Companies House

Companies House is an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade, responsible for incorporating and maintaining the register of limited companies and LLPs in the UK. Every company must file an annual Confirmation Statement (within 14 days of the review period end), annual accounts (typically within 9 months of the accounting period end for private companies), and notify Companies House of changes to directors, shareholders, registered office, or persons of significant control (PSC). From March 2024, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 introduced identity verification requirements for all new and existing directors. Failure to file on time triggers automatic penalties (starting at £150 rising to £1,500 for accounts more than 6 months late) and can result in compulsory strike-off. All information filed at Companies House is publicly available free of charge on the Companies House register.

What it means in practice. Running a limited company means accepting a permanent, public filing rhythm. Incorporation costs £50 online. Every year you file a confirmation statement, currently £34 to file online, and a set of accounts. Separately from those annual filings, you must notify changes as they happen — a new director, a resignation, a change of registered office, a new person with significant control, an allotment of shares — usually within 14 days. The register is free to search, which means customers, suppliers, credit agencies, and competitors can all see your filing history and how late you have been.

A worked example. Ravi incorporates a consultancy in March. His first accounts are due nine months after his accounting reference date. He is busy, files three months late, and receives an automatic penalty. He then misses the confirmation statement as well. Companies House writes to the registered office, gets no response because Ravi moved and never updated the address, and begins compulsory strike-off. His bank freezes the account once the Gazette notice appears. All of it was avoidable: the filing dates were fixed and known from day one, and the address change should have been notified within 14 days.

Common pitfalls. Using your home as the registered office publishes that address permanently. Ignoring post sent to the registered office is the most dangerous habit, because strike-off and penalty notices go there and are effective whether or not you read them. Late filing penalties are automatic and double if you are late in two consecutive years, and directors who keep trading through a struck-off company can become personally liable for its debts. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, identity verification duties now apply to directors and people with significant control.

How it relates to other terms. The annual filing is the confirmation statement, which confirms the register is accurate but does not replace the duty to notify changes during the year. Companies House is separate from HMRC: corporation tax, PAYE, National Insurance, and the VAT threshold are all HMRC matters with their own deadlines and penalties.

What to do next. Read our Companies House filing guide and put every deadline in a calendar with a reminder a month ahead. If you are still deciding on a structure, sole trader versus limited company sets out what incorporation actually commits you to, and business record keeping covers what you must retain.