Updating company details and officer information at Companies House

Why keeping your details up to date matters

Accurate records at Companies House are crucial for several reasons. They ensure your company remains compliant with the Companies Act 2006, avoid potential penalties, and maintain transparency for the public, investors, and other stakeholders.

Companies House records are publicly searchable, meaning anyone can view your company's registered office, details of its directors, and its business activities. Keeping this information current reflects your business accurately and helps build trust.

Updating your company's registered details

Several key company details may need updating as your business evolves.

Registered office address

Your registered office is the official address where Companies House and HMRC send formal correspondence. It must be a physical address in the same UK jurisdiction where your company is registered (England/Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland).

To change your registered office address:

1. Use Form AD01: This is the official form for notifying Companies House of a change to your registered office address.
2. Submit online or by post: Online filing through Companies House WebFiling is generally faster, often processed within 24 hours. Postal submissions can take longer.
3. Inform other bodies: While Companies House will inform HMRC about the corporation tax change, you should also notify HMRC for other tax schemes like VAT and PAYE, your bank, and other key business partners.
4. Update company stationery: Your new registered office address must be displayed on all company stationery, email signatures, and websites.

You must notify Companies House of a change to your registered office address immediately.

SIC codes

Your Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code is a 5-digit number that describes your company's main business activities. You can have up to four SIC codes if your business has diverse activities.

To change or update your SIC code:

1. File a Confirmation Statement (CS01): You can update your SIC code by filing a Confirmation Statement.
2. Submit via WebFiling: Log in to Companies House WebFiling, select your company, and navigate to the SIC code section within the Confirmation Statement.
3. Early submission: You don't have to wait for your annual Confirmation Statement deadline. You can file an early Confirmation Statement at any time to update your SIC code. There may be a filing fee for early online submissions (e.g., £34 for online, £62 for paper, figures for illustration — check current rates).

An incorrect SIC code can misrepresent your business and potentially affect loans or contracts.

Changing officer information

You must inform Companies House about any changes to your company's directors and secretaries.

Appointing a new director or secretary

When appointing a new director:

1. Board Resolution: The appointment should be formally approved via a board resolution.
2. Consent to Act: The new director must provide their written consent to act.
3. Gather details: You will need the new director's full name, any former names, nationality, date of birth, occupation, service address, and usual residential address. The usual residential address is kept private from public records where permitted.
4. File Form AP01: For an individual director, use Form AP01 (Appointment of Director). For a corporate director, use Form AP02.
5. Deadline: You must notify Companies House within 14 days of the appointment.
6. Update internal registers: Immediately update your company's Register of Directors and Register of Directors' Residential Addresses.

Resigning a director or secretary

To remove a director or secretary, you typically use Form TM01 (Termination of Appointment). This also needs to be filed with Companies House within 14 days of the resignation.

Updating existing officer details

If an existing director's or secretary's details change (e.g., name, service address, residential address, nationality, or occupation):

1. Use Form CH01: For changes to an individual director's details, use Form CH01 (Change of Director's Details).
2. Submit online: Online submission is the quickest method, often processed within hours.
3. Deadline: These changes should be reported promptly, typically within 14 days.

How to submit your updates

Most updates can be submitted online using the Companies House WebFiling service. You will need your company authentication code to log in. Online filing is generally faster, more convenient, and often cheaper than postal submissions.

Common mistakes

• Missing deadlines: Failing to file changes within the statutory 14-day window for officer appointments/resignations or immediately for registered office changes can lead to penalties.
• Incorrect forms: Using the wrong form for a specific change (e.g., AD01 for address, AP01 for director appointment).
• Incomplete information: Submitting forms with missing or incorrect details, which can cause delays or rejection.
• Not updating internal registers: Forgetting to update your company's own statutory registers after filing with Companies House.