Companies House Explained

At Towerstone Accountants we provide specialist limited company accountancy services for directors and owner managed businesses across the UK. We created this webpage for people responsible for company filings and statutory records who want clear guidance on Companies House requirements without jargon. Our aim is to help you understand your obligations, avoid filing errors, and stay compliant with Companies House and HMRC.

Companies House is one of those organisations that every UK business owner interacts with but very few fully understand. I regularly speak to directors who know they have to file things with Companies House but are unclear about what it actually does why it exists and how it differs from HMRC. That lack of understanding often leads to missed deadlines confusion and unnecessary stress.

In this article I am going to explain clearly what Companies House is what it does what information it holds and why it matters so much if you run or plan to run a limited company in the UK. I am writing this in the first person based on how I explain Companies House to my own clients and everything here reflects current UK practice and guidance from Companies House and GOV.UK.

What Companies House actually is

Companies House is the UK’s official registrar of companies. Its role is to incorporate dissolve and maintain records for companies and certain other business entities.

In simple terms Companies House:

• Keeps the official register of UK companies

• Records key company information

• Makes company information publicly available

• Enforces filing requirements under company law

It does not collect tax and it does not assess profits. Its focus is transparency compliance and public record keeping.

Why Companies House exists

The purpose of Companies House is rooted in trust and transparency.

By maintaining a public register Companies House allows:

• Customers to check who they are dealing with

• Suppliers to assess credibility

• Lenders to review basic financial information

• Regulators to monitor compliance

• The public to see how companies are structured

This transparency underpins confidence in the UK business environment.

Companies House and UK company law

Companies House operates under UK company law primarily the Companies Act 2006.

This legislation sets out:

• What companies must file

• When filings are due

• What information must be made public

• Director responsibilities and penalties

Companies House administers these rules but directors remain legally responsible for compliance.

What Companies House is not

One of the most important things to understand is what Companies House does not do.

Companies House:

• Does not calculate or collect Corporation Tax

• Does not assess whether a company is profitable

• Does not give business advice

• Does not check every figure for accuracy

• Does not replace the need for HMRC interaction

This is why confusion often arises when people assume Companies House and HMRC are the same body. They are entirely separate.

Companies House versus HMRC

I regularly explain the difference using a simple distinction.

Companies House is about public record and company law.
HMRC is about tax.

Companies House focuses on:

• Legal existence of the company

• Director and shareholder details

• Public accounts

• Filing deadlines under company law

HMRC focuses on:

• Corporation Tax

• VAT

• PAYE and National Insurance

• Self Assessment

You must deal with both but for different reasons and through different systems.

What information Companies House holds

Companies House holds a significant amount of information about every registered company.

This includes:

• Company name and number

• Registered office address

• Date of incorporation

• Company status active dormant dissolved

• Director names and service addresses

• Shareholder details for people with significant control

• Filing history

• Statutory accounts

• Confirmation statements

Much of this information is publicly accessible.

The registered office and why it matters

Every company must have a registered office address recorded at Companies House.

This is:

• The company’s official legal address

• Where Companies House sends correspondence

• A public piece of information

The registered office does not have to be where the business trades from but it must be somewhere documents can be reliably received.

Failing to monitor mail sent to the registered office is one of the most common causes of missed deadlines.

Directors and Companies House

Companies House records key information about company directors.

This includes:

• Full name

• Month and year of birth

• Service address

• Date of appointment or resignation

Directors also have residential addresses on record but these are protected and not shown publicly.

Being listed as a director at Companies House is a legal position with real responsibilities not just a formality.

People with significant control

Companies House also records details of people with significant control often referred to as PSCs.

A PSC is someone who:

• Owns more than 25 percent of the shares

• Controls more than 25 percent of voting rights

• Has significant influence over the company

This register was introduced to improve transparency around ownership and control.

What accounts are filed with Companies House

One of the most important filings is the annual accounts.

Accounts filed at Companies House:

• Are statutory accounts not management accounts

• Are prepared under UK accounting standards

• Are available for public viewing

• Often contain reduced information for small companies

Small and micro entity companies can file abridged or filleted accounts which limits the level of detail visible to the public.

