Companies House logins are changing - what businesses need to know

Companies House has announced a further change to its online services, with GOV.UK One Login becoming the main way to access the “Find and update company information” service from late August 2026.

For most businesses this should be a relatively straightforward change, but there is an important point for anyone who currently shares Companies House login details with colleagues.

What is changing?

From late August, GOV.UK One Login will become the main sign-in option for the Companies House “Find and update company information” service.

Existing users will still be able to sign in using their current Companies House account details for the time being. However, new users will need to use GOV.UK One Login, and Companies House has confirmed that all users will eventually be moved across.

Companies House has not yet announced a date by which existing users must make the switch.

Read the Companies House announcement

Shared logins could cause problems

One of the more important practical changes is that a GOV.UK One Login belongs to an individual.

Each account must therefore use that individual’s own email address and phone number, with multi-factor authentication completed by text message or an authenticator app.

Businesses where several members of staff currently use the same Companies House account should therefore start moving away from shared access. Companies House has warned that continuing to share an account once it has been linked to GOV.UK One Login can trigger security controls and potentially lock users out.

The recommended approach is for each person who needs access to have their own Companies House account linked to their own GOV.UK One Login.

Is this the same as Companies House identity verification?

No. The change to GOV.UK One Login is a change to the way users sign in and is separate from the new Companies House identity verification requirements.

Identity verification is already compulsory for many company directors and people with significant control (PSCs).

Existing directors generally need to provide their Companies House personal code with their company’s next confirmation statement, while PSCs have separate deadlines depending on their circumstances.

Check when you need to verify your identity

What should businesses do now?

There is no need for existing Companies House users to change their login immediately.

However, businesses should review who currently has access to their Companies House account. If several people are sharing one set of credentials, it would be sensible to start arranging individual accounts now rather than waiting until GOV.UK One Login becomes compulsory.

Directors and PSCs should also make sure they have dealt separately with the identity verification requirements and retained their personal code securely.

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Please contact us to find out how the above applies in your circumstances and how we can help you.

Please note that the above is for general information only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. You should not rely on this information to make or refrain from making any decisions. You should always obtain independent professional advice in respect of your own situation.