Christmas and New Year opening times at Companies House

Postal delays

We cannot accept postal delays as a reason to appeal a late filing penalty.

If you need to file your accounts on paper, you should send them to us well before the deadline. Consider using guaranteed next day delivery and note any industrial disputes or other delays.

It may also take longer to receive documents by post from Companies House. If you need to request an authentication code, you should allow plenty of time as it’s sent to your company by post.

Same day services

You must apply before 12pm on Friday 2223 December 20232022 if you’re using a same day service to:

• file a change of company name online
• incorporate a company (software only)

If you apply after 12pm, your application may not be processed until Wednesday 2728 December 2023.2022.

Reduction of capital (form SH19)

You must file your same day reduction of capital (form SH19) and any supporting documents before 11am on Friday 2223 December 2023.2022. You can use the upload a document to Companies House service to file these documents.

If we receive your documents after 11am, your application may not be processed until Wednesday 2728 December 2023.2022.

Certified copies of certificates and documents

To use the express dispatch service, you must place your order before 11am on Friday 2223 December 2023.2022.

If you order after 11am, your order may not be processed until Wednesday 2728 December 2023.2022.

Ordering certified documents and certificates from Companies House.

Online services

Companies House online services are available throughout the Christmas and New Year period.

You’ll need your company authentication code. If you need to request a code, you should allow plenty of time as it’s sent to your company by post.

Contact centre availability

Telephone: 0303 1234 500

Companies House office access and opening times.

If you need to file your accounts on paper, you should send them to us well before the deadline and consider using guaranteed next day delivery.