Guides
A guide to using Companies House
Founded in 1890, Companies House in the UK records all types of company information in accordance with the Companies Act, including incorporation and dissolution of companies.
In addition to registering basic company details and director information, it creates a public record on Companies House WebCheck.
Every day, millions of professionals use this register of companies to inform business decisions.
The Companies House WebCheck website can be found here.
If you have registered a limited company in the UK, it is also your responsibility to notify Companies House of any changes to your limited company, such as:
- Changes in director and company secretary positions, resignations, or their personal information
- Changing the name of your company
- Changing the address of your registered office
- Changing the accounting reference date
- Changes to the information about your people with significant control (PSC)
- Changes to your company’s share structure, such as issuing new shares
- Changes to mortgage details, including any new ones it has or those your company has repaid
- Some changes may need you to pass a resolution.
- You may also need to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Watch the video below to find out if registering as a limited company is the best way to run your business. You’ll also find out what you need to do to register your company with Companies House.
What you require to tell Companies House about any changes to your limited company
You’ll need the following:
- The email address and password you used to register with Companies House online
- The authentication code Companies House sent to you
A guide to using Companies House
You may register online. Once your email address and password are entered, an authentication code will be mailed to your registered office address.
How to tell Companies House about changes to your address
After Companies House registers your address change, it will become official.
As soon as you register your business, your company name will change. An official certificate containing the title and date of your new company will be sent to you by Companies House.
An explanation of Companies House
Company House is part of the Department for Business, Skills and Innovation.
In the UK, it focuses on the regulation and naming of limited liability companies and limited partnerships.
Companies House is responsible for inspecting and maintaining information concerning LLPs and limited companies.
All businesses and the general public can access the information displayed on the register of companies online.
The United Kingdom was the first country to create a corporate information register that was open and free for everyone to access.
As a result, the general public has a simple means of monitoring and inspecting every company doing business in the UK, including its ownership, actions, and reliability.
Which business types are registered with Companies House?
The Companies House approves the incorporation of limited companies.
Companies can be formed online via companies formation agents (agents) or the Web Incorporation Service.
The other option is to establish a company via postal service by filling out a paper application. Companies House never deals with unincorporated business structures such as general partnerships and sole proprietorships.
Companies House registers the following types of companies:
- Public limited company (PLC)
- Private limited company by share
- Private unlimited company
- Private limited company by guarantee (no share capital)
- European Economic Interest Groupings ( GP04 )
- Limited liability partnership
- Limited partnership
- European public businesses
- International companies
About 550,000 new companies are incorporated in the UK every year.
