Running a UK limited company comes with an ongoing administrative responsibility: keeping the information held by Companies House accurate and filing required documents on time. For many small businesses, the difficult part is not understanding that filings are required. It is knowing exactly what needs to be filed, when it is due, what information must be included, and what happens if something goes wrong.

A filing can be rejected because of a simple inconsistency, an incorrect form, missing information or a technical problem. Other mistakes may not stop a filing from being accepted but can leave the public register inaccurate, creating problems for banks, investors, customers, accountants or future transactions. This guide explains the most common Companies House filing mistakes, how to prevent them and what to do if you discover an error.

Important: Companies House requirements and filing processes are changing as reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act are introduced. The guidance below reflects the current framework and should be checked against the latest official Companies House requirements before filing.

What Is a Companies House Filing?

A Companies House filing is information or documentation that a company is legally required to submit to the UK registrar. Depending on the company and its circumstances, this can include:

• Annual accounts
• Confirmation statements
• Changes to directors
• Changes to company secretaries
• Changes to the registered office
• Changes to people with significant control (PSCs)
• Changes to share capital
• Changes to certain company details
• Resolutions and other statutory documents
• Applications relating to company closure

Companies House provides online services for filing accounts, confirmation statements and changes to company information. The key point is that Companies House filing is not simply paperwork. Information submitted to the register can affect how third parties understand and deal with your business.

The Most Common Companies House Filing Mistakes

1. Missing a Filing Deadline

One of the most serious and avoidable mistakes is simply filing late. Annual accounts have specific filing deadlines, which depend on the company's circumstances and accounting period. Confirmation statements must also be filed at least once every 12 months. This requirement applies even to dormant and non-trading companies. Late accounts can result in an automatic financial penalty, with the penalty increasing depending on how late the accounts are.

How to avoid it

Maintain a compliance calendar containing at least:

• Accounts filing deadline
• Confirmation statement date
• Corporation Tax deadlines
• PSC updates
• Director appointment or resignation deadlines
• Registered office changes
• Other company-specific filing obligations

Do not rely entirely on memory or a single calendar reminder.

2. Assuming Companies House and HMRC Are the Same

This is a particularly common mistake among new company owners. Companies House and HMRC have different responsibilities. Companies House maintains the official public register of companies and receives statutory company information. HMRC deals primarily with taxation, including Corporation Tax, PAYE and VAT. Filing accounts with Companies House does not automatically mean that every required tax obligation has been dealt with. A business may therefore have:

• A Companies House filing obligation
• An HMRC tax filing obligation
• Both

These can have different deadlines and requirements. A sensible compliance system tracks Companies House and HMRC separately rather than treating them as one organisation.

3. Filing the Wrong Information About Directors

Director information needs to be accurate. Errors can include:

• Incorrect name
• Wrong date of birth
• Incorrect nationality
• Incorrect occupation
• Incorrect service address
• Incorrect residential address information
• Incorrect appointment or resignation details

This matters even more as Companies House introduces mandatory identity verification requirements. Since 18 November 2025, identity verification has been introduced as a legal requirement, with a phased rollout. Directors receive a personal code after verification and need to provide it when required for company filings. Companies with multiple directors need to ensure that the relevant directors have completed their verification requirements.

4. Getting a Director's Date of Birth Wrong

A date-of-birth error may look minor, but it can become significant. Companies House states that registered dates of birth need to be correct, particularly because accurate information is necessary for identity verification. A replacement filing may be required where the original filing contained an incorrect date of birth.

Before submitting director information, compare it carefully against the person's official documentation. Do not assume that a typo can simply be ignored because the rest of the director's information is correct.

5. Using the Wrong SIC Code

A company's SIC code describes its principal business activity. For example, a company operating as a photography business should not casually select a code for software development simply because both activities involve digital technology. Common mistakes include:

• Choosing a code that sounds similar but does not describe the business
• Selecting a code without checking the official SIC classification
• Leaving an old SIC code after the business has fundamentally changed
• Assuming a company can only have one activity

The SIC code should broadly reflect what the company actually does. It is also worth reviewing the code when the business model changes significantly.

6. Forgetting to Update the Register After a Change

Companies evolve, but the Companies House record does not update itself. If a company changes its:

• Registered office
• Directors
• Company secretary
• PSC information
• Share structure
• Certain other registered details

the appropriate filing should be made. This is particularly important when a company moves offices or changes management. A business can otherwise end up with a public record that no longer reflects reality.

7. Filing a Confirmation Statement Without Checking the Information

A confirmation statement is not merely a box-ticking exercise. Its purpose is to confirm that the information Companies House holds about the company is up to date. Every company must file one at least once a year, including dormant and non-trading companies. Before filing, review the company's record carefully.

