If you are starting a company in the UK, Companies House is one of the first names you will encounter, and one you will continue dealing with throughout the life of your business. But what exactly is Companies House? What information does it hold? What does a company need to file? Can anyone see your company's details? And what happens if you miss a filing deadline?

For beginners, the system can seem like a collection of unfamiliar terms: company number, registered office, confirmation statement, PSC, SIC code, accounts, filing history and authentication code. Once you understand how the pieces fit together, however, Companies House becomes much easier to navigate. This guide explains the essentials, from setting up your first company to managing its ongoing filing obligations.

In simple terms: Companies House is the UK registrar of companies. It incorporates companies, maintains the public company register and receives statutory information that companies are required to file.

What Is Companies House?

Companies House is the UK government agency responsible for incorporating companies and maintaining the register of companies. It operates under the Department for Business and Trade and maintains information about companies registered in the UK.

The register allows the public to search for companies and view information that companies are legally required to disclose. That makes Companies House much more than a place where you register a business name. It is effectively the official corporate record for millions of UK companies. Companies House records can be used by:

• Entrepreneurs checking a potential business partner
• Investors conducting due diligence
• Banks and lenders assessing businesses
• Suppliers deciding whether to offer credit
• Customers checking a company's existence
• Journalists and researchers
• Accountants and lawyers
• Government authorities
• Individuals checking company ownership and management

For a founder, this means your company's Companies House record is part of its public identity.

What Does Companies House Actually Do?

Companies House has several important functions.

1. It incorporates companies

When you create a UK limited company, the company is registered with Companies House. Once incorporation is completed, the company receives a company registration number (CRN). The company becomes a separate legal entity from its owners in the case of a limited company.

2. It maintains the company register

Companies House records information about registered companies, including their status, registered office, directors and filing history.

3. It receives statutory filings

Companies are required to send certain information to Companies House. Depending on the company and what changes occur, this can include:

• Annual accounts
• Confirmation statements
• Director appointments and resignations
• Registered office changes
• Share information
• People with Significant Control information
• Company name changes
• Certain changes to company structure

4. It makes much of that information public

Companies House is designed to provide transparency about UK companies. That is useful for business confidence, but it also means founders should think carefully about the information they submit.

Companies House vs HMRC: What's the Difference?

This is one of the most common questions from new business owners. Companies House and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) perform different jobs. Companies House is primarily concerned with company registration and corporate information. HMRC is responsible for tax administration. For example, a limited company may need to:

• Register with Companies House
• File accounts with Companies House
• File confirmation statements with Companies House
• Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC
• File Company Tax Returns with HMRC
• Pay Corporation Tax to HMRC
• Register for VAT where applicable

These are separate obligations. A company being successfully registered with Companies House does not mean that every tax obligation with HMRC has automatically been completed. This distinction is particularly important for first-time founders.

What Is a Company Registration Number?

When Companies House incorporates a company, it gives the business a unique company registration number, commonly called a CRN. It identifies the legal company. For example:

Example Business Ltd
Company number: 12345678

The company number belongs to the legal entity, not the brand. This is important if a business operates under a trading name. For example:

Legal company: Example Holdings Ltd
Trading name: Example Coffee

The trading name does not replace the company's legal identity. Your CRN can normally be found on the Companies House register and on official company documents.

What Information Does Companies House Hold?

A company's Companies House record can contain a considerable amount of information. Depending on the company, you may find:

• Company name
• Company number
• Company status
• Incorporation date
• Registered office
• Registered email address
• SIC code
• Directors
• Secretaries
• People with Significant Control
• Share capital information
• Certain shareholder information
• Accounts
• Confirmation statements
• Filing history
• Charges
• Insolvency information
• Previous company names

Much of this information is searchable online. One important distinction is that the registered email address is not publicly displayed. Companies House uses it to communicate with the company. Since 4 March 2024, companies have been required to provide a registered email address.

What Is a Registered Office?

Every UK company needs a registered office address. This is the company's official address for receiving formal correspondence and certain legal documents. It does not necessarily have to be:

• Where you live
• Where employees work
• Where customers visit
• Where products are stored

A company can operate from one location while having its registered office elsewhere, provided the registered office meets the applicable requirements. Because the registered office is generally public, founders who work from home should consider the privacy implications before using their residential address. Companies can change their registered office by filing the appropriate information with Companies House.

