Companies House Compliance Checklist for UK Directors

Start with the correct company record

Find the company by its registered number and confirm its name and status. Review the public filing history and upcoming dates. Record when you checked the information: a public-register snapshot can change and does not establish every aspect of compliance.

This checklist concerns Companies House administration. Tax, accounting, employment, licences and other business obligations require separate attention. A reminder or health check does not transfer a director's responsibilities to a service provider.

Check the confirmation statement

Every company, including a dormant or non-trading company, must file a confirmation statement at least annually, even if nothing has changed. Review the register and correct information using the appropriate process. Certain changes must be notified before confirming the record. Check the company's actual confirmation date and filing deadline; the normal filing window is up to 14 days after the review period ends.^[1]

Keep a working list of who will check the record, who will carry out the filing and how completion will be confirmed. Do not treat an accounts submission as a confirmation statement; they are different obligations.

Check identity verification by role

Companies House identity-verification requirements now apply to directors and people with significant control. Directors need to provide their personal codes through the applicable company filing. PSCs have separate steps and timing; someone who is both a director and PSC must address both roles. Check the current official guidance and the individual's dates rather than assuming one submission covers everything.^[2]

Verify through the official route or an appropriately registered ACSP where required. Keep personal codes and access details secure. Do not email identity documents or codes to PETERLEX as part of an initial company check.

Check accounts and other records

For a typical private company, the general deadline for subsequent annual accounts is nine months after the financial year ends; first accounts normally have a 21-month deadline from incorporation. Changes of accounting reference date and other circumstances can affect the timetable. Confirm the actual due date on the register and coordinate with your accountant. HMRC tax and return deadlines are separate.^[3]

Check important changes such as registered office, email, directors and PSC information. Confirm who monitors official correspondence and how it is escalated. A folder should contain filing receipts, decisions, correspondence and the current administrative calendar, with appropriate access controls.

Use a simple action list

Record the concern, deadline, responsible person and evidence of completion. For example: confirmation statement due; director verification still needs checking; accountant to confirm accounts timetable. This identifies the next administrative task without pretending that the public record proves all legal or tax matters are in order.

Common mistakes and specialist help

Avoid assuming a dormant company has no filings, confusing accounts with the confirmation statement, or treating a director's verification step as completion of a separate PSC step. Seek an accountant, solicitor, insolvency specialist or authorised provider for matters outside routine administration, especially ownership disputes, threatened strike-off or inability to pay debts.

PETERLEX can consider public-record review, administrative calendars and information organisation within an agreed scope. It does not verify identity for Companies House or present itself as an ACSP; authorised-provider work requires the appropriate route.

Take the next step

Request a FREE COMPANY COMPLIANCE CHECK with the company name, number and main administrative concern. Do not submit passwords, identity documents or personal verification codes.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

1. Companies House, Filing your company's confirmation statement
2. Companies House, When you need to verify your identity
3. GOV.UK, Accounts and tax returns for private limited companies