the requirements. Even if a filing is accepted, the wrong filing can result in the public record not accurately reflecting the company's circumstances. If you discover an error, do not simply submit another unrelated form and hope it corrects the problem. First establish:

1. What was filed?
2. What was incorrect?
3. Whether the filing was accepted.
4. What information should appear on the register.
5. Which correction or replacement procedure applies.

Companies House provides a RP01 process for replacing certain documents on the register, although the appropriate correction route depends on the nature of the error.

Paper Forms vs Online Companies House Filing

For most routine company administration, online filing is increasingly the practical option. Companies House says online filing is generally quicker and easier and can provide immediate acknowledgement of submission. It also has built-in checks that can help reduce rejected filings. Online services can cover many common filings, including:

• Accounts
• Confirmation statements
• Director changes
• Secretary changes
• Registered office changes
• Share allotments
• Company closure
• Certain PSC changes

Commercial software can also be used for many Companies House filings. Paper forms remain relevant, particularly for filings that cannot be completed through the relevant online service.

Always check the latest form

Companies House periodically updates forms and filing requirements. The official GOV.UK collection is therefore a better reference than relying on an old PDF saved on your computer. The official forms collection was updated in November 2025, and Companies House continues to update its filing systems and services.

A Simple Framework for Choosing the Right Form

If you are unsure which Companies House form to use, start with the event, not the form number.

Step 1: What changed?

Did you:

• Appoint someone?
• Remove someone?
• Change someone's details?
• Change the company's address?
• Change the company name?
• Issue new shares?
• Change ownership of existing shares?
• Change the PSC?
• Change the accounting year-end?
• Close the company?

Step 2: Is there a dedicated form?

For example:

New director → AP01
Director leaves → TM01
Registered office changes → AD01
New shares allotted → SH01
Confirmation statement → CS01
Strike-off application → DS01

Step 3: Can it be filed online?

Check the current Companies House online filing options before printing anything.

Step 4: Check the deadline

Some changes have specific statutory filing deadlines. Missing a deadline can result in penalties, rejection or an inaccurate company record.

Step 5: Keep evidence

Keep copies of:

• Submitted forms
• Filing acknowledgements
• Board resolutions
• Share documentation
• Relevant agreements
• Updated statutory registers

Companies House filing is only part of good company administration.

Why Companies House Forms Matter to Founders

For a small startup, company administration can feel secondary to sales, product development and fundraising. But an inaccurate Companies House record can become a real problem when the company:

• Opens a bank account
• Raises investment
• Enters a major contract
• Applies for finance
• Changes directors
• Issues shares
• Is acquired
• Works with overseas investors
• Goes through due diligence

An investor may reasonably ask why the company's Companies House record does not match its cap table or internal documents. A buyer may want to understand the company's ownership history. A bank may need confirmation of who controls the company.

For global founders using a UK company structure, keeping statutory information accurate is particularly important because Companies House is often the first official source that overseas counterparties use to verify the company. IncorpUK, as a UK company formation and management platform for global founders, sits within that wider administrative ecosystem, but the underlying statutory requirements remain those imposed by UK company law and Companies House.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common Companies House form?

There is no single "most common" form for every company, but CS01 is particularly important because companies generally need to file confirmation statements regularly. Other frequently encountered forms include AP01, TM01, AD01 and SH01.

Can I file Companies House forms online?

Yes. Many company filings can now be completed online through Companies House services, and software filing is available for many types of information.

What is the form for changing a company address?

For changing a limited company's registered office address, the relevant form is AD01. The change can also be filed online.

What form do I use to appoint a director?

For an individual director, AP01 is the relevant form. A corporate director uses AP02.

What form removes a director?

TM01 is used to notify Companies House that an individual director's appointment has been terminated.

What is SH01 used for?

SH01 is the return of allotment of shares. It is used when a company allots new shares.

Is CS01 the same as an annual return?

CS01 is the confirmation statement. It replaced the former annual return.

Can I correct a Companies House filing?

In some circumstances, yes. The appropriate correction depends on the nature of the error. Companies House provides specific procedures, including RP01 for replacing certain documents.

Do Companies House forms become public?

Information filed with Companies House is generally made available on the public register, subject to applicable protections and exceptions. Companies House specifically warns that information submitted through its forms can become publicly available.

Where can I find the official Companies House forms?

The safest source is the official GOV.UK Companies House forms and filing collection, which contains current forms and guidance for different company types.

Conclusion

Companies House forms become much easier to understand when you stop thinking of them as a long list of mysterious codes and instead connect each form to a specific corporate event. AP01 means appoint a director. TM01 means terminate a director. AD01 changes the registered office. SH01 reports an allotment of new shares. CS01 confirms company information. DS01 starts a voluntary strike-off process.

The important part is choosing the form that accurately reflects what has happened to the company, and filing it through the correct channel and within the relevant deadline. For routine administration, online filing is often the quickest route, while the official Companies House forms collection should be your reference point when a paper form is required or when you need to confirm the latest procedure.

For founders, the broader lesson is straightforward: treat the Companies House record as part of your company's core corporate infrastructure, not as paperwork to deal with only when something goes wrong. Keeping it accurate as your business changes makes future fundraising, banking, investment, transactions and due diligence considerably easier.