What Is a Director?

A director is legally responsible for managing and directing a company. Directors have statutory duties and responsibilities. Being listed as a director at Companies House is therefore not simply an administrative label.

A company may have one or several directors. When a director is appointed, the company must provide the required information to Companies House. Likewise, when a director leaves, the company must notify Companies House. A company's internal records and its Companies House record should correspond.

What Is a Shareholder?

A shareholder owns shares in a company. Shares represent ownership interests in the company and may carry rights such as voting rights and entitlement to dividends, depending on their class and the company's constitutional documents. For example:

This means the company has 1,000 shares in issue, with the shareholders holding different proportions. It is important to distinguish between allotting new shares and transferring existing shares. If a company creates new shares for an investor, that is an allotment. If an existing shareholder sells some of their shares to another person, that is a transfer. The two transactions have different legal and filing implications.

What Is a Person With Significant Control?

A Person with Significant Control (PSC) is someone who meets the legal conditions for significant control or ownership of a company. A PSC might, for example, hold more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, or otherwise exercise significant control over the company. PSC information forms an important part of Companies House transparency requirements. A PSC is not necessarily the same thing as a director. Someone can be:

• A director but not a PSC
• A PSC but not a director
• Both a director and a PSC

The precise position depends on the company's ownership and control structure.

What Is a SIC Code?

A SIC code identifies the nature of a company's business activities. SIC stands for Standard Industrial Classification. When incorporating a company, you select one or more SIC codes that describe the company's intended activities. For example, a technology company might select a code relating to software development, while a consultancy may select a code covering management consultancy. Your SIC code should reasonably reflect what your company does. If the company's activities change significantly, its SIC information may need to be updated.

What Is a Confirmation Statement?

The confirmation statement is one of the most important recurring Companies House filings. Every company, including dormant and non-trading companies, must file a confirmation statement at least once a year. Its purpose is to confirm that the information held by Companies House is up to date. The confirmation statement can cover information such as:

• Registered office
• Directors
• Shareholders and share capital
• SIC codes
• PSC information
• Other company details

A common beginner mistake is to think:

"My company hasn't traded, so I don't need to file anything."

That is incorrect. A dormant or non-trading company can still have Companies House filing obligations.

What Are Company Accounts?

Companies generally need to prepare and file accounts with Companies House. The exact requirements depend on factors such as the company's size, status and circumstances. Accounts provide financial information about the company for the relevant accounting period. Depending on the company, accounts may include information such as:

• Balance sheet
• Profit and loss information
• Notes
• Accounting policies
• Director's report
• Other information required by the applicable reporting framework

Small and micro-entities may qualify for simplified reporting requirements, subject to the relevant rules. The important point for beginners is that Companies House accounts and HMRC tax returns are not the same thing. A company can have both Companies House and HMRC filing responsibilities.

What Is an Accounting Reference Date?

Your company's accounting reference date (ARD) determines the end of its financial year for Companies House purposes. For a newly incorporated company, the first accounting period is generally longer than 12 months because the first accounts normally cover the period from incorporation to the accounting reference date.

After that, the company's accounting periods normally follow its annual accounting cycle. Companies can, in certain circumstances, change their accounting reference date. However, changing it can affect filing deadlines, so it should be done carefully.

What Is a Companies House Authentication Code?

A Companies House authentication code is a security code associated with a company that can be used for certain online filing services. It is sometimes compared to a password for the company's online Companies House account. It is important to keep the code secure. If you lose it, Companies House has a process for requesting a replacement. The authentication code is also different from the newer personal code issued after identity verification. That distinction has become particularly important since Companies House began introducing mandatory identity verification.

Companies House Identity Verification: What Has Changed?

Companies House is undergoing one of its biggest administrative changes in recent years. Under reforms introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, identity verification for directors and People with Significant Control became a legal requirement from 18 November 2025, with implementation being phased in over a 12-month transition period. This means Companies House is increasingly concerned not only with what information is filed, but also with establishing that the people behind companies are who they claim to be.

Who needs to verify?

