For an overview of different business types in the UK, see Business Structures.
Companies House is the United Kingdom’s registrar of companies, an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade. It is responsible for incorporating and dissolving companies, maintaining the public register of company information, and making that information available to the public.
Companies House was established under the Companies Act 1985 and continues to operate under the Companies Act 2006. Its headquarters are in Cardiff, with offices in Edinburgh, Belfast and London.
What Does Companies House Do?
Incorporation
Companies House registers new companies and other entities, including:
- Private limited companies (Ltd)
- Public limited companies (PLC)
- Community interest companies (CIC)
- Limited liability partnerships (LLP)
- Limited partnerships (LP)
- Overseas companies with a UK establishment
- Societas Europaea (SE)
To incorporate a company, the founders submit the memorandum of association, the articles of association and an application for registration. Companies House then issues a certificate of incorporation confirming the company’s legal existence.
Maintaining the Public Register
Companies House maintains a register containing information on over 5 million companies and entities. The register includes:
- Company name, registered number and date of incorporation
- Registered office address
- Details of directors, secretaries and persons with significant control (PSCs)
- Articles of association and other constitutional documents
- Annual company accounts
- Confirmation statements
- Charges (security interests) registered against the company’s assets
- Filing history, including resolutions and change notifications
All information on the register is publicly available and can be searched free of charge on the Companies House website.
Dissolving Companies
Companies House handles the removal of companies from the register through:
- Voluntary strike-off — requested by the directors when the company is no longer needed
- Compulsory strike-off — initiated by Companies House when a company fails to file required documents
- Dissolution following formal winding-up proceedings
The Public Register
The Companies House public register is one of the largest open data resources in the world. Anyone can access it to:
- Search for a company by name, number or officer name
- View filed documents including accounts, confirmation statements and resolutions
- Check director details including appointments, resignations and disqualifications
- Verify company status — whether active, dissolved, in liquidation or subject to a proposal to strike off
- Download data in bulk for research, due diligence or commercial purposes
Free Services
Companies House provides several free online services:
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Company search | Search the register by company name or number |
| Officer search | Search for individuals who are or have been directors |
| Filing history | View all documents filed by a company |
| Company overview | See company status, address, officers and accounts due dates |
| PSC data | View persons with significant control of a company |
| Disqualified directors | Check if an individual is disqualified from acting as a director |
WebFiling
WebFiling is the free online filing service provided by Companies House. Companies can use it to:
- File confirmation statements
- File annual company accounts
- Notify changes to directors, secretaries and registered office
- File resolutions and other statutory forms
- Register charges
Most companies use WebFiling or third-party software to meet their filing obligations. Paper filing remains available but is more expensive and slower.
Filing Requirements
Every company registered with Companies House must comply with ongoing filing obligations. The directors are personally responsible for ensuring these filings are made on time.
Key Filings
| Document | Deadline | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation statement | Every 12 months (+ 14 days) | Filing fee, lower online |
| Annual accounts | 9 months after year-end (private) or 6 months (public) | Free |
| Change of director (AP01/TM01) | Within 14 days | Free |
| Change of registered office (AD01) | Effective within 14 days | Free |
| Allotment of shares (SH01) | Within one month | Free |
| Special resolution | Within 15 days | Free |
| Register a charge (MR01) | Within 21 days of creation | Free |
| PSC changes | Within 14 days of becoming aware | Free |
Late Filing Penalties
Companies House imposes automatic civil penalties for late filing of accounts:
| How late | Private company | Public company |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 month | £150 | £750 |
| 1-3 months | £375 | £1,500 |
| 3-6 months | £750 | £3,000 |
| More than 6 months | £1,500 | £7,500 |
If accounts are filed late in two consecutive financial years, the penalties are doubled.
For the confirmation statement, there are no civil penalties, but failure to file is a criminal offence that can result in prosecution of the directors and the company being struck off the register.
Incorporation Fees
Companies House charges a fee to register a company. Online incorporation is cheaper and usually processed within 24 hours, while paper applications cost more and take longer; a same-day service is available for an extra charge. Companies House sets its fees to recover its costs and reviews them from time to time, so check the current Companies House fees before you register.
Enforcement Powers
Companies House has traditionally been a passive registrar, accepting documents at face value. However, this has been changing significantly.
Existing Powers
- Strike-off companies that fail to file required documents
- Impose late filing penalties for overdue accounts
- Prosecute directors for filing offences
- Refuse registration of company names that are misleading, offensive or too similar to existing names
Company Name Adjudication
Companies House operates the Company Names Tribunal, which can order a company to change its name if it is the same as or too similar to a name associated with the complainant’s goodwill.
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 represents the most significant reform of Companies House in decades. Key changes include:
Identity Verification
Since 18 November 2025, new directors and PSCs must verify their identity with Companies House, and existing directors and PSCs verify by the company’s first confirmation statement after that date. People filing on behalf of companies are brought into verification in stages. Verification can be done directly with Companies House or through an authorised corporate service provider (ACSP).
Enhanced Powers for the Registrar
- Power to query information submitted for filing and reject it if not satisfied
- Power to remove information from the register that is inaccurate, fraudulent or relates to an entity that has been dissolved
- Ability to share data with law enforcement and other government agencies more freely
- A requirement, since 4 March 2024, for every company to provide an appropriate email address
Registered Office Requirements
Since 4 March 2024, companies must ensure that their registered office is an appropriate address where documents can be acknowledged and singled out from other mail. A PO Box address alone is not acceptable.
Accounts and Reporting
From 1 April 2028:
- Accounts must be filed using software, not on paper or through the old web service
- Companies claiming audit exemption give a strengthened eligibility statement
- The component parts of the accounts and reports must be filed together
The planned requirement for small and micro-entity companies to file a profit and loss account was paused in October 2026, and abridged and filleted accounts remain available.
Other provisions of the Act are commenced in stages through secondary legislation, so check Companies House guidance for the current position.
Companies House for Different Entity Types
Private Limited Companies
The most common entity type. Must file accounts, confirmation statements and notify changes to officers and other details. See What is a Private Limited Company? for more detail.
Limited Liability Partnerships
LLPs file accounts and confirmation statements in a similar way to companies, but their internal governance is regulated by a members’ agreement rather than articles of association.
Sole Traders
Sole traders do not register with Companies House. They register with HMRC for Self Assessment and, if applicable, for VAT.
Related Concepts
- Company accounts — financial reporting filed with Companies House
- Director duties — directors are responsible for ensuring filings are made