Guides
Companies House WebFiling: A Complete Guide (2025/26)
How to use Companies House WebFiling for supported accounts, confirmation statements and company changes. Some filings carry a fee.
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) — £50
- 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) — £13 online (£18 on paper)
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
Start at the official Companies House WebFiling service and sign in using GOV.UK One Login. WebFiling moved to One Login on 13 October 2025. Company authentication codes and personal identity-verification codes serve different purposes.
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 | Financial penalty up to £5,000 and possible strike-off |
| 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 tracks filing deadlines, prepares statutory accounts and lets you file supported CT600 returns directly with HMRC after review and declaration. It checks your company and accounting period before payment. Companies House filings are separate: direct CS01 software submission remains in development and is not currently available.
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.
Frequently asked questions
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