If you have ever searched for a UK company on the Companies House register, you may have noticed that information remains available long after a business has stopped trading. A company can be dissolved years ago and still have a visible Companies House record showing its name, company number, incorporation date, previous names, directors and filing history. This raises a common question for founders and former directors:

How long does Companies House keep company records? For active companies, Companies House retains records while the company remains active. For dissolved companies, the current policy is to retain records for 20 years from the date of dissolution. After that period, selected records may be transferred to The National Archives, while unselected records may be destroyed. However, as of 2026, Companies House is reviewing this policy and has temporarily paused the destruction and transfer of dissolved company records.

That distinction matters if you are researching an old company, checking a director's history, recovering historical documents, dealing with a dissolved business or considering the privacy implications of information previously filed on the public register. This guide explains what Companies House keeps, how long records remain available, what happens after a company is dissolved, and what founders should know about historic company information.

How Long Does Companies House Keep Company Records?

The short answer is:

• Active companies: records are retained while the company remains active.
• Dissolved companies: records are currently retained for 20 years from the date of dissolution.
• After 20 years: selected records may be transferred to The National Archives, while records not selected for preservation may be destroyed.
• Current 2026 position: Companies House has paused destruction and transfer while it reviews the retention period for dissolved company records.

The 20-year period starts from the date the company was dissolved or closed, rather than from the date it stopped trading. This is an important distinction. A business might stop trading in 2018 but remain on the Companies House register until 2020. If it was dissolved in 2020, the relevant 20-year retention period generally runs from 2020.

What Records Does Companies House Keep?

Companies House holds information delivered to the registrar under company law. Depending on the company and its filing history, this can include:

• Company name
• Company number
• Registered office
• Incorporation date
• Company status
• Previous company names
• Directors and former directors
• Persons with significant control (PSCs)
• Shareholder information contained in relevant filings
• Confirmation statements
• Annual accounts
• Registered charges
• Insolvency information
• Certain company resolutions
• Memorandum and articles
• Filing history
• Document images
• Information relating to company officers

Companies House describes its register as a public source of company information, and its search service provides access to company data and document images. Not every piece of information is necessarily public. Some information, such as certain residential addresses and full dates of birth, is subject to restrictions. Companies House also has procedures for applying to protect certain personal information in qualifying circumstances.

Companies House Records Are Not the Same as a Company's Own Records

This distinction is easy to miss. When people ask how long Companies House keeps records, they sometimes mean the company's accounting records, invoices, contracts, emails or internal documents. Those are different things. Companies House primarily holds statutory information and documents filed with the registrar. It does not normally hold all of a company's internal business records.

The National Archives explains that records held by Companies House are generally government records concerning company registration and dissolution rather than the company's own day-to-day business records. For example, Companies House may hold a company's filed accounts, but it will not normally have every invoice or bank statement used by the company's accountant to prepare those accounts.

How Long Are Records of an Active Company Kept?

Companies House retains records of companies while they are active. There is no simple rule saying that a filing disappears after five or ten years simply because it is old. This is important for businesses with a long history. A company incorporated decades ago can have a substantial filing history containing information from different periods of its existence. Companies House's current personal information guidance states that records are retained for as long as companies are active. That historical record can be useful to:

• Investors
• Lenders
• Suppliers
• Customers
• Journalists
• Researchers
• Due diligence teams
• Potential business partners

It can also help establish the history of a company or its directors.

How Long Are Dissolved Company Records Kept?

Dissolved companies are treated differently. The current Companies House policy is to retain records of dissolved companies for 20 years after dissolution. This applies to the company's records and includes information relating to its officers. The policy is designed to balance two competing interests:

Corporate transparency — allowing people to investigate the history of businesses and individuals.

Personal privacy — recognising that information on the public register can continue to affect people after a company has ceased to exist.

Companies House is currently reviewing that balance.

What Changed in 2026?

On 12 May 2026, Companies House announced that it was reviewing the retention period for dissolved company records following concerns that records should potentially be retained for longer than 20 years. During the review, Companies House has paused the destruction and transfer of dissolved company records.

This means the current 20-year policy remains an important reference point, but the treatment of records at the end of that period is subject to review. Any future proposals to change the retention period will be subject to consultation. For businesses and researchers dealing with old records, this is worth watching because the long-term retention policy could change.

Can You Still Find a Dissolved Company on Companies House?