Directors and PSCs are within the mandatory identity verification regime. For existing directors, the requirement is being phased in alongside confirmation statement filing. New directors need to verify their identity as part of the relevant appointment or incorporation process.

Companies House says that individuals can verify directly through GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Once an individual successfully verifies their identity, they receive a Companies House personal code. That personal code is separate from a company's authentication code.

Can Overseas Directors Use Companies House?

Yes. The Companies House system is not limited to UK-resident directors. International founders can be directors of UK companies, subject to the applicable legal requirements. Companies House identity verification supports certain overseas identity documents, including biometric passports from any country when using the relevant GOV.UK One Login process.

This is particularly relevant to international entrepreneurs establishing UK companies. However, overseas founders should not assume that incorporating a UK company automatically gives them:

• UK tax residence
• A UK bank account
• A UK visa
• The right to work in the UK
• A UK business address
• Exemption from tax obligations in their home country

Company incorporation and immigration, tax residence and banking are separate matters.

How Do You Search Companies House?

One of the most useful things about Companies House is that the public register can be searched online. You can search for a company using information such as:

• Company name
• Company number

Once you find the company, you can typically review its:

• Current status
• Registered office
• Directors
• PSC information
• Filing history
• Accounts
• Confirmation statements
• Previous names
• Charges

The filing history is particularly useful. Rather than looking only at the latest record, you can work backwards through filings to understand how the company has changed over time. For example, you might discover:

1. The company was incorporated in 2021.
2. A second director joined in 2022.
3. Shares were allotted in 2023.
4. The registered office changed in 2024.
5. A director resigned in 2025.

That can tell you considerably more than simply looking at the company's current profile.

What Does "Active" Mean at Companies House?

A company shown as Active is generally still registered and has not been dissolved. However, "Active" does not necessarily mean:

• The company is profitable
• The company is trading
• The company has employees
• The company is financially healthy
• The company has significant assets

A company can be dormant while remaining active on the register. This is an important distinction when carrying out due diligence. If you are considering doing business with a company, do not treat the word "Active" as a substitute for financial or commercial due diligence.

What Happens If a Company Misses a Filing Deadline?

Companies House deadlines matter. If a company fails to file its accounts on time, it can face an automatic financial penalty. Failure to file confirmation statements can also have serious consequences. Companies House states that a company may be struck off the register if it fails to file its confirmation statement.

Repeated or serious non-compliance can therefore progress from an administrative problem into a much bigger corporate issue. The sensible approach is to maintain a filing calendar rather than waiting for reminder letters.

What Happens If a Company Is Struck Off?

A company can be removed from the Companies House register through a strike-off process. Once dissolved, the company generally ceases to exist as a legal entity. Company property can also be affected by dissolution because assets remaining at dissolution can pass to the Crown as bona vacantia, subject to the applicable legal rules. This is why closing a company should not be treated as simply deleting it from Companies House. If the company has debts, assets, disputes or ongoing obligations, professional advice may be appropriate.

How Much Information Is Public?

Companies House operates a public register, so a substantial amount of corporate information is available to anyone searching the register. This can include:

• Company name
• Company number
• Status
• Registered office
• Directors
• PSC information
• Filing history
• Accounts
• Share information
• Certain historical information

This transparency is valuable for the wider business environment. However, founders should understand the privacy implications before using personal addresses or submitting information. There are procedures that can allow certain individuals to apply for protection of information in specific circumstances, but these are not blanket privacy options.

Why Companies House Matters to Startups

For a new founder, Companies House can initially feel like government paperwork. In reality, it becomes part of the company's infrastructure. A clean and accurate Companies House record can help when:

• Opening corporate bank accounts
• Raising investment
• Bringing in shareholders
• Applying for finance
• Signing major contracts
• Completing due diligence
• Selling the business
• Working with international partners

Imagine an investor discovers that your pitch deck says you own 70% of the company, but the company's statutory records tell a different story. That discrepancy immediately creates questions. The same applies to directors, PSCs, company addresses and share capital. Good corporate administration is therefore not just about compliance. It can protect credibility.

A Beginner's Companies House Checklist

If you have just incorporated a UK company, start with this checklist.

