Company Blocked From Filing Companies House - What to Do

If your company has been blocked from filing at Companies House, the issue should be dealt with quickly. A filing restriction can prevent important company documents from being submitted and may arise because of identity verification requirements, incorrect company information, overdue filings or other compliance problems.

With compulsory identity verification now being phased in, an unverified director can be particularly important. Companies House states that failure to comply with identity verification requirements can result in a person being unable to make filings for the company.

Why Is My Company Blocked From Filing?

Common reasons include:

• A director has not completed identity verification

• A required Companies House personal code has not been provided

• A director's date of birth does not match Companies House records

• The confirmation statement is overdue

• Company information is incorrect or out of date

• Companies House has issued a compliance or default notice

• A previous filing has been rejected and the underlying issue remains unresolved

The exact reason should be checked against the company's Companies House record and any correspondence received from the registrar.

Director Verification Can Block a Confirmation Statement

Before a company can successfully file its confirmation statement, all directors must have completed the required identity verification and provided their Companies House personal codes.

If one director remains unverified, the confirmation statement can be rejected.

This can create a knock-on effect where an otherwise active company cannot complete its annual confirmation statement until the outstanding director resolves their verification problem.

What If the Director Cannot Verify?

If verification is failing, check that the director's details held by Companies House are correct, particularly their date of birth and other personal information.

If the direct GOV.UK One Login route is unsuitable or unsuccessful, an Authorised Corporate Service Provider may be able to complete the identity verification on the director's behalf.

This can be particularly useful for overseas directors or directors experiencing repeated verification difficulties.

What If the Filing Is Already Overdue?

Do not ignore the problem because the company is unable to file.

A company must normally file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months. Failure to file can result in enforcement action, financial penalties and potential strike-off proceedings.

If Companies House has already issued a default or other compliance notice, the company should follow the instructions and address the underlying problem as quickly as possible.

Can the Filing Block Be Removed?

In many cases, the restriction can be resolved by correcting the underlying compliance issue.

This may involve completing director identity verification, correcting inaccurate company information, obtaining the necessary personal codes or submitting an outstanding filing.

Where the situation is more complicated, professional assistance can help identify exactly why the filing has been blocked and what action is required.

Fraser Bond Can Help

Fraser Bond can assist companies dealing with Companies House filing restrictions, unverified directors, rejected filings and urgent compliance problems.

Support can include reviewing the company's Companies House position, identifying the reason for the filing restriction, assisting with identity verification requirements and helping resolve outstanding filing issues.

If your company has been blocked from filing Companies House documents, acting promptly is important to prevent a temporary filing problem from becoming a wider compliance issue.