Check:

• Registered office
• Directors
• Secretary, if applicable
• PSCs
• Shareholdings
• Share capital
• SIC codes
• Other relevant company information

A confirmation statement is an opportunity to identify inconsistencies before they become bigger problems.

8. Confusing the Registered Office With a Trading Address

A company's registered office is its official address for statutory correspondence. It does not necessarily have to be the same as:

• The company's shop
• Its warehouse
• Its operating office
• A director's home
• Its website address

Companies can use different addresses for different purposes. The important point is that the registered office must meet Companies House requirements and be monitored for official correspondence. If the company moves, updating the address promptly is essential.

9. Providing an Address That Does Not Meet the Requirements

Simply providing an address is not always enough. The registered office must satisfy Companies House requirements regarding the type of address that can be used and the availability of company correspondence. This is particularly relevant to founders operating remotely or internationally.

For example, a global founder might operate a UK company from outside the UK and use a professional registered office service. The arrangement needs to be structured correctly rather than treating any convenient postal address as automatically suitable.

10. Forgetting to Update PSC Information

A Person with Significant Control (PSC) is generally an individual or entity that meets specific conditions for significant ownership or control of a company. Changes in ownership or control can therefore create Companies House filing obligations. Examples include:

• A shareholder acquiring significant control
• A shareholder disposing of a substantial interest
• Changes in voting rights
• Changes involving a registrable relevant legal entity

PSC information should not be treated as something that only matters when the company is incorporated. It can change throughout the life of the business. The introduction of identity verification also makes accurate PSC information increasingly important.

11. Filing Accounts That Do Not Match the Company's Records

Annual accounts should be prepared from reliable accounting records. Problems can arise when the figures submitted to Companies House do not reconcile with:

• Accounting software
• Bank records
• Tax records
• Previous accounts
• Supporting schedules
• Share capital information

For example, if the company's balance sheet shows share capital that does not correspond with the company's actual share structure, this can create questions later. Before filing, perform a basic reconciliation rather than treating the accounts document as an isolated file.

12. Choosing the Wrong Type of Accounts

Companies do not all have identical accounts filing requirements. Depending on circumstances, a company may qualify for different reporting regimes, including micro-entity or small company provisions. Dormant companies also have specific requirements.

The mistake is assuming that the smallest or simplest-looking filing option is automatically appropriate. Company size, accounting periods, group structures and other circumstances can affect the applicable requirements. If there is uncertainty, get professional accounting advice before filing rather than correcting an inappropriate filing later.

13. Filing Too Close to the Deadline

Technically, filing on the deadline may appear perfectly reasonable. Operationally, it is risky. Online systems can experience technical problems. Documents can contain errors. A filing may be rejected and require correction. An accountant may need additional information. Companies House provides online filing services, but a business should not build its compliance process around the assumption that everything will work perfectly at the last minute.

A better approach

Aim to complete the filing several days before the deadline. For important filings, consider a simple three-stage process:

Prepare → Review → Submit

That small buffer can make a major difference.

14. Assuming an Accepted Filing Is Automatically Correct

This is one of the subtler Companies House filing mistakes. Acceptance does not necessarily mean that every underlying fact is correct. A filing may be processed and appear on the register even though the company has entered information incorrectly.

For example, a director's details could be entered incorrectly without the filing being rejected. The responsibility for providing accurate information remains with the company and its officers. Review the public record after important filings and check that the information displayed is what you intended to submit.

15. Ignoring a Rejected Filing

A rejected filing is not the same as a successful filing. If Companies House rejects a submission, identify the reason, correct the issue and resubmit as soon as possible. Do not simply assume that because you attempted to file before the deadline, the obligation has been satisfied. This is particularly important for statutory filings such as annual accounts, where a rejected submission can leave the company technically without an accepted filing.

Why Companies House Filings Get Rejected

Rejection can happen for various reasons depending on the filing. Typical causes include:

• Incorrect information
• Missing information
• Inconsistent company details
• Wrong form or filing type
• Invalid information
• Technical formatting issues
• Incorrect accounting information
• Problems with authentication or identity requirements

Companies House provides online filing routes and software-based filing options, and the requirements differ according to the type of information being submitted. When a filing is rejected, read the rejection message carefully rather than immediately submitting the same document again.

A Practical Companies House Filing Checklist

Before submitting any important filing, run through this checklist.

Company details

• Correct company name
• Correct company number
• Correct registered office
• Correct filing period

People

• Directors are correctly recorded
• PSC information is accurate
• Appointments and resignations are reflected correctly
• Identity verification requirements have been considered

Financial information

• Correct accounting period
• Figures reconcile with accounting records
• Correct accounts type
• Appropriate exemptions or disclosures have been considered

Filing

• Correct filing method
• Correct form or software
• Required information completed
• Filing submitted before the deadline
• Confirmation of successful submission retained

After submission

• Check the filing status
• Confirm acceptance
• Review the public register
• Correct any discovered errors promptly

What Should You Do If You Discover a Filing Mistake?

