Companies House tightens fees

While the latest update from Companies House means companies no longer need to maintain certain registers, the downside is a substantial increase to the fees charged. The doubling cost of incorporating a business is a particular sting in the tail.

Changes to registers

There is no longer a requirement for companies to hold registers of directors, directors’ usual residential addresses, secretaries and persons with significant control (PSCs). However, this information must still be provided to Companies House and kept up to date. The latest changes are, to be clear:

• Companies are still required to maintain a register of members, both past and present, including the date when each person became a member, and, where relevant, the date when membership ceased.
• Normally, the register will contain information on shareholders but will show guarantors if a company is limited by guarantee.
• Companies can no longer elect to use the central register at Companies House and must now keep their own register of members.

Changes to fees

Many of the fees charged by Companies House will increase from 1 February 2026:

• Company formation: Currently, the cost of digitally registering a company or a Limited Liability Partnership with Companies House costs £50, but this will double to £100. The cost of same-day registration will also double to £156.
• Confirmation statements: Every company, including dormant ones, must file a confirmation statement at least once a year. The cost is currently £34, and this is going up to £50.

Despite the general fee increases, the cost of voluntarily striking off a company will be reduced by 60% to just £13.

Many people setting up a new company will do so via a company formation agent. Their most basic offerings only add a small margin to the Companies House charge, so the fees charged by agents are going to see similar increases.

A full list of the new fees charged by Companies House can be found here.

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