Guides
Companies House WebFiling: A Complete Guide (2025/26)
WebFiling is the free Companies House portal for filing your annual return, accounts and director changes online. Here's how to use it end-to-end.
WebFiling is Companies House's free online portal for filing the legal returns every UK limited company has to send each year — confirmation statements, accounts, and changes to directors, addresses or share capital.
Used right, it's fast and free. Used wrong, you risk rejected filings, missed deadlines, and penalties from £150 upwards. This guide covers the lot.
What you can file through WebFiling
- Confirmation statement (CS01) — £34
- Annual accounts — free for micro-entity, small and full accounts
- Director appointments / resignations (AP01, TM01) — free
- Registered office change (AD01) — free
- PSC notifications (PSC01–PSC09) — free
- Allotment of shares (SH01) — free
- Change of accounting reference date (AA01) — free
- Strike-off application (DS01) — £33
You cannot file the following on WebFiling — they need separate paths:
- Mortgages / charges (use the dedicated charges service)
- LLP accounts (separate LLP service)
- Audited accounts of large companies in some formats (use commercial software)
- Corporation Tax / CT600 (that's HMRC, not Companies House)
Step 1 — Register
Go to ewf.companieshouse.gov.uk and sign up with an email + password. It takes about 60 seconds. You don't need to be a director — you just need the company's authentication code.
Step 2 — Get your authentication code
Every company has a 6-character authentication code posted to its registered office on incorporation. It acts like a digital signature: anyone with it can file on the company's behalf.
If you've lost it:
- Sign in to WebFiling.
- Click "Request an authentication code".
- Companies House posts a new one to the registered office.
- Allow 5 working days (longer if you've recently moved address).
You cannot get the code by email or phone — it's posted only, for security.
Step 3 — File
Search for your company by number, enter the authentication code once, and the dashboard shows what's due. Pick a form, fill it in, pay if required, and submit. Most filings appear on the public register the same day.
Common WebFiling errors and fixes
| Error | Meaning | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "Authentication code is incorrect" | Wrong code or too many bad attempts | Request a new one by post |
| "This company is not eligible" | Company is in liquidation, dissolved or overseas | File via the relevant specialist service |
| "Accounts cannot be filed online" | Audit exemption flags don't match | Use commercial iXBRL software |
| "Period has already been filed" | A duplicate filing exists | Check the public record — file an amendment if needed |
Deadlines and penalties
| Filing | Deadline | Late penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation statement | 14 days after review period ends | No fine, but strike-off after months |
| First accounts | 21 months after incorporation | £150–£1,500 |
| Subsequent accounts (private ltd) | 9 months after year end | £150–£1,500 |
| Late filing + previous year late | All penalties double | Up to £3,000 |
Penalties are levied automatically by Companies House — there's no warning email, just a bill.
WebFiling vs commercial software
WebFiling is free and fine for simple companies, but it has limits:
- No reminders unless you enable email alerts manually
- One filing at a time — no bulk
- No iXBRL accounts (you must use commercial software for full statutory accounts including a P&L tagged for HMRC)
- No CT600 — that's HMRC's separate service
Unfiled covers both Companies House and HMRC filings from one place, with deadline reminders and iXBRL accounts built-in.
Update — 1 April 2028 reforms
From 1 April 2028, Companies House requires all UK companies to file accounts via commercial software, and small companies and micro-entities must file a profit and loss account (with an opt-out from publication on the public register). Web and paper accounts filing routes close on that date. See our full guide: Companies House Accounts Reforms 2028.