When you form a UK limited company, you are registering with Companies House — the official government registrar for all companies incorporated in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Understanding what Companies House is, how the registration process works, and what your ongoing obligations are will help you run your company correctly and avoid costly mistakes.
What is Companies House?
Companies House is an executive agency of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). It is the official UK government body responsible for incorporating and dissolving limited companies, maintaining the public register of companies, and making company information freely available to the public.
The register held by Companies House contains information on over 5 million active and dissolved companies. This information is freely accessible to anyone via the Companies House website at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
Companies House has offices in Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Belfast. The Cardiff office handles companies registered in England and Wales; Edinburgh handles Scottish companies; Belfast handles Northern Irish companies.
Incorporates companies
Processes applications to form new limited companies, LLPs, and other entities.
Maintains the register
Keeps the publicly searchable register of all UK companies, past and present.
Enforces compliance
Issues penalties, strikes off non-compliant companies, and refers cases for prosecution.
What Information is Held on the Register?
The Companies House register is fully public. The following information about your company is visible to anyone, free of charge:
| Information | Publicly Visible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Company name | Yes | Current and any previous names |
| Company Registration Number (CRN) | Yes | Unique identifier, permanent for life of company |
| Date of incorporation | Yes | Always publicly visible |
| Registered office address | Yes | Must be kept up to date |
| SIC codes | Yes | Business activity classification |
| Director names | Yes | Name, nationality, occupation, month/year of birth |
| Director home address | Partially | Protected since 2015 — only shared with credit agencies and specified bodies |
| Director service address | Yes | The publicly displayed director address |
| Shareholders & share capital | Yes | Number of shares, class, and current holders |
| PSC register | Yes | People with Significant Control — who owns 25%+ of the company |
| Annual accounts | Yes | Filed accounts are publicly accessible (micro-entity abridged accounts show limited detail) |
| Confirmation statements | Yes | Filing history publicly visible |
| Charges/mortgages | Yes | Any secured lending against company assets |
The Registration Process in Detail
Company registration is done via form IN01 (Incorporation of a Private or Public Company). When submitted electronically — either directly or through a formation agent — it is reviewed by Companies House, with processing times that can vary.
Information Required on IN01
What Happens After Approval
Once Companies House approves your application, a series of things happen automatically and in quick succession:
Certificate of Incorporation issued
You receive a Certificate of Incorporation electronically. This document confirms your company's legal existence, its Company Registration Number (CRN), and the date of incorporation. It is a legally valid document in digital form and can be used to open bank accounts.
Public register updated
Your company appears on the Companies House public register within hours of approval. Anyone searching for your company name or CRN can immediately see your registered details.
HMRC automatically notified
Companies House notifies HMRC of your incorporation automatically. HMRC will write to your registered office with a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) and instructions for registering for Corporation Tax. You must complete this registration within 3 months of starting to trade.
Your first obligations are triggered
The clock starts on your first Confirmation Statement (due within 12 months of incorporation) and your first accounting period begins on the date of incorporation.
Managing Your Company Online: WebFiling
Companies House provides a free online portal called WebFiling where you can manage your ongoing compliance obligations. After incorporating, you will receive login credentials for WebFiling, which allows you to:
To search any company on the public register for free — including your own — use the Companies House search at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
Your Ongoing Obligations Post-Registration
Registration is just the beginning. Once incorporated, your company has an ongoing set of legal obligations to both Companies House and HMRC.
| Obligation | Deadline | Filed With | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirmation Statement | At least annually (within 12 months of incorporation, then every 12 months) | Companies House | £34 online |
| Annual Accounts | Within 9 months of accounting year-end | Companies House | Free (software) or accountant fee |
| Corporation Tax registration | Within 3 months of starting to trade | HMRC | Free |
| Corporation Tax return (CT600) | Within 12 months of accounting year-end | HMRC | Free to file; tax payable 9 months 1 day after year-end |
| PSC register update | Whenever PSC information changes | Companies House | Free |
| Director/shareholder changes | Within 14 days of change | Companies House | Free |
Ready to form your company?
Register your UK limited company after checking the current Companies House filing fee and any third-party partner terms.
Start Application