Don't panic, but don't ignore it either. The appropriate correction depends on the type of error.

Step 1: Identify exactly what is wrong

Is it:

• A typo?
• Incorrect director information?
• Wrong SIC code?
• Incorrect share information?
• An accounting error?
• An incorrect date?
• Missing information?

Step 2: Determine whether Companies House has already accepted the filing

A draft submission and an accepted filing are very different situations.

Step 3: Check the appropriate correction procedure

Some information can be corrected through replacement filings or specific forms. Other errors require a different process. For example, Companies House has specific guidance for correcting an incorrectly registered date of birth for a director or PSC.

Step 4: Get professional advice where the error is material

For significant mistakes involving share ownership, financial statements, PSCs, directors or legal structure, professional advice may be appropriate.

How to Build a Better Companies House Compliance System

The best way to avoid filing mistakes is not to become an expert in every Companies House form. It is to build a system.

Keep a statutory calendar

Record every recurring filing deadline and set reminders well in advance.

Maintain a company information sheet

Keep a master record containing:

• Registered office
• Directors
• PSCs
• Shareholders
• Share capital
• SIC codes
• Accounting reference date
• Company authentication details
• Relevant identity verification information

Update this whenever something changes.

Use a review process

For important filings, have someone check the information before submission. This could be:

• A director
• Accountant
• Company secretary
• Solicitor
• Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)

ACSPs can include accountants, solicitors and other appropriately supervised professional agents who can provide Companies House-related services.

Keep evidence

Save:

• Submitted documents
• Filing confirmations
• Rejection notices
• Correspondence
• Resolutions
• Supporting records

This creates an audit trail that can be valuable later.

Why Filing Accuracy Matters More Than Ever

Companies House is undergoing a significant transformation. Identity verification requirements are being phased in, and the government is also implementing broader reforms affecting how companies report information. From 18 November 2025, identity verification became a legal requirement for directors and PSCs, with implementation being phased over a 12-month transition period.

Further accounts reforms are scheduled, with Companies House announcing changes to accounts filing from April 2028, including greater use of software filing and changes to what information certain companies will need to report. For founders, particularly international founders using a UK company as part of a wider business structure, this means corporate compliance should be treated as an ongoing operational responsibility, not something dealt with once a year.

For global entrepreneurs, platforms such as IncorpUK can form part of the administrative infrastructure around a UK company, but directors remain responsible for ensuring their company's statutory obligations are properly met.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common Companies House filing mistake?

Missing deadlines and submitting inaccurate company information are among the most common problems. Errors involving directors, PSCs, registered offices, SIC codes and accounts can also cause difficulties.

Can Companies House reject a filing because of a small mistake?

Yes. Whether a filing is rejected depends on the nature of the error and the filing involved. Some mistakes can prevent a submission from being accepted, while others may result in inaccurate information being placed on the register.

What happens if Companies House rejects my filing?

You should read the rejection reason, correct the problem and resubmit the filing promptly. If the filing has a statutory deadline, do not assume that the original rejected submission satisfies the requirement.

Can I correct information after Companies House has accepted it?

Often, yes, but the correction method depends on what is wrong. Certain errors require replacement filings or specific forms, while some information may have a dedicated correction process.

Is a confirmation statement required if my company has not changed?

Yes. Every company must file a confirmation statement at least once every year, including dormant and non-trading companies.

Are Companies House filings the same as tax filings?

No. Companies House and HMRC have different responsibilities. Filing information with Companies House does not necessarily satisfy your company's tax obligations to HMRC.

Do directors now need to verify their identity?

Yes. Identity verification requirements for directors and PSCs were introduced from 18 November 2025 and are being phased in. Directors receive a personal code after verification, which must be provided when required.

Should I file everything myself or use an accountant?

A straightforward company may be able to manage many filings internally. However, professional assistance can be valuable when dealing with complex accounts, share restructures, ownership changes, PSC issues or significant corrections.

Conclusion

Most Companies House filing mistakes are not caused by complicated corporate law. They happen because a deadline is missed, information is copied incorrectly, a company record is not updated or a filing is submitted without a proper review.

The solution is a disciplined process. Know your deadlines. Keep company information current. Reconcile financial information before filing. Check directors and PSC details carefully. Understand the difference between Companies House and HMRC. And, most importantly, confirm that important filings have actually been accepted.

For UK companies, Companies House compliance is becoming increasingly important as identity verification, digital filing and wider corporate transparency reforms change how businesses interact with the register. A few minutes of careful checking before a filing can prevent weeks of administrative headaches later.