Why Companies House accounts look different to your internal accounts

Directors are often surprised that the accounts they see on Companies House look very different to what they receive from their accountant.

This is because:

• Profit and loss accounts are often not shown publicly

• Notes are reduced

• Detail is removed for confidentiality

The purpose of Companies House accounts is compliance and transparency not business analysis.

The confirmation statement

Every company must file a confirmation statement at least once every year.

This confirms that:

• Company details are up to date

• Directors and shareholders are correctly recorded

• Registered office is correct

• PSC information is accurate

It does not update information automatically. It confirms that what is already on record is still correct.

Filing deadlines and enforcement

Companies House operates strict filing deadlines.

Key deadlines include:

• Accounts filing deadlines

• Confirmation statement deadlines

• Notification of changes such as directors or addresses

Penalties for late accounts are automatic and can escalate quickly. Persistent non compliance can lead to compulsory strike off.

What happens if you do not file with Companies House

Failing to file documents with Companies House can have serious consequences.

These include:

• Late filing penalties

• Public record showing overdue filings

• Strike off action

• Director disqualification in serious cases

Even if a company is dormant it still has filing obligations.

Strike off and dissolution

Companies House also handles company strike off and dissolution.

This includes:

• Voluntary strike off applications by directors

• Compulsory strike off for non compliance

• Publishing strike off notices

• Removing dissolved companies from the register

Once a company is dissolved it legally ceases to exist.

Companies House and public transparency

One of the defining features of Companies House is that most information is public.

This means:

• Anyone can look up company details

• Competitors customers and lenders can see filings

• Late filings are visible

• Financial trends can be observed at a high level

This transparency is intentional and forms part of the UK’s approach to corporate governance.

Why accuracy matters

Companies House largely relies on information submitted by companies and their advisers.

It does not check every filing in detail. This means:

• Errors can remain on the public record

• Inaccurate information can mislead others

• Directors remain responsible for correctness

Correcting errors later is possible but it is far easier to get it right first time.

Companies House and online filing

Most interactions with Companies House now happen online.

Directors can:

• Incorporate companies online

• File accounts and confirmation statements

• Update addresses and officers

• View filing history

Online filing is faster cheaper and more reliable than paper filing.

Common misconceptions I see about Companies House

There are a few recurring misunderstandings.

These include:

• Thinking Companies House is the same as HMRC

• Believing accounts are checked for accuracy

• Assuming dormant companies do not need filings

• Thinking private companies are fully private

• Assuming accountants are legally responsible for filings

Clarifying these points avoids many problems.

Companies House and accountants

While accountants often handle filings the legal responsibility always sits with the directors.

An accountant can:

• Prepare accounts

• Submit filings on your behalf

• Remind you of deadlines

But directors are still accountable under company law.

Using Companies House information as a business tool

Companies House is not just a compliance burden. It can also be a useful source of information.

You can use it to:

• Check potential customers or suppliers

• Review competitor structures

• Confirm director appointments

• Understand basic financial position of other companies

Used properly it provides valuable context.

How Companies House fits into running a limited company

Companies House is part of the ongoing life of a company from start to finish.

You interact with it when:

• Incorporating

• Appointing directors

• Filing annual accounts

• Making changes to company details

• Closing the company

It is not something you can ignore or deal with once a year without thought.

Why directors should understand Companies House

In my experience directors who understand what Companies House does make better decisions and avoid far more problems.

They:

• Know what information is public

• Understand filing obligations

• Appreciate the difference between tax and company law

• Take compliance seriously

This reduces risk and stress significantly.

Final thoughts

Companies House is the backbone of the UK corporate system. It provides transparency structure and accountability for companies operating in the UK. While it can feel bureaucratic its role is essential in maintaining trust in how companies are formed and run.

In my experience most issues with Companies House arise not because the rules are complex but because they are misunderstood or overlooked. Once you understand what Companies House is what it does and why it matters it becomes a routine part of running a limited company rather than a source of confusion or anxiety.

You may also find our guidance on companies act 2006 and what is company law helpful when dealing with related Companies House tasks. For a broader overview of filings, registers, and statutory duties, you can visit our companies house hub.