Yes. This has become easier in recent years. Companies House states that records for companies dissolved since January 2010 have been added to its Find and Update Company Information service. You can search the official register by company name, company number or officer name. The service allows users to find company information and, where available, view filing history and document images. There is also a dedicated dissolved company search function.

What About Companies Dissolved Before 2010?

Historic records can be more complicated. Companies House has made dissolved company information dating back to 2010 available through its online service. Older records may be accessible through other Companies House products or archival sources, depending on the age and type of record.

The dissolved company search can also provide basic index information for older companies, including company names, company numbers and dates of incorporation and dissolution. If you are researching a company from several decades ago, therefore, do not assume that a normal online search will show every document that ever existed.

What Happens to Records After 20 Years?

Under the current policy, Companies House retains dissolved company records for 20 years. After that point, selected records can be transferred to The National Archives, while unselected records can be destroyed under the applicable public records framework.

The National Archives explains that Companies House registration and dissolution files generally remain with Companies House for 20 years before either being destroyed or transferred to The National Archives. This means "20 years" does not necessarily mean that every record disappears permanently after the twentieth anniversary. Some records can become archival records instead.

What Is The National Archives?

The National Archives is the official archive for the UK government and England and Wales. For company research, it can contain historical records relating to businesses that are no longer held in the active Companies House system. However, it is important to understand what you are likely to find. The National Archives notes that most company records it holds are government records concerning registration and dissolution, rather than the company's own internal business files.

Can You Remove Old Company Records From Companies House?

Usually, simply wanting an old record removed is not enough. Companies House operates a statutory public register, which means information filed correctly may remain publicly available even after the company has ceased trading. There are, however, procedures for protecting or suppressing certain personal information in qualifying circumstances.

For example, Companies House provides processes concerning information such as residential addresses and other personal data where statutory requirements are satisfied. This is particularly relevant for directors and PSCs who are concerned about personal information appearing on the register.

What If Your Home Address Appears on an Old Filing?

This can be more complicated than simply changing your company's current registered office. An old document can remain part of the historical filing record even after the company has changed address. Companies House has introduced procedures allowing individuals to apply to remove or suppress certain residential address information where the legal conditions are met.

The fact that a company is dissolved does not automatically mean that historical information disappears. If you have a genuine privacy or safety concern, review the current Companies House guidance rather than assuming that dissolution removes the information.

Why Does Companies House Keep Records for So Long?

There is a practical reason for long-term retention. The company register is intended to provide transparency about UK businesses. Imagine that a supplier is considering doing business with a company whose directors previously ran several businesses. Historical information can help establish:

• Whether the company existed
• Who its directors were
• How long it operated
• Whether its name changed
• Whether it filed accounts
• Whether it entered insolvency proceedings
• Whether charges were registered against it
• Whether the same individuals were involved in previous companies

For investors, lenders and researchers, that historical context can be valuable. A company does not necessarily become irrelevant simply because it has stopped trading.

Why Historic Companies House Records Matter to Founders

For entrepreneurs, old company records can matter in several ways.

Due Diligence

Before entering a significant commercial relationship, a founder may want to investigate a supplier, distributor, consultant or potential investor. Companies House can provide useful background information.

Director History

A person's current business may not tell the whole story. Companies House allows searches involving current and resigned officers, making it possible to examine previous corporate involvement.

Recovering Old Documents

A founder may need an old:

• Certificate
• Accounts filing
• Confirmation statement
• Change of name record
• Share-related filing
• Company resolution

Historical filing records can sometimes provide evidence that would otherwise be difficult to recover.

Proving Corporate History

A business may have changed names, moved registered offices or changed directors several times. The Companies House record can help establish that timeline.

Does Dissolving a Company Delete Its History?

No. Dissolution means that the company has been removed from the register as a legal entity. It does not mean that its historical Companies House record immediately disappears. Under the current policy, dissolved company records are retained for 20 years from dissolution. This is an important distinction for entrepreneurs who assume that closing a company effectively wipes its online history. It does not.

Example: A Company Dissolved in 2026

Suppose ABC Digital Ltd is dissolved on 15 September 2026. Under the current 20-year retention policy, its Companies House records would ordinarily be retained until around September 2046. However, because Companies House is reviewing its retention policy and has paused destruction and transfer during the review, the ultimate treatment of records at that point could be different. The example illustrates why the date of dissolution, rather than the date the company stopped trading, is the relevant starting point.

How to Find an Old Companies House Record

If you need to investigate a former company, use this process.

