How to Update Company Details at Companies House

Changing your company’s details isn’t just a matter of updating your website or email signature. In the UK, certain company information must be officially updated at Companies House — and there are strict legal requirements, deadlines, and forms involved. This guide walks you through every scenario: from changing your registered office or directors, to updating your business name or SIC code. You’ll learn exactly what the law requires, which forms to use, how to avoid common mistakes, and what penalties you could face if you get it wrong.

Not every business change needs to be reported to Companies House, but several key details do. Under the Companies Act 2006, certain information about your company is legally required to be kept up to date on the public register. This includes your registered office address, director and secretary details, company name, share structure, People with Significant Control (PSC), and your Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code.

Failing to update these details can lead to fines, prosecution, or even your company being struck off the register. This is why it's crucial to know exactly which changes must be reported, and when. The obligation to keep your company information accurate falls on the company’s officers (directors and company secretary, if you have one).

Some common misconceptions are that you only need to update Companies House once a year at confirmation statement time, or that minor changes (for example, a director's new address) aren’t important. In fact, many changes must be reported as soon as they happen, not just annually.

• Registered office address
• Director and company secretary appointments, resignations, and details
• Company name changes
• Share capital changes and shareholder details
• People with Significant Control (PSC) details
• SIC code changes

Your registered office is your company’s official address for legal correspondence. It must be a physical address in the same part of the UK as where your company is registered (England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland). If you move premises or switch to a different address service, you must notify Companies House immediately.

To change your registered office, you submit form AD01. This can be done online via the Companies House WebFiling service, or by post. Online is usually processed within 24 hours, while post can take up to 2 weeks. Your new address becomes effective as soon as Companies House registers it – not when you submit the form.

Remember, your registered office address is public. If you use a residential address, it will be visible to anyone searching the register. Many businesses use a service address for privacy reasons, but this must still meet the legal requirements.

• Log in to Companies House WebFiling
• Select your company and choose ‘Change registered office address’
• Enter the new address, confirm it is in the correct UK jurisdiction
• Submit and receive emailed confirmation when accepted
• Notify HMRC, your bank, and others separately (Companies House does not do this for you)

Directors and company secretaries (if you have one) are key company officers whose details must be kept up to date at Companies House. This covers appointments, resignations, and changes to their personal details (such as address or name). You must notify Companies House within 14 days of any such changes.

To appoint a new director, file form AP01 (for individuals) or AP02 (for corporate directors). For resignations, use TM01. Changes to an officer's details (such as their service address) should be made on CH01 (for directors) or CH03 (for secretaries). All of these can be done online through WebFiling, which is faster and more secure than paper forms.

You must provide the director’s full name, service address (which can be a registered office or another address), and usual residential address (which is protected from public view). If a director changes their name due to marriage or deed poll, this must also be reported.

• Appointments: AP01 (individual), AP02 (corporate)
• Resignations: TM01 (director), TM02 (secretary)
• Change of details: CH01 (director), CH03 (secretary)
• Must be filed within 14 days

A common mistake is forgetting to update Companies House when a director moves house or changes their service address. This can result in missed legal documents or even personal liability if the company is sued and cannot be contacted.

If you want to change your company’s name, you must pass a special resolution of the shareholders and file form NM01 with Companies House. The new name is only effective once Companies House has approved it and issued a Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name. You cannot simply start using a new name in trading without this process.

To change your company’s Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code — the code that describes your business activity — you update it on your next confirmation statement (CS01), or you can file an early confirmation statement if the change is urgent. Your SIC code is important for statistics and regulatory purposes, and banks, insurers, and lenders will often check it.

Altering your company’s objects (what your company is legally allowed to do) is rare, because most modern companies use unrestricted objects. If you do need to change the company’s articles of association or objects, you must pass a special resolution and file the new articles with Companies House.

• Company name change: Special resolution + NM01 form
• SIC code: Update via confirmation statement (CS01)
• Objects/articles: Special resolution + new articles to Companies House

If you trade under a business name different from your registered company name, you don’t need to register the trading name, but you must still display your registered name on all company documents and at your premises.

Any changes to your company’s share capital — for example, issuing new shares, transferring existing shares, or buying back shares — must be reported to Companies House. This ensures your company’s public record is accurate for potential investors, creditors, and HMRC.

To report a new share issue (allotment), use form SH01. For share buy-backs, use SH02. If there are changes in shareholder details or ownership percentages, update these on your next confirmation statement (CS01). If the change is significant, such as a new majority shareholder or a shareholder becoming a PSC, this must be reported within 14 days using the relevant PSC form.

Common mistakes include failing to submit the SH01 within a month of allotting new shares, or neglecting to update the confirmation statement with the correct shareholder information. These errors can cause legal and tax issues, especially if you’re raising investment or selling the business.

