Companies House: How to Search, File and Check UK Company Records

Companies House is the UK's official registrar of companies, responsible for incorporating and dissolving limited companies, registering company information, and making that information publicly available. All private limited companies (Ltd), public limited companies (PLC), and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) registered in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland are listed on the Companies House register.

The free Companies House search service at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk allows anyone to check company details, director information, filing history, and financial accounts without charge.

What information is publicly available

Companies House makes the following information publicly available for registered companies: company name, registration number, and registered address; current and previous directors and company secretaries; the date the company was incorporated; the company's current status (active, dissolved, in liquidation, etc.); confirmation statements (previously annual returns) showing current shareholders; filed accounts (balance sheet, profit and loss for smaller companies); any charges (loans secured against company assets); and people with significant control (PSC) information showing who owns or controls the company.

Private companies with turnover below the small company threshold submit abbreviated accounts, which show the balance sheet but not the profit and loss account. This threshold for the 2026 financial year is annual turnover below £10.2 million, balance sheet total below £5.1 million, and fewer than 50 employees.

How to use Companies House before entering a commercial relationship

Checking Companies House before engaging a supplier, contractor, or financial firm is a straightforward due diligence step. Key things to verify: the company is active (not dissolved or in administration); the registered address is a real business address rather than a virtual office; directors match who you expect to be dealing with; accounts have been filed on time (persistent late filing can indicate cash flow problems); and any charges against the company are understood.

For financial services providers, FCA authorisation status must also be verified on the FCA register at register.fca.org.uk - Companies House registration alone does not indicate FCA authorisation.

Companies House reforms 2026

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 has introduced significant changes to Companies House, with reforms rolling out through 2024 and 2025. These include: identity verification for all company directors and persons with significant control (PSC); enhanced powers for Companies House to query and reject suspicious filings; requirements for registered office addresses to be genuine business addresses; and strengthened powers to strike off companies used for fraud. The identity verification requirements began rolling out in 2025 and are continuing through 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only. All facts sourced from publicly available reports at time of publication, 2 June 2026.

Sources: Companies House at companieshouse.gov.uk; Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 at legislation.gov.uk; FCA register at register.fca.org.uk.