ET1

The claim form that starts an employment tribunal case, filed online — it sets out the parties, the claim type, the key dates and your account of what happened, and it defines the scope of your case.

Do I need an ACAS Early Conciliation certificate before filing an ET1?

In almost all cases, yes. Before you can present most types of employment tribunal claim, you must first contact ACAS and go through Early Conciliation, which produces a certificate with a reference number you need to include on your ET1. There are limited exceptions, but assume you need one unless you have specifically confirmed otherwise.

What happens after I submit my ET1?

The tribunal sends a copy to the respondent, who then has 28 days to file their response on an ET3. If they do not respond in time, the tribunal can decide the claim without their involvement. The tribunal also reviews the ET1 to check it discloses a viable claim within its jurisdiction.

Can I amend my ET1 after I have submitted it?

Sometimes, but it is not automatic. You may be able to apply to amend your claim to correct an error, add detail, or in some cases add a new claim, but the tribunal will consider factors like how late the amendment is and whether it causes unfairness to the other side. It is far better to get the ET1 right the first time than rely on being able to amend it.

What information does the ET1 actually require?

Your personal details, the respondent's details, the type of claim or claims you are bringing, key dates, your ACAS Early Conciliation certificate number, and a written account of what happened and why you believe you have a claim. The written account does not need to be a full legal argument, but it should be clear and complete enough for the tribunal and respondent to understand your case.

What if I miss the time limit for submitting my ET1?

Most claims must be presented within three months less one day of the event complained of, though this period is affected by the time spent in ACAS Early Conciliation. Missing the deadline does not automatically end your claim, but you would need to persuade the tribunal to extend time, which is not guaranteed and depends on the specific circumstances.

Is there a fee to submit an ET1?

There is currently no fee to submit an ET1 to an employment tribunal, following the abolition of employment tribunal fees. Always check the current position on gov.uk before submitting, since fee policy has changed before and could change again.

Employment Tribunal · Glossary

Last reviewed: August 2026

Employment Tribunal track

is the online claim form that starts an employment tribunal case, setting out who the parties are, what type of claim is being brought, the key dates involved, and the claimant's account of events.

Where this comes from

Employment Tribunal Rules 2024

— governs the form and content requirements for a claim.

Make a claim to an employment tribunal

— gov.uk's step-by-step guidance for submitting an ET1.

ACAS Early Conciliation

— the process almost always required before an ET1 can be submitted.

Why the ET1 matters so much

The ET1 is not just an administrative form — it defines the boundaries of your case. The claims you identify, the facts you set out, and the remedy you seek all shape what the tribunal will actually consider. If a claim type is missed entirely, or the account of events is too vague, it can be harder to raise later, even though limited amendments are sometimes possible.

Before an ET1 can usually be submitted at all, the prospective claimant must go through ACAS Early Conciliation, a process intended to see whether the dispute can be resolved without a tribunal claim. This produces a certificate with a reference number that must be included on the ET1, and the time spent in conciliation affects how the tribunal claim time limit is calculated.

What the ET1 needs to include

• Your own details and the respondent's, which is usually the employer, though it can include individuals in some claims.
• ACAS Early Conciliation certificate number.
• Confirming you have been through the required conciliation process.
• For example unfair dismissal, discrimination, unpaid wages, or a combination of claims.
• A clear account of events.
• Key dates and a description of what happened, written clearly enough for the tribunal and respondent to understand the case being brought.

How it works in practice

An employee is dismissed and believes it was both unfair and connected to a protected characteristic. Before filing, they contact ACAS for Early Conciliation, which does not resolve the dispute, and they receive a certificate with a reference number.

On the ET1, they identify both an unfair dismissal claim and a discrimination claim, set out the key dates including the dismissal date and the ACAS certificate dates, and give a clear account of the events leading to dismissal and why they believe discrimination played a part. Because both claim types were clearly identified from the outset, the respondent knows exactly what case they need to answer when they file their ET3.

• Submitting without Early Conciliation.
• In almost all cases, you need a valid ACAS certificate number before the tribunal will accept the claim.
• Leaving out a claim type.
• If you believe more than one type of claim applies, identify all of them on the ET1 rather than assuming you can add them easily later.
• Writing a vague account of events.
• A short, unclear narrative makes it harder for the tribunal and respondent to understand your case from the outset.
• Missing the time limit.
• Most claims must be presented within three months less one day of the event, adjusted for time spent in ACAS Early Conciliation — leaving it late risks losing the right to bring the claim at all.

Frequently asked questions

Sources & further reading

• Employment Tribunal Rules 2024
• Make a claim to an employment tribunal
• ACAS Early Conciliation

Getting ready to submit an ET1?

Start My Claim helps you identify your claims, check your time limit and prepare a clear account of events.

Last reviewed: August 2026.

References checked against the Employment Tribunal Rules 2024 and gov.uk guidance as published on 5 August 2026.

This page is explanatory only and is not legal advice. Start My Claim is self-service software, not a law firm — its tools help you build and run your own case.