• Share allotments: SH01 (within 1 month)
• Share buy-backs: SH02
• Shareholder details: Update on confirmation statement (CS01)
• PSC changes: File relevant PSC01-PSC09 form within 14 days

Every company must file a confirmation statement (CS01) at least once every 12 months, confirming that the company information held by Companies House is correct and up to date. The confirmation statement is not a substitute for reporting changes as they happen, but it’s your annual opportunity to check and update shareholder details, SIC code, and more.

Your 'confirmation date' is usually the anniversary of your company’s incorporation, but you can file early if you need to update information quickly (for example, after a share transfer). The fee is £13 if filed online, or £40 by post (as of 2026). Missing the deadline can lead to prosecution or your company being struck off.

The confirmation statement is also how you update your company’s trading status (active/dormant), shareholder information, and SIC code. However, changes to directors, registered office, or PSCs must still be reported as they happen, not just on the annual statement.

• Filed at least once every 12 months
• Can be filed early to update information
• Includes SIC code and shareholder updates
• Fee: £13 online, £40 paper (2024 rates)

Mistakes happen — maybe you entered a director’s name incorrectly, or forgot to update your registered address. The good news is most errors can be fixed by filing the correct form or an amendment. However, delays in correcting mistakes can have real consequences, including fines and even criminal penalties for company officers.

To correct an error, submit the appropriate form as soon as possible. For example, if you filed an incorrect director appointment, file a second AP01 with the correct details. For more serious mistakes (such as a fraudulent filing or a document uploaded in error), you may need to contact Companies House directly and request the removal or replacement of the record. This is not always straightforward, as Companies House is required by law to keep most filings on the public record.

If you realise a filing is late — for example, a director resignation or a PSC change — submit the form immediately. For annual filings like the confirmation statement, late fees and enforcement action can follow quickly. There is no late filing penalty for the confirmation statement, but persistent late filing can trigger Companies House to strike off your company.

• Submit the correct/amended form as soon as possible
• Contact Companies House if a document was filed in error
• Keep a clear audit trail of all company filings
• Seek professional advice if the error involves legal or financial consequences

Persistent late or incorrect filings damage your company’s credibility and can affect your ability to secure credit, open bank accounts, or win contracts. In the worst case, Companies House can strike off your company and you could be disqualified as a director.

Failing to keep your company details up to date is not just poor admin — it’s a breach of the Companies Act 2006 and can have serious consequences. Companies House can prosecute directors, issue fines, and even strike off your company if you persistently fail to update required information.

If your company is struck off, all assets (including the company bank account) are transferred to the Crown — a process known as 'bona vacantia'. You may be able to restore the company, but it’s a costly and time-consuming process.

Failing to update PSC details or confirmation statements can lead to personal criminal liability for directors, with fines of £1,000 or more per offence. Banks, lenders, and major clients routinely check Companies House — outdated or inconsistent details can jeopardise contracts, credit lines, and your reputation.

• Strike-off of your company from the register
• Fines and prosecution for company officers
• Loss of assets to the Crown (bona vacantia)
• Problems with banks and credit providers
• Damage to company reputation and trust

Even experienced business owners can fall foul of the rules. One common error is misunderstanding which address is public: your registered office is always published, but your director’s residential address is protected (unless you mistakenly use it as their service address). Another pitfall is missing the 14-day deadline for director and PSC changes, assuming it can wait until the next confirmation statement.

Edge cases include companies with overseas directors, where additional checks may be required, or companies using a virtual office service that closes unexpectedly. If your address provider disappears, you must update Companies House immediately, or risk being struck off.

Some directors mistakenly think that Companies House will automatically update HMRC, banks, or regulators. This is not the case — you must notify each organisation separately. Similarly, if you have more than one business (for example, a holding company and a trading company), you must update each entity individually.

• Double-check which address is being published
• Never delay PSC or director updates — 14 days is a hard deadline
• Notify HMRC, banks, insurers, and regulators separately
• Keep your authentication code secure and up to date
• For multiple companies, update each one individually

Most small company changes can be handled yourself via Companies House WebFiling, but some situations — such as complex share restructures, disputes between directors, or corrections to major errors — warrant professional advice. Chartered accountants, company formation agents, and specialist solicitors can all assist, and their fees are generally modest compared to the cost of an error.

If you’re unsure about a filing, Companies House offers a helpline (0303 1234 500) and comprehensive online guidance. The GOV.UK website also has step-by-step instructions for every form and process. Membership organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) can provide support and legal helplines as part of your membership.

For sensitive cases (such as removing personal details from the register for safety reasons), you can apply to Companies House to suppress information, but you’ll need to provide evidence and follow a formal process. Always seek legal advice if you think your company is at risk due to public information.

• Companies House guidance and helpline (0303 1234 500)
• GOV.UK step-by-step company changes guide
• FSB, ICAEW, Law Society for professional support
• Licensed company formation agents for routine filings
• Solicitors or accountants for complex changes