Introduction
Filing with Companies House is a legal obligation for every UK limited company director. Get it wrong and you risk penalties, a damaged credit profile, or even your company being struck off the register. Yet many directors — particularly those running small businesses without dedicated admin support — make the same avoidable mistakes year after year.
Here are the most common Companies House filing mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Missing the Confirmation Statement Deadline
Every limited company must file a Confirmation Statement (CS01) at least once every 12 months. The deadline is 14 days after the end of your review period. Missing this deadline results in an automatic penalty and, if left unfiled, can lead to Companies House initiating strike-off proceedings.
Fix: Set a calendar reminder well in advance of your review period end date. The filing fee is just £34 online — it's one of the cheapest and most important filings you'll make.
2. Filing Annual Accounts Late
Private limited companies must file annual accounts within 9 months of their accounting reference date. Late filing results in automatic penalties starting at £150 for up to 1 month late, rising to £1,500 for over 6 months late. Repeat offenders face doubled penalties.
Fix: Work with an accountant and agree a timeline well before the deadline. Don't wait until the last minute.
3. Using an Incorrect or Outdated Registered Office Address
Your registered office address must be a valid, physical UK address at all times. If you move and forget to update Companies House, important correspondence — including penalty notices — will go to the wrong address. You may not even know your company is in trouble until it's too late.
Fix: Update your registered office address at Companies House as soon as it changes. Consider using a professional registered office address service like Spectre Offices to ensure your address is always stable and monitored.
4. Failing to Update Director Details
When a director's details change — such as their home address, name, or nationality — this must be reported to Companies House within 14 days using form CH01. Many directors forget or don't realise this is a requirement.
Fix: Treat any change in director details as a filing trigger. If you use a director service address, changes to your personal home address don't need to be reported separately — another benefit of using a professional address service.
5. Not Updating the PSC Register
The Persons with Significant Control (PSC) register must be kept up to date. If ownership or control of your company changes, you must update the PSC register and notify Companies House within 14 days. Failure to do so is a criminal offence.
Fix: Review your PSC register whenever there are changes to shareholding or control, and file the necessary updates promptly.
6. Submitting Accounts in the Wrong Format
Small companies, micro-entities, and larger companies have different accounting requirements. Filing full accounts when you qualify for abbreviated or micro-entity accounts — or vice versa — can cause your filing to be rejected.
Fix: Confirm which accounting standard applies to your company with your accountant before filing.
7. Ignoring Companies House Letters
Companies House sends important notices — including reminders, penalty notices, and strike-off warnings — to your registered office address. If these are missed, you may not realise your company is at risk until it's too late.
Fix: Ensure your registered office address is always monitored. Mail scanning from Spectre Offices means you receive all correspondence digitally, so nothing gets missed.
8. Forgetting to File a Dormant Company Return
Even if your company is dormant (not trading), you still need to file a Confirmation Statement and dormant accounts each year. Many directors assume a dormant company has no filing obligations — this is incorrect.
Fix: Dormant company accounts are simple to prepare and file. Don't skip them just because the company isn't active.
9. Using a PO Box as a Registered Office
Companies House requires a physical street address as your registered office. A PO Box is not acceptable and will result in your filing being rejected or your company being flagged as non-compliant.
Fix: Use a professional registered office address service that provides a genuine physical UK address.
10. Not Keeping a Record of Your Authentication Code
Your Companies House authentication code is required to file online. Losing it means requesting a new one by post, which takes up to 5 working days — potentially causing you to miss a filing deadline.
Fix: Store your authentication code securely (e.g. in a password manager) and make sure your accountant has a copy.
Need Help Staying Compliant?
Spectre Offices offers Companies House admin support to help directors stay on top of their filing obligations — from Confirmation Statements to address changes and director updates.
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