Immediately after incorporation

Check:

• Company name
• Company number
• Registered office
• Directors
• Shareholders
• PSC information
• SIC code
• Accounting reference date
• Registered email address
• Identity verification requirements

During the year

Keep track of:

• Director changes
• Share allotments
• Share transfers
• PSC changes
• Address changes
• Company name changes
• Changes in business activities
• Accounting deadlines

Every year

Check:

• Confirmation statement deadline
• Accounts deadline
• Whether the Companies House record remains accurate
• Whether any PSC information needs updating
• Whether directors have completed required identity verification

Companies House requires companies to keep information up to date rather than simply waiting for the annual filing cycle.

Common Companies House Mistakes Beginners Make

1. Assuming incorporation completes everything

It doesn't. You may still have tax registrations and other regulatory responsibilities.

2. Confusing directors with shareholders

A director manages the company; a shareholder owns shares. One person can be both, but the roles are legally distinct.

3. Confusing share transfers with share allotments

Existing shares changing hands is not the same as issuing new shares.

4. Ignoring dormant companies

A dormant company can still have Companies House obligations.

5. Using the wrong address

The registered office is a formal company address and should meet the relevant requirements.

6. Forgetting PSC information

Changes in ownership or control can trigger PSC filing obligations.

7. Treating the Companies House record as an afterthought

Errors can become particularly troublesome during fundraising, banking or due diligence.

How IncorpUK Fits Into the Companies House Landscape

For global founders, UK company administration can involve several moving parts: incorporation, statutory filings, registered office arrangements, identity verification and ongoing compliance. IncorpUK is a UK company formation and management platform designed for global founders navigating that environment.

The important principle, however, is that using a formation or management platform does not remove the company's underlying legal responsibilities. The company remains responsible for ensuring that its statutory information is accurate and that required filings are made on time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Companies House part of HMRC?

No. Companies House and HMRC are separate government organisations with different responsibilities. Companies House manages the corporate register, while HMRC administers taxes.

Is Companies House free to search?

The public Companies House register allows users to search company information online. Some Companies House services and documents may involve fees.

Do all UK companies have to register with Companies House?

Companies that fall within the UK company registration regime generally need to be registered with Companies House. The precise requirements depend on the type of legal entity.

Does Companies House show how much money a company has?

Not necessarily. Filed accounts can provide financial information, but the public record does not function as a live bank balance or real-time financial dashboard.

Can I check who owns a UK company?

You can find shareholder and PSC information that Companies House makes available, although the information and level of detail depend on the company's structure and applicable disclosure requirements.

Does Companies House show a director's home address?

A director's residential address is not generally displayed on the public register as their service address. The service address is public, while the residential address is subject to separate treatment and protections.

Do overseas directors need to verify their identity?

Overseas directors can be subject to Companies House identity verification requirements. Companies House supports identity verification using certain overseas identity documents, including biometric passports from any country through the relevant process.

What is the difference between a Companies House personal code and authentication code?

They are different. A personal code is issued to an individual after Companies House identity verification and is linked to that person's verified identity. An authentication code is associated with the company and is used for certain online filing functions. The two should not be treated as interchangeable.

Can a company have more than one director?

Yes. A UK company can have multiple directors, subject to the requirements applicable to its company type and constitution.

Does a dormant company still need to file with Companies House?

Yes. Dormant status does not automatically eliminate Companies House filing obligations. Companies House specifically states that dormant and non-trading companies must still file confirmation statements.

Conclusion

Companies House is much more than the website where you register a UK limited company. It is the UK's central corporate register and an important source of information for founders, investors, banks, customers, suppliers and other businesses. For beginners, the most important concepts to understand are straightforward:

Companies House registers companies.

The company number identifies the legal entity.

Directors manage the company, while shareholders own shares.

PSCs identify significant ownership or control.

The registered office is the company's official public address.

Confirmation statements keep key company information up to date.

Accounts provide required financial information.

SIC codes describe business activities.

Companies House identity verification now establishes that directors and PSCs are who they claim to be. Most importantly, don't view Companies House compliance as a once-a-year administrative chore. Your company's public record follows it throughout its life, from incorporation to growth, investment, restructuring and if appropriate, dissolution. For a founder building a serious business, keeping that record accurate is a small administrative discipline that can prevent much larger problems later.