Key takeaways
- ID verification: directors and PSCs must verify their identity. The 12-month transition that began on 18 November 2025 ends in mid-November 2026.
- Accounts filing: from April 2028 all companies must file accounts using commercial software in iXBRL format. The profit and loss filing requirement for small companies is paused.
- Strike-off: from 1 December 2026, objections to a company being struck off must be made through Companies House's online service.
- Standard deadlines still apply: accounts nine months after the year end for private companies, and a confirmation statement every 12 months.
Companies House is changing how directors, accountants and companies interact with the register. Identity verification is now a legal requirement, accounts filing moves to commercial software from April 2028, and some filings are moving fully online. This page collects our Companies House news and links to the guides directors and advisers use most.
Latest Companies House news
| Post | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Companies House ID verification: the November 2026 deadline | Who must verify, when directors and PSCs give their personal code, and the penalties |
| Companies House pauses P&L filing for small companies | The April 2028 accounts changes and the pause on profit and loss filing |
| Audit exemption for medium-sized companies: what is planned | Reported plans, and the audit exemption rules that apply today |
| How to verify your identity for Companies House | Directors and PSCs can verify their identity for Companies House online with GOV.UK One Login, at a Post Office, or via an ACSP. What you need and each step. |
| Companies House personal code: what it is and where to find it | Your Companies House personal code is the 11-character code you get after verifying your identity. Where to find it, who can see it and what to do if it is lost. |
| Identity verification for people with significant control (PSCs) | PSCs must verify their identity and give Companies House their personal code within a 14-day window. How the dates work, extensions and what happens if you miss it. |
| Skipping Companies House ID checks: fines and prosecutions | Three directors were fined in September 2026 in the first ID verification prosecutions. The offences, the £10,000 cap on Companies House penalties and what to do. |
| Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) explained | An ACSP is a Companies House authorised agent who can verify identities for clients. Who can register, the £63 fee, duties and how to check one. |
| How accountants register as an ACSP with Companies House | Accountants who verify client identities must register with Companies House as an ACSP. What you need, the £63 fee, the six steps and your duties once registered. |
| Companies House third-party code of conduct: what agents must do | Companies House published a third-party code of conduct on 28 October 2026. The behaviour it expects from agents and what it can do if the code is broken. |
| Strike-off objections go online only from 1 December 2026 | From 1 December 2026 Companies House stops accepting strike-off objections by email. Who can object, the evidence rules, the deadline and how to object online. |
| Compulsory strike-off notice: what to do next | Had a compulsory strike-off letter or Gazette notice from Companies House? How to stop your company being dissolved, the deadlines, the costs and the risks. |
| UK company incorporations July to September 2026: the figures | The UK saw 193,789 incorporations from July to September 2026, 10.3% fewer than a year earlier, while 214,754 dissolutions shrank the register by 30,383. |
Dates to know
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 18 November 2025 | ID verification becomes a legal requirement; 12-month transition starts |
| Mid-November 2026 | The transition period ends |
| 1 December 2026 | Objections to a strike-off can only be made through Companies House’s online service; email is no longer accepted |
| April 2028 | Accounts must be filed using commercial software in iXBRL format; web and paper filing of accounts closes |
Everyday filing guides
- Company accounts filing deadlines: the three core deadlines for accounts, the Company Tax Return and the confirmation statement.
- How to file accounts with Companies House: the routes and the information needed.
- Annual return vs confirmation statement: what changed and what is filed now.
- Companies House explained for directors: what the register holds and what directors must keep up to date.
- Abridged vs full accounts: what small companies can file.
- Directors’ responsibilities: the legal duties that come with the role.
Related dates this month
See our calendar of tax and accounting deadlines for November 2026 for the filing dates across HMRC and Companies House.
Frequently asked questions
Do all directors need to verify their identity?
Yes. Directors, PSCs and Authorised Corporate Service Providers must verify. In most cases you only need to verify once.
When must companies file accounts using software?
From April 2028, all UK companies must file accounts with Companies House in iXBRL format using commercial software.
How do I object to a company being struck off?
From 1 December 2026, use Companies House’s online “Make an objection” service. Email objections will no longer be accepted.
Where can I check a deadline for my company?
Use our guide to company accounts filing deadlines, or check your company’s filing dates on the Companies House register.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance on 1 November 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.