Mutual societies: forms

Find the forms you need to apply to register as a mutual society and send us updates.

The Mutuals Society Portal[1] is quickest and easiest way to access and send forms to us. You will need to register to use[1] it.

You can also download paper version of our forms using the links below. They are organised by type of society.

We accept electronic signatures on all applications – including on accounts.

Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies

These forms are for societies registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.

We have provided guidance[2] under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.

I want to:	Online forms (Great Britain only)	Paper forms
Set up a new community benefit society	New community benefit society online form[2]	New community benefit society paper form[2]
Set up a new co-operative society	New co-operative society online form[4]	New co-operative society paper form[1]
Submit annual return (AR30)	Annual return (AR30) online form[6]	Annual return (AR30) paper form[-1] Annual return (AR30) paper form (Welsh version)[0]
Change registered office address	Change registered office address online form[8]	Change registered office address paper form[-3]
Record a charge	Record a charge online form[11]	Record a charge paper form[-7]
Release or satisfaction of a charge	N/A	Release or satisfaction of a charge paper form[-6]
Change of name	Change of name online form[13]	Change of name paper form[-11]
Make a complete amendment to rules	Make a complete amendment to rules online form[16]	Make a complete amendment to rules paper form[-17]
Make a partial amendment to rules	Make a partial amendment to rules online form[18]	Make a partial amendment to rules[-24]
Change financial year end date	Change financial year end date online form[20]	Change financial year end date paper form[-32]
Apply for a group accounts exemption	Group accounts exemption online form[22]	Group accounts exemption paper form[-41]
Transfer engagements	N/A	Transfer engagements paper form[-40]
Convert to a company	N/A	Convert to a company paper form[-39]
Ending registration (we provide an information note on ending registration of a co-operative or a community benefit society[-38])	N/A	N/A
Cancel registration	N/A	Cancel registration paper form[-37]
Dissolve society	N/A	Dissolve society paper form[-36]
Submit a certificate following dissolution, liquidation or transfer of engagements	s126 certificate online form - Great Britain[24]	s126 certificate paper form - Great Britain[-46] s68 certificate - Northern Ireland[-45]
For sponsoring bodies: submit new model rules or amend existing ones	N/A	Submit new or amend existing model rules paper form[-44]

Credit unions

These forms are for credit unions registered under either the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (Credit Unions Act 1979) or The Credit Unions (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.

I want to:	Online forms (Great Britain only)	Paper forms
Submit accounts	Submit accounts online form[31]	No paper form – submit accounts to [email protected]
Change registered office address	N/A	Change registered office address paper form[12]
Record a charge	N/A	Record a charge paper form - Great Britain[14] Record a charge paper form - Northern Ireland[-55]
Release or satisfaction of a charge	N/A	Release or satisfaction of a charge paper form[15]
Change of name	N/A	Change of name paper form[17]
Make a complete amendment to rules (we provide specimen wording for common bonds[-54] and the optional object[-53])	N/A	Make a complete amendment to rules paper form - Great Britain[-52] Make a complete amendment to rules paper form - Northern Ireland[-51]
Make a partial amendment to rules (we provide specimen wording for common bonds[41] and the optional object[42])	N/A	Make a partial amendment to rules paper form - Great Britain[-50] Make a partial amendment to rules paper form - Northern Ireland[-49]
Transfer engagements	N/A	Transfer engagements paper form[26]
Cancel registration for Part 4A permissions	N/A	Cancel Part 4A permissions paper form[-48]
Dissolve society	N/A	Dissolve society paper form[30]
Submit a certificate following dissolution, liquidation or transfer of engagements	s126 certificate online form - Great Britain[35]	s126 certificate paper form - Great Britain[32] s71 certificate - Northern Ireland[-60]
For sponsoring bodies: submit new model rules or amend existing ones	N/A	Submit new or amend existing model rules paper form[34]
Change financial year end date	N/A	Change financial year end date paper form[23]

Friendly Societies Act 1974

Instrument of Dissolution of a society or branch registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1974[-59]

I want to:	Online forms	Paper forms	Form number	Form notes
Submit annual returns	Working Men’s Club (AR41) online form[52]	Working Men's Club (AR41) paper form[-72] Working Men’s Club and supplementary return[-71] Specially Authorised or Benevolent Society[-70] Investment association registered as a specially-authorised society[-69]	AR41 AR42 AR5 AR5A	Notes and disclosure requirements[-68]
Convert to a new co-operative society	New co-operative society online form[58]	New co-operative society paper form[7]		Guidance[3]
Converting to a new community benefit society	New community benefit society online form[64]	New community benefit society paper form[5]		Guidance[66]
Change registered office address	Change registered office address online form[67]	Change registered office address paper form[36]		Notes[-117]
Notice of appointment of trustees	N/A	Notice of Appointment of Trustees[-116]		Notes[-115]
Make a complete amendment to rules	N/A	Make a complete amendment to rules paper form[-114]
Make a partial amendment to rules	N/A	Make a partial amendment to rules[-113]
Amending rules for a branch	N/A	Amendment of Rules for a branch[75]		Notes[-112]
Registering a new branch	N/A	Registering a new Branch[-111]		Notes[-110]
Transfer engagements	N/A	Transfer of engagements paper form[49]		Notes
Dissolving the society	N/A		Notes[-110]
Cancel registration	N/A	Request to cancel paper form[29]		Notes[-109]

Friendly Societies Act 1992

I want to:	Online forms	Paper forms	Form notes
Notify of a change of chief exec etc.	N/A	Notice of Change of Chief Executive/Secretary, Director and/or Committee Member[-108]
Change registered office address	Change registered office address online form[70]	Change registered office address paper form[71]	Notes[72]
Change name	N/A	Change of name[40]	Notes[-128]
Alter rules	N/A	Alteration of Rules and/or Memorandum[-127] Alteration of Rules - Appendix 2[-126]	Notes[-125]
Register an instrument of transfer	N/A	Application to register an Instrument of Transfer[-124]	Notes[-123]
Register an instrument of dissolution	N/A	Instrument of Dissolution of an Incorporated Friendly Society[-122]	Notes[-121]
Cancel registration	N/A	Request to cancel paper form[83]	Notes[84]

Building Societies Act 1986

I want to:	Online forms	Paper forms	Form notes
Notify a change of chief exec or director	N/A	Notice of Change of Chief Executive and/or Director[85]
Change registered office address	Change registered office address online form[86]	Change registered office address paper form[87]
Change financial year end date	N/A	Change financial year end date[56]
Change name	N/A	Change of name[-144]	Notes[90]
Alteration of rules	N/A	Alteration of Rules and/or Memorandum[91] Alteration of Rules - Appendix 1[-143]	Notes[93]
Applying to obtain access to the register of members	N/A	Applications to Obtain Access to the Register of Members of Building Societies[-142]

03/11/2025 : Technical update - no changes to content

21/07/2023 : Link added Optional object for Credit Unions information note

27/01/2023 : Document added Paper form AR41 added

13/01/2022 : Information added Ending registration added to Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies actions.

27/10/2020 : Link added Link added to right hand navigation on annual returns and accounts.

First published: 01/08/2015 Last updated: 03/11/2025 See all updates

Mutual societies: forms

Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies

Credit unions

Friendly Societies Act 1974

Friendly Societies Act 1992

Building Societies Act 1986

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