What is Companies House? What small businesses should know

f you’re thinking about setting up a limited company, you’ve probably come across Companies House. But what exactly does it do, and why does it matter to your business?

Companies House is responsible for registering and keeping records of limited companies in the UK. And its role doesn’t stop once your business is officially registered. You’ll need to keep Companies House updated throughout your company’s life, from filing annual accounts to reporting changes to your business.

In this guide, we’ll explain what Companies House is, the services it provides, what information it holds about you and the deadlines you need to know about.

Key takeaways

• What is Companies House?
• What services does Companies House provide?
• What are the deadlines for filing with Companies House?
• What information about me does Companies House keep?
• Why is Companies House important?
• Keep organised when it comes to business admin

Companies House is the UK’s official registrar of companies. It’s a government agency responsible for registering limited companies, keeping their information up to date and making certain details available to the public.

According to Companies House, there are more than five million limited companies registered in the UK, with over 800,000 new companies incorporated each year.

Its main responsibilities include:

• Registering new companies: Making businesses official limited companies through a process called incorporation
• Keeping company records: Collecting information about directors, shareholders, ownership and company finances
• Maintaining a public register: Allowing anyone to look up information about registered companies
• Managing company closures: Removing companies from the register when they’re dissolved
• Supporting transparency: Helping businesses and individuals check who they’re dealing with and making it harder for companies to be misused

Do all businesses need to register with Companies House?
No. If you’re operating as a sole trader, you don’t need to register on Companies House. You’ll generally deal directly with HMRC instead.

But if you want to set up a limited company, you’ll need to register it with Companies House.

It’s also worth knowing that Companies House and HMRC are separate organisations. Companies House manages company registration and records, while HMRC is responsible for tax.

Companies House does more than register new businesses. It also manages important information about companies throughout their lifetime.

Here are the main services small business owners are likely to use.

Incorporation is the process of officially creating and registering a limited company.

When your company is incorporated, it becomes a separate legal entity from you. This means it can enter into contracts, own assets and take on debts in its own name.

For most limited companies, this also means the owners have limited liability, although there are circumstances where directors or shareholders can still be held personally responsible.

To incorporate a company, you’ll usually need to provide:

• Your proposed company name and registered office address
• Details of the company’s directors and shareholders
• Information about people with significant control (PSCs)
• A memorandum and articles of association
• A description of what your business does, using a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code

You’ll also need to meet the applicable identity verification requirements.

Once Companies House approves your application, you’ll receive a certificate of incorporation and a unique company number.

How much does incorporation cost?
As of February 2026, it costs £100 to incorporate a limited company online directly with Companies House or £124 using the paper application process.

But with our company registration service, you can register your business for free when you become an active customer. Sound good?

For a more detailed explanation of the steps involved, read our guide on how to register a business.

What is a confirmation statement?
A confirmation statement is an annual filing that tells Companies House the information it holds about your business is accurate and up to date.

It includes details such as your company’s registered office address, directors, business activities and shareholders.

You’ll need to review this information and confirm that everything is correct at least once every 12 months.

And here’s something that’s easy to miss: you still need to file a confirmation statement even if nothing has changed.

If something has changed, you may need to update Companies House separately before submitting your confirmation statement. For example, you shouldn’t wait until your annual filing to report a new director or a change of registered address.

How much does a confirmation statement cost?
In 2026, the fee is £50 for online filing or £110 by post.

You normally only pay the fee once within each 12 month payment period, even if you submit more than one confirmation statement during that time.

Most limited companies also need to file annual accounts with Companies House.

These provide information about your company’s finances over its financial year.

Depending on the size and circumstances of your business, your accounts might include:

• A balance sheet showing what the company owns and owes
• A profit and loss account
• Notes explaining certain financial information

Smaller companies may qualify for simplified reporting requirements, meaning they don’t necessarily have to make all their financial information publicly available.

But even if your company isn’t trading, you’ll generally still need to file accounts. Dormant companies have their own simplified filing requirements.

For a private limited company, annual accounts are normally due nine months after the company’s financial year ends. The deadline for your first accounts is usually different, which we’ll explain below.

How much does it cost to file annual accounts?
Companies House doesn’t generally charge a filing fee for submitting annual accounts directly. However, you may need to pay an accountant or accounting software provider to help prepare or submit them.

Good to know: Your Companies House accounts and your Company Tax Return aren’t the same thing. Your Company Tax Return is filed with HMRC, and the two have different deadlines.

One of the most useful services Companies House provides is its free public register.

Through the Companies House search service, anyone can look up information about a registered company.

For example, you can check:

• Whether a company is active or dissolved
• Its registered office address
• Who its directors are
• When it was incorporated
• Its filing history and available annual accounts
• When its next accounts and confirmation statement are due

This can be useful if you’re researching a potential supplier, checking the legitimacy of a business or looking into companies you might work with.

You can search by company name, company number or the name of an officer.

And it’s completely free to view the information available through the online register.

But being listed on Companies House doesn’t guarantee that a company is financially healthy or trustworthy. It’s a useful starting point, but shouldn’t be your only check before doing business with someone.

Companies House also manages the process of closing limited companies.

If you decide to stop trading and no longer need your company, you may be able to apply for it to be removed from the register. This is known as striking off a company.

When the company is officially dissolved, it no longer legally exists.

For example, if you set up a limited company for a business idea that didn’t work out, you may be able to apply for voluntary strike off.

But you can’t simply close a company without dealing with its outstanding responsibilities.