Step 1: Find the Company

Search using:

• Company name
• Company number
• Officer name

Step 2: Check the Company's Status

Look for whether the company is:

• Active
• Dissolved
• Liquidation
• Administration
• Other relevant status

Step 3: Check the Filing History

Look for accounts, confirmation statements, officer changes, name changes and other filings.

Step 4: Check Previous Names

A company may have operated under another name. Companies House provides previous and dissolved name search functionality.

Step 5: Look at Document Images

Where available, document images can provide more detail than the basic company profile.

Are Companies House Records Free?

Many basic company searches and records available through the Find and Update Company Information service can be accessed free of charge. Companies House also allows users to download copies of filing-history documents in many cases. Its search guidance explains that users can access filing history and document images, while some specialist products and services may involve fees.

Older or archived records may require different access arrangements. If you cannot find a particular document online, that does not necessarily mean the record has been destroyed. It may be held through another Companies House product or an archive.

How Long Should Your Business Keep Its Own Records?

Do not confuse the Companies House retention period with your own company's record-keeping obligations. Companies House retaining a document for 20 years does not mean a company director can safely destroy the company's own records after 20 years. Businesses have separate legal and tax record-keeping requirements.

For example, accounting records, tax records, payroll documentation, contracts and other business documents can have different retention periods depending on their purpose and the legislation involved. Companies House itself does not provide a blanket rule that tells every business how long to keep every internal document. Founders should therefore treat: Companies House retention and your company's record-keeping obligations as two separate issues.

What Should Founders Do With Important Company Documents?

Even when Companies House has a copy of a filing, keeping your own organised records is good business practice. A company document library should typically include:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Memorandum and Articles
• Confirmation statements
• Accounts
• Share certificates
• Board minutes
• Shareholder resolutions
• Director records
• PSC information
• Tax correspondence
• Bank records
• Important contracts
• Intellectual property documents

For international founders, maintaining a secure digital archive is particularly useful because accessing historic documents from another country can otherwise become unnecessarily difficult. IncorpUK, a UK company formation and management platform for global founders, includes company management resources designed to help international entrepreneurs manage company information after incorporation. For businesses operating remotely, keeping company records organised alongside Companies House filings can make ongoing administration considerably easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Companies House keep company records?

Companies House retains records of active companies while they remain active. Records of dissolved companies are currently retained for 20 years from the date of dissolution.

Does Companies House keep records after a company is dissolved?

Yes. Dissolved company records are currently retained for 20 years. Companies House is currently reviewing the retention policy and has paused destruction and transfer of records during the review.

Can I find a company that was dissolved years ago?

Yes. Companies House provides a dissolved company search, and records of companies dissolved since January 2010 are available through the Find and Update Company Information service.

What happens to company records after 20 years?

Under the current policy, selected records may be transferred to The National Archives, while unselected records may be destroyed. Companies House has currently paused this process while its retention policy is under review.

Does dissolving a company remove its Companies House history?

No. Dissolution does not immediately erase the company's historical register information. Dissolved records are currently retained for 20 years from dissolution.

Can I remove my name from an old Companies House record?

Not simply because you no longer want the information displayed. Companies House has specific procedures for suppressing or removing certain personal information where statutory conditions are satisfied.

Does Companies House keep my company's invoices and bank statements?

Generally, no. Companies House primarily keeps information and documents delivered to the registrar. A company's own internal business records are separate and are normally maintained by the company, its directors, accountants or other relevant parties.

Can I access very old company records?

Potentially. Records older than those readily available through the current online service may be accessible through other Companies House products or The National Archives, depending on the age and nature of the records.

Conclusion

Companies House records are designed to provide a long-term corporate history, not just a snapshot of a business today. For an active company, Companies House retains its records while the company remains active. For a dissolved company, the current policy is 20 years from the date of dissolution. After that, selected records can be transferred to The National Archives and others may be destroyed.

However, 2026 is an important year to understand the position because Companies House is currently reviewing how long dissolved company records should be retained and has paused destruction and transfer during that review. For founders, the practical lesson is straightforward: do not assume that dissolving a company removes its history from the public record. If a company has previously filed information with Companies House, that information can remain accessible long after the business has stopped trading.

At the same time, do not rely on Companies House as your company's permanent document archive. Keep your own important corporate, financial and legal records securely and in an organised format. For anyone researching a former business, conducting due diligence or managing a company from overseas, understanding Companies House's retention rules can help you find the information you need and understand why some historic information may remain publicly visible for many years.