Companies House

The UK registrar of companies. Everything filed there is public, permanently and for free.

What it means

Companies House registers companies and holds the public record: directors, registered office, persons with significant control, annual accounts, confirmation statements, charges over assets, and every historic filing.

Anyone can search it, at no cost, including your customers and competitors.

Why it matters

The filings are legal obligations with criminal sanctions for persistent failure, and late filing penalties that escalate quickly.

They are also a shop window you did not choose. Prospective customers, suppliers and staff look you up, and a company with overdue accounts or a proposal to strike off on its record looks exactly as alarming as it sounds.

What it looks like in practice

Diarise the two annual events: accounts and confirmation statement. Set up email reminders and PROOF, which protects against fraudulent filings.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act is phasing in identity verification for directors and PSCs and tightening what can be filed. Check the current requirements rather than assuming last year's process.

What to watch out for

Official-looking invoices from private companies offering to file for you at inflated prices. Filing directly costs a small statutory fee.

Registered office address. It is public, and using your home address puts it on a public register permanently. A service address is inexpensive.

Where to get proper advice

Companies House guidance is clear and free. Your accountant usually files accounts; the confirmation statement is easy to file yourself.