Companies House Has New Powers: Why Every UK Director Should Review Their Company Records

For many years, Companies House was mainly seen as somewhere businesses filed annual documents.

That is changing.

Companies House is becoming a more active guardian of company information.

The aim is simple.

Improve trust in UK businesses by making company information more accurate and helping tackle economic crime.

For directors, this means company administration is becoming a strategic responsibility rather than just an annual task.

What happened

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act has introduced significant reforms to Companies House.

These reforms include identity verification requirements, stronger powers to query information, improved enforcement and a greater focus on the accuracy of the UK company register. Companies House has also confirmed that these reforms remain a key priority within its 2026–27 business plan.

Companies House has set targets that include ensuring companies complete identity verification requirements through their confirmation statement process or move onto an appropriate compliance pathway. It also plans extensive action to improve the integrity of the register.

The message is straightforward.

Directors should no longer assume that filing documents once a year is enough.

Companies House is the UK’s official register of companies.

Identity verification means certain people connected with a company must prove who they are before carrying out particular activities.

The purpose is to improve confidence in company information and make it harder for criminals to misuse UK corporate structures.

What it means

1. Small businesses should review company records

Many companies have not checked their filings for several years.

• Directors should confirm registered office details remain correct.
• Directors should check shareholder information is accurate.
• Directors should ensure statutory records are complete.

2. Growing businesses should strengthen governance

Expansion often creates additional compliance responsibilities.

• Board decisions should be properly documented.
• Company registers should be reviewed regularly.
• Governance should grow alongside the business.

3. Medium-sized businesses should prepare for greater scrutiny

Regulators have stronger powers to question information.

• Filing processes should be reviewed.
• Internal responsibilities should be clearly allocated.
• Compliance should become part of routine management.

4. Larger organisations should review group structures

Complex organisations should confirm information remains consistent across all entities.

• Group records should be reconciled regularly.
• Subsidiary governance should be reviewed.
• Director responsibilities should be clearly understood.

5. Public sector suppliers should maintain accurate corporate information

Corporate compliance increasingly supports procurement credibility.

• Company records should be current.
• Governance documents should be easily accessible.
• Compliance evidence should be maintained before tenders are issued.

Check.

Review company records, directors and statutory information.

Update.

Correct anything that is incomplete or out of date.

Monitor.

Treat governance as an ongoing responsibility rather than an annual exercise.

What to do next

• Review Companies House filings against your internal records.
• Confirm directors and People with Significant Control information is accurate.
• Understand whether identity verification requirements apply to your role.
• Keep board minutes and statutory registers up to date.
• Review governance whenever ownership, leadership or company structure changes.

How Butterfly helps

Butterfly Advisory helps business owners and directors prepare for important corporate governance decisions.

This may include helping clients organise corporate records, prepare governance reviews, coordinate discussions with accountants and solicitors, review strategic business structures and introduce appropriate legal or corporate specialists where suitable.

Butterfly advises, prepares, coordinates and introduces.

Butterfly does not provide regulated legal advice or company secretarial services.

Strong governance supports confidence, reduces avoidable risk and helps organisations prepare for growth, investment and future transactions.