There is no Companies House fee for director changes
The Companies House fees list has no fee for appointing a director, ending an appointment or changing a director's details. Your Company Formations also states there is no separate Companies House fee for AP01 or TM01 filed online.
So the government fee for AP01, TM01 and CH01 is £0. Any price you are quoted for these filings is a service charge from whoever files for you.
What you need for any route
- The company's authentication code, to file online.
- For a new director: their full name, date of birth, nationality, occupation, service address and home address.
- For a new director: confirmation that they have verified their identity with Companies House, and their personal code.
- For a removal: the director's last day in the role, and a proper legal basis for the appointment ending.
- A private company must keep at least one individual director after any removal.
Option 1: do it yourself online
Filing yourself costs nothing. You use the Companies House online service with the company's authentication code, and complete the form yourself.
It suits people who know the rules and have every detail to hand. You are responsible for getting names, dates and addresses right. You also need to prepare any board minutes or consent records yourself, if your company keeps them.
Option 2: SimpleFilings at £4.99 per filing
You answer plain questions about the change. We check the details, prepare the filing and submit it after you approve it. The fee is £4.99 per filing, with no subscription. There is no government fee for these filings.
We file the Companies House form. We do not draft board minutes, resolutions or consent letters. If you need those documents, you will need to prepare them yourself or use a service that includes them.
More options1
Option 3: a company formation agent
1st Formations charges £49.99 plus VAT per appointment or resignation. Its page lists an appointment or resignation letter, a board resolution and submission to Companies House, with a 2-3 working day turnaround.
Your Company Formations charges £19.99 plus VAT. For a resignation, its page lists a resignation letter, resignation minutes, a resignation resolution, completing and submitting TM01, and email confirmation once Companies House accepts it. Its page also says it completes and submits AP01 for an appointment.
The main benefit is the paperwork. These agents list documents such as a board resolution, minutes or a letter alongside the filing. SimpleFilings does not include these.
Worked example: appointing one new director
Companies House fee in every case: £0.
Do it yourself: £0 + £0 = £0.
SimpleFilings: £4.99 + £0 = £4.99.
1st Formations: £49.99 + £10.00 VAT at 20% = £59.99, plus £0 government fee.
Your Company Formations: £19.99 + £4.00 VAT at 20% = £23.99, plus £0 government fee.
If you appoint one director and remove another, that is two filings. SimpleFilings charges £4.99 per filing, and 1st Formations prices per appointment or resignation, so the service fee doubles.
Which option suits you
- Do it yourself: you are confident with the Companies House online service and already have your own board records.
- SimpleFilings: you want the form checked and filed for £4.99, and you do not need minutes or letters drafted.
- An agent: you want board minutes, a resolution and a letter prepared alongside the filing.
When another option may suit you better
- If you want supporting paperwork prepared, an agent is stronger. 1st Formations lists an appointment or resignation letter and a board resolution. Your Company Formations lists resignation minutes, a resolution and a letter. SimpleFilings does not include these.
- If you are comfortable filing online and have the authentication code, filing yourself costs nothing.
- If you are already buying a formation or company secretarial package from an agent, adding the director change there may be simpler than using a separate service.