Important Companies House filings

What is Companies House?

Companies House is the government registrar for all companies in the UK. It maintains the public register of businesses, ensuring that vital information about your company’s structure, officers, and financial health is accurate and transparent. This process helps prevent fraud and ensures business transparency.

Companies House has offices in Cardiff for companies registered in England and Wales, and Edinburgh for companies registered in Scotland.

When you send any document or information to the registrar, you're making a filing. This includes your annual accounts, the confirmation statement, or one of the many event-driven notices required when a change happens in your company. Keeping these records accurate is a continuous legal duty for all company directors and officers.

What are event-driven notices?

An event-driven notice is an official form you must file with Companies House to notify them of a specific, non-annual change or event that has taken place in your company. These filings are crucial to ensuring the public record is accurate and up-to-date.

Forms for common company changes

There are specific forms for every type of filing, and you must use the appropriate one to report a given change.

To report a change in company officers (like directors and secretaries), use:

• form AP01 - appointing a company director who is an individual

• form AP02 - appointing a corporate director

• form AP03 - appointing a secretary who is an individual

• form AP04 - appointing a corporate secretary

• form CH01 - changing the details (eg the address) of a company director (who is an individual)

• form CH02 - changing the details of a corporate director 

• form CH03 - changing the details of a secretary who is an individual

• form CH04 - changing the details of a corporate secretary

• form TM01 - terminating the appointment of a company director

• form TM02 - terminating the appointment of a secretary

To report changes regarding a person with significant control (PSC), use:

• form PSC01 - giving notice of an individual person with significant control

• form PSC02 - giving notice of a relevant legal entity (ie not an individual) with significant control

• form PSC04 - changing the details of an individual PSC

• form PSC05 - changing the details of a relevant legal entity with significant control

• form PSC07 - giving notice of a person or relevant legal entity ceasing to be a PSC

To report a change in the company’s registered office or records, use:

• form AD01 - changing the registered office address

• form AD02 - notifying or changing the address where the company records are kept available for inspection

• form AD03 - changing the location of company records to the single alternative inspection address (SAIL) 

• form AD04 - changing the location of company records to the registered office

To report administrative or capital changes, use:

• form SH01 - allotting new shares (this will also require a new statement of capital)

• form AA01 - changing of the company’s accounting reference date

• form NM01 - changing the company name 

Depending on your circumstances, you may need to use other forms or submit other filings. For example:

• when changing the company's total share capital, you will need to use various forms depending on the circumstances

• when creating a charge over any of the company's assets, you will need to use various forms depending on the circumstances

• when passing a special resolution, you need to submit a copy of the resolution

When should I file an event-driven notice? 

These notices generally have strict deadlines, which you must meet to avoid penalties against the company and its officers. Most forms (eg those relating to changes in directors or registered office) must be filed within 14 days of the event taking place.

Any application to register a charge with Companies House must be filed within 21 days of its creation to ensure it's valid.

How can I file these forms?

Most notices can be submitted online via the Companies House website. This is generally the fastest and most reliable way.

You can also send paper forms by post, but you must make sure you send them to the correct Companies House office for your jurisdiction:

• Cardiff for companies registered in England and Wales

• Edinburgh for companies registered in Scotland

How do I verify my identity with Companies House?

As of 18 November 2025, under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, certain individuals and entities connected to a company are required to verify their identity. This means the relevant parties must prove they are who they claim to be before they can make filings.

Who needs to verify their identity?

You'll need to verify your identity if you hold a statutory role in the company or if you file documents on its behalf. This generally includes:

• directors (or equivalent, like an LLP member, general partner, or managing officer)

• a director of an overseas company registered in the UK

• PSCs

• company secretaries

• any Companies House authorised agent (ie an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), like an accountant or lawyer)

• anyone else who files on behalf of a company (eg a company secretary)

How do I verify my identity?

You can verify your identity using the government’s One Login service or by asking an ACSP to do it on your behalf.

Once verified, you'll receive a Companies House personal code. This code is personal to you, not the company, and you'll need to use it to connect your verified identity to any roles you hold. 

What do I do with my Companies House personal code?

If you:

• are an existing director (ie appointed before 18 November 2025) - provide your personal code in your company's next confirmation statement filing

• become a director or incorporate a new company with you as a director - provide your personal code as part of the company registration

• are a new PSC - provide your personal code to Companies House within 14 days of being listed as a PSC

• are an existing PSC and a director of the same company - provide your personal codes as PSC within 14 days of filing the company’s next confirmation statement

• an existing PSC but not a director of the same company - provide your personal code within the first 14 days of your birth month (eg if your birthday is 16 May, your 14-day period will begin on 1 May)

Other requirements for company administration

Beyond the mandatory filings, there are internal administrative steps you must follow when making changes to your company. Keeping robust internal records prevents future disputes and ensures all actions are legally valid.

For most company changes, you need to get approval at a formal meeting of the board or shareholders before you submit any forms to Companies House. Generally, you will need:

• board approvals - if the change is administrative (like changing the registered office), the directors must meet and approve the action. You must formally record this decision in Board minutes

• shareholder approvals - if the change affects the company's constitution, its rights, or its structure (like a change of name or issuing new shares), you'll often need approval from the shareholders, usually by passing a resolution (eg using a Shareholder resolution)

For more information, read General meetings and AGMs, Company resolutions, and Board meetings and board minutes.

Do not hesitate to Ask a lawyer if you have any questions or concerns.