Companies House Filing FAQs: Rejections, Processing Times, Amendments and More
From rejected accounts to finding your company number, these are some of the most common questions UK directors ask about filing with Companies House. This guide from Filing Accounts UK answers them all in one place, using only verified facts from official Companies House guidance.
At Filing Accounts, we handle Companies House filings for UK small businesses every day. You can look up your own company at any time on the Companies House public register.
Why Were My Accounts Rejected by Companies House?
According to official Companies House accounts guidance, the most common reasons accounts get rejected include:
- Missing signatures — the balance sheet must be signed by a director, with their printed name shown, even if the signature is legible
- Missing company name or number — this must appear on at least one component of the accounts, such as the balance sheet or directors’ report
- Balance sheet imbalances — where the figures don’t reconcile correctly
- Incorrect accounting period dates — not matching your company’s Accounting Reference Date
- Incomplete auditor’s report — where one is required, it must state the auditor’s name
- PDF attachments — Companies House cannot accept PDF attachments as they don’t comply with the Registrar’s Rules for proper delivery of documents
Crucially, rejected accounts are not treated as filed. If your filing deadline has already passed by the time your accounts are rejected, an automatic late filing penalty applies — filing close to the deadline leaves very little room to correct and resubmit. Always aim to file well ahead of your deadline for exactly this reason.
How Long Does Companies House Take to Process Filings?
Processing times depend on how you file:
- Online filings: You’ll receive a confirmation email within minutes of submission confirming receipt. Companies House then checks the data against its systems and sends a further email confirming acceptance or rejection — this typically happens within 1 working day, though it can take up to 3 working days.
- Paper filings: These take considerably longer, since Companies House must first receive the physical document by post before processing can begin.
Companies House processes filings on working days only — a filing submitted over a weekend or bank holiday will be processed on the next working day. There is no way to expedite processing once a filing has been submitted, regardless of who files on your behalf.
Can an Accountant File on Your Behalf?
Yes. Accountants and agents can file Confirmation Statements, Annual Accounts, and most other Companies House forms on behalf of a company, either through Companies House WebFiling using the company’s authentication code, or via approved commercial filing software. Using an accountant does not remove the director’s legal responsibility — under the Companies Act 2006, directors remain responsible for ensuring accounts and other filings are prepared, approved, and delivered on time, even when someone else physically submits them.
If your accountant files for you, they will need your company’s authentication code, and you should tell them promptly if that code is ever changed, since the old code stops working immediately.
Can You Amend Information Filed at Companies House?
Yes — but the process depends on what you’re correcting.
Amending Annual Accounts
You can file a revised set of accounts if you’ve updated the figures or notes. The amended accounts must be clearly marked “amended,” must cover exactly the same accounting period as the original, and — if only one section is being changed — must be accompanied by a signed note from a director explaining what changed. Amended accounts are usually reviewed manually by Companies House, so they can take longer to process than a standard first submission. There’s no fixed statutory deadline for correcting accounts, but errors should be corrected as soon as they’re identified. Note that amending your accounts does not remove any late filing penalty that already applied to the original submission — it only corrects what’s shown on the public record.
Amending a Confirmation Statement or Other Filings
Most other filing errors — including on a Confirmation Statement — are corrected using Form RP04 (“Second Filing of a Document Previously Delivered”), submitted together with a corrected version of the original form. Importantly, the original incorrect filing is not removed from the public register — it remains, but is annotated to show that a corrected second filing has since been made. A small number of second filings (including share capital and shareholder details on a CS01) can be submitted electronically; most others must be filed on paper.
For minor, out-of-date details on a Confirmation Statement (rather than an error), you can usually just file a new, up-to-date Confirmation Statement instead — multiple statements can be filed within the same 12-month period without paying the fee again.
How to Check Your Filing History
Every UK company’s filing history is public. To check it:
- Go to the Companies House “Find and update company information” service
- Search for your company by name or company number
- Select the “Filing history” tab on your company’s page
This shows every document ever filed for your company, including the date each was received, along with a downloadable copy. It’s also where you’ll find the exact date of registration for a previous filing — useful information if you ever need to complete an RP04 second filing, since that form requires the original filing’s registration date.
The same service also shows your next accounts and Confirmation Statement due dates under the “Overview” tab, and you can register for free email reminders from Companies House ahead of each deadline.
How to Find Your Company Number
Your company registration number (CRN) is an 8-character code (typically 8 digits, or 2 letters followed by 6 digits for some company types) assigned when your company is incorporated. You can find it in several places:
- Your Certificate of Incorporation, issued by Companies House when your company was formed
- Any official letter or email from Companies House or HMRC referencing your company
- The Companies House public register — search by your company name to see its number, status, and full filing history
- Your company’s own statutory paperwork, such as board minutes or share certificates, which typically show the number
You’ll need your company number for almost every Companies House filing, as well as to register for Corporation Tax with HMRC.
Frequently Asked Questions
If my accounts are rejected, do I get extra time to refile?
No. Rejected accounts are not treated as filed, and if your original deadline has passed by the time they’re rejected, an automatic late filing penalty applies.
How long does Companies House take to accept or reject an online filing?
Typically within 1 working day, though it can take up to 3 working days. Paper filings take considerably longer.
Does using an accountant remove my responsibility as a director?
No. Directors remain legally responsible for ensuring filings are accurate and delivered on time, even when an accountant submits them.
Does correcting a filing remove the original mistake from the public record?
No. The original filing remains visible, annotated to show a corrected second filing was made — it is not deleted.
Is my company’s filing history public?
Yes. Anyone can view any UK company’s full filing history for free via the Companies House public register.
What format is a company number in?
Usually 8 digits, though some company types (such as those registered in Scotland or Northern Ireland) use 2 letters followed by 6 digits.
Can I get a filing extension if I’m just running late?
Extensions are only granted for genuinely exceptional, unforeseen circumstances (such as a fire or serious illness) and must be requested before your deadline passes. Being busy, accountant delays, or simply forgetting are not accepted reasons.
Need Help With Companies House Filings? Talk to Filing Accounts UK
Rejected filings, correction forms, and tight processing windows are exactly where directors lose valuable time. At Filing Accounts, we prepare and file Confirmation Statements, Annual Accounts, and other Companies House documents correctly the first time, for UK small businesses.
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