You’ll need to make sure you meet the eligibility requirements, settle the company’s affairs and notify the relevant parties. Voluntary strike off also isn’t a substitute for dealing with an insolvent company.

How much does it cost to close a company?
The Companies House voluntary strike off fee is £13 online or £18 by post in 2026.

You can find the full requirements in the government’s guidance on closing a limited company.

Once your limited company is registered, keeping up with your filing deadlines becomes an important part of running it.

Miss a deadline and you could face penalties. In more serious cases, Companies House may even begin the process of removing your company from the register.

Here are some of the key deadlines for private limited companies:

Filing or requirement	Deadline
Company incorporation	Before operating as a registered limited company
First annual accounts	Usually 21 months after incorporation
Subsequent annual accounts	Usually 9 months after the financial year ends
Confirmation statement	At least once every 12 months, with 14 days after the review period ends to file
Changes to directors or their details	Usually within 14 days of the change
Change of registered office address	Within 14 days of the change
Voluntary strike off	No annual deadline, but eligibility conditions apply, including restrictions on trading during the previous 3 months
Notifying interested parties about a strike off application	Within 7 days of applying

Your exact filing dates will depend on when your company was incorporated and its accounting period.

For example, if your company’s financial year ends on 31 March, its annual accounts would normally be due by 31 December.

Is your business already registered? You can check your company’s upcoming deadlines for free on the Companies House register.

What happens if you miss a filing deadline?
Companies House automatically charges late filing penalties for annual accounts.

For private limited companies, these start at £150 for accounts filed up to one month late and can reach £1,500 if they’re more than six months overdue. Penalties are doubled if accounts are filed late in two consecutive financial years.

That’s an expensive bit of admin to forget.

“It’s easy to think you’re done with Companies House once you’ve registered your business, but keeping your records up to date is just as important. Put your filing deadlines in your calendar from day one, and update your company details as changes happen rather than leaving everything until the end of the year.”

When you register a limited company, Companies House collects information about your business and the people responsible for running it.

Some of this information is publicly available, while other details are kept private.

Here’s what you need to know.

Information	Is it publicly available?
Company name and registration number	Yes
Registered office address	Yes
Company directors’ names	Yes
Directors’ service addresses	Yes
Directors’ month and year of birth	Usually yes
Directors’ full dates of birth	Generally no
Directors’ usual residential addresses	Generally no
Shareholder information filed with Companies House	Generally yes
Details of people with significant control (PSCs)	Yes, with certain personal details protected
Company’s registered email address	No
Identity verification documents	No
Filed company accounts	Yes, subject to reporting requirements

One thing worth thinking about before you register your company is the address you use.

Your registered office address is publicly available.

If you use your home address as your company’s registered office, it will generally appear on the public register.

If you’d prefer to keep your home address private, you can use an appropriate alternative address, such as an accountant’s office or a registered office service, provided you have permission to use it.

Companies House may also hold your residential address as a director, but this is normally kept off the public register unless you’ve used it as a public address.

You can read more about what personal information Companies House makes public.

Companies House plays an important role in making the UK’s business environment more transparent.

And it’s not only useful for large businesses. There are several reasons why it matters to small business owners too.

It makes businesses more transparent
The public register gives customers, suppliers and potential investors access to information about registered companies.

For example, if you’re considering working with a new supplier, you can check whether their company is active, how long it’s been registered and who the directors are.

It helps businesses build credibility
Being a registered limited company gives your business an official legal identity.

Potential customers and partners can look up your company details and confirm that the business is registered.

Of course, registration alone doesn’t prove a company is reliable, but it provides information that others can use to make more informed decisions.

It helps prevent fraud
Companies House has been given stronger powers to question information on the register and tackle suspicious company activity.

Since November 2025, identity verification has also become a legal requirement for directors and people with significant control, with a phased rollout for existing company officers.

These changes are designed to make company information more reliable and reduce opportunities for fraud.

It encourages businesses to meet their legal responsibilities
By requiring companies to submit annual accounts, confirmation statements and other updates, Companies House helps make sure businesses remain accountable.

For company directors, keeping those records accurate isn’t optional. It’s part of the legal responsibility that comes with running a limited company.

Starting a limited company is an exciting step for you and your new business and registration is only the beginning.

From keeping Companies House updated to managing your accounts and tax obligations, staying organised from day one can make running your business much easier.

One of the first things you’ll want to consider is setting up a separate business bank account to keep your business finances organised.

Countingup combines a business bank account with built-in accounting software, helping you keep track of your income, expenses and financial records in one place.

And if you’re still at the planning stage, our company registration service can help you get your new limited company up and running.

For more practical advice on starting and growing your business, explore our resource hub.

You can verify your identity for free through GOV.UK One Login, or use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, such as an accountant, who may charge a fee.

Once verified, you’ll receive a personal code to link your verified identity to your roles at Companies House. New directors must verify before appointment, while existing directors and people with significant control have deadlines based on their circumstances. Check your Companies House record for the relevant dates.

Yes. You’ll normally need to pass a special resolution or follow the process set out in your company’s articles of association, then register the change with Companies House.

It costs £20 to change your company name online using the standard service in 2026. The new name won’t become official until Companies House registers it.

If your company meets the eligibility requirements, you can apply for voluntary strike off using the Companies House online service or form DS01.

You’ll need to deal with your company’s outstanding affairs and notify relevant parties. Companies House will then publish a notice of the proposed strike off. If nobody successfully objects, the company can be dissolved after the required notice period.

About the author

Meg Brazier — Brand Marketing & Communications Lead at Countingup and small business owner herself, having run a business for over 6 years.

Read Meg's full bio