It is easy to generate the dissolution documents using Inform Direct, these must then be posted to Companies House. 

If the company has more than two directors please see this guide: How do I Dissolve a Company with Three or More Directors?

Note: This guide is for a company with up to two directors. You need a majority of the directors to sign the application to strike off the company. Inform Direct will therefore assume (for a company with two or fewer) that all directors are signing. 

The below process will generate the DS01 form and supporting documents. There are not possible to submit electronically from software to Companies House. They must therefore be sent by post with the dissolution fee, the steps below take you through this.

1. To begin the process, go to the 'Company' tab and select 'Dissolve company' from the bottom of the actions on the right hand side.  

2. Next, you will need to confirm that the company may apply to be struck off.

Note: Companies House require that the resultant form is sent to them with a cheque for the dissolution fee made out to 'Companies House' with the company number written on the back of the cheque. Do not write this cheque from the account of the company applying to be struck off, as this will breach the conditions to which you are confirming the agreement above.

3. The following step asks if you wish to create any additional documentation, any that are selected will be created for you. The dissolution start date will the set to the same day you complete this process, as you must allow for two months for anyone to reject to the dissolution.

Note: That if you choose not to create the pre-populated documents on this step, you will not be able return at a later date to create them.
 

4. Following the creation of the documents you can choose to open them straight away or at a later date. Either way they will be saved to your document library for you to retrieve when you wish.

Note: This process will have created populated Companies House forms that must be printed, authenticated by a majority of the directors and sent to Companies House in the post (with the cheque) without delay.

Where does the director sign the DS01?

The DS01 form does not have a traditional handwritten signature box. You do not need a wet (ink) signature. Simply type or print the director's name in the Authentication field before printing and posting to Companies House.

Now, on the portfolio screen, you will see the company move under "Your dissolved companies". The company will display the status "Dissolution documents created".

Once Companies House have received and processed the authenticated DS01 they should update the Company Status to 'Active - proposal to strike off'. Inform Direct will notify you by email when Companies House change the status. 

For more information on the full dissolution process then please see How to strike off a limited company.

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