| By Chandraketu Tripathi | Updated April 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Companies House is the UK government's official register of companies. It holds public information on over 5 million UK companies — their directors, accounts, filing history, and ownership. Searching Companies House is completely free and takes seconds. Whether you're verifying a business partner, researching a supplier, or checking a potential employer, the Companies House register is the most reliable starting point. | ||||||||||||||||||
Key Facts Companies House search: free | Companies on the register: 5+ million | New company registrations: ~700,000 per year | Company registration fee: from £12 | Search URL: find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk | ||||||||||||||||||
How to Search Companies House UK — Quick Guide | ||||||||||||||||||
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What You Can Find on Companies House for Free | ||||||||||||||||||
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Companies House Identity Verification: 2025 Changes | ||||||||||||||||||
| From 2025, Companies House introduced mandatory identity verification for new company directors and persons with significant control as part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. New directors must verify their identity through the GOV.UK One Login service before being listed on the register. Existing directors must verify by a deadline set by Companies House. This aims to reduce fraudulent use of the register. | ||||||||||||||||||
Red Flags to Look for When Checking a Company | ||||||||||||||||||
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Frequently Asked QuestionsHow do I search for a company director on Companies House? Go to find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk and search by company name or company number. Click on the company to see its officers — directors, company secretaries, and persons with significant control (PSC). You can see each director's name, appointment date, nationality, month and year of birth, and their correspondence address (not usually their home address). Is Companies House search free? Yes — searching Companies House is completely free. The public register is accessible at no cost via the GOV.UK Companies House search or the full Companies House service at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. You can search company names, directors, accounts, filing history, and confirmation statements — all free. What information does Companies House hold on directors? For each company director, Companies House holds: full name, title, nationality, country of residence, occupation, appointment date, and resignation date (if applicable). Month and year of birth is publicly visible. Full date of birth and home address are protected and only shared with specified public authorities. Can I search Companies House by director name? Yes — you can search Companies House by director name using the company search tool. Enter the person's name and select 'Officers' from the search type. This shows all active and resigned directorships for that individual, which companies they direct, and appointment dates. How do I check if a company is legitimate using Companies House? Search the company name or number on Companies House. Check: the company status (should be 'Active'), that it has filed recent confirmation statements and accounts (overdue filings are a red flag), that the registered office address looks genuine, that directors have verifiable identities, and that the company was incorporated before the relationship began. | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Disclaimer: Tax rates and allowances change annually. Always verify with HMRC or a qualified accountant. Sources: GOV.UK, HMRC, House of Commons Library, DS Burge & Co, Rest Less, Phinch.co.uk, Morningstar UK. April 2026. |
Companies House Director Search UK 2026: How to Find Company & Director Info
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