Companies House Login Changes 2026: What Company Directors Need to Do
Companies House is changing the way directors, business owners and other users sign in to its online services.
From late August 2026, GOV.UK One Login will become the main sign-in option for the Companies House “Find and update company information” service.
For existing users, there is no immediate need to panic or create a new account. You can continue using your existing Companies House login details for now.
However, new users will need to use GOV.UK One Login, and Companies House has confirmed that existing users will eventually need to move across as well.
There is also an important issue for businesses where several people currently share one Companies House account.
Here is what limited company directors need to know.
What is changing with Companies House logins?
Companies House announced the change on 20 August 2026.
The existing Companies House sign-in page is being updated so that GOV.UK One Login becomes the main way of accessing the Find and update company information service.
The change is being introduced in stages.
If you already have a Companies House account
You can continue signing in using your existing details for the time being.
The existing sign-in option will remain available, although it will appear further down the sign-in page.
Companies House has not yet set a final date by which every existing user must migrate.
If you are a new user
New users will need to create and use a GOV.UK One Login to access the service.
Eventually, everyone will move across
Companies House has confirmed that all users will eventually be required to use GOV.UK One Login.
Existing users should therefore view the current arrangement as a transition period rather than assume their existing Companies House login will remain indefinitely.
You can read the official Companies House announcement on GOV.UK.
What is GOV.UK One Login?
GOV.UK One Login is designed to provide one secure account that can be used across a growing number of government services.
Instead of maintaining separate login credentials for individual government systems, users access participating services through their GOV.UK One Login.
Signing in uses:
- your email address
- your password
- multi-factor authentication, or MFA
Multi-factor authentication provides an additional level of security. Depending on how the account is configured, this may involve an authenticator app or a security code sent by SMS.
For company directors, the important point is that a GOV.UK One Login belongs to an individual, not to a company or team.
That creates an important practical issue for some businesses.
Does your business share a Companies House login?
This is probably the part of the announcement that businesses should pay the most attention to.
It is relatively common for a small company to have one set of Companies House credentials shared between several people.
For example, access might be shared between:
- directors
- a finance employee
- an administrator
- a company secretary
- another employee responsible for company administration
This approach will not work properly once an account has been linked to GOV.UK One Login.
Each GOV.UK One Login must be connected to one individual using their own email address and phone number.
Companies House has specifically warned that continuing to share an account after it has been connected to GOV.UK One Login could trigger security controls and result in users being locked out.
What should businesses do?
If several people genuinely need access to Companies House services, each person should have their own account rather than sharing one set of login credentials.
You do not necessarily need to change everything immediately, but now is a sensible time to identify:
- who currently has access
- who actually needs access
- whether login details are being shared
- which individual should be responsible for particular Companies House filings
This is particularly important as Companies House is making wider changes to company administration and identity requirements.
Is GOV.UK One Login the same as Companies House identity verification?
No. This is an important distinction.
Changing the way you sign in and verifying your identity for Companies House are related systems, but they are not the same requirement.
Companies House explicitly states that the August 2026 login change does not itself mean you are being asked to verify your identity.
Identity verification is a separate legal requirement introduced under the wider Companies House reforms.
Directors and people with significant control (PSCs) are among the individuals who may need to verify their identities.
Once an individual successfully verifies their identity, Companies House provides them with a personal code.
That personal code belongs to the individual rather than the company.
For existing directors, the personal code is generally used when connecting their verified identity to the company as part of the relevant Companies House process, including the company’s confirmation statement requirements.
You can read the current Companies House identity verification guidance on GOV.UK.
Why are these changes happening?
The changes form part of a much broader modernisation of Companies House.
Historically, Companies House has largely operated as a registry receiving information supplied by companies.
Recent reforms have given Companies House greater responsibilities and powers around the accuracy of information held on the register and the people creating, managing and controlling UK companies.
Identity verification is intended to make it harder for people to use false identities or impersonate others when establishing or controlling companies.
Moving towards individual GOV.UK One Login accounts also creates a clearer separation between individual users and shared business credentials.
For legitimate businesses, much of this will simply mean adjusting some existing administrative processes.
However, directors should not ignore the changes.
What should company directors do now?
For most directors, there is no need to make drastic changes purely because of the new login announcement.
There are, however, several sensible steps to take.
1. Check how you currently access Companies House
Determine whether you have your own Companies House account or whether your business shares credentials between several people.
If credentials are being shared, start planning to move towards individual access.
2. Make sure your email address and phone number are accessible
GOV.UK One Login uses individual contact details and multi-factor authentication.
Avoid creating important government accounts around email addresses or mobile numbers that several people use or that an employee could suddenly lose access to.
3. Check your identity-verification position separately
Do not assume that setting up GOV.UK One Login automatically means that every Companies House identity-verification requirement has been completed.
Treat login access and identity verification as separate things.
4. Know when your next Companies House filing is due
Login changes become much more inconvenient if you discover them the day before an important filing deadline.
Directors remain responsible for ensuring that their companies meet their filing obligations.
Our guide to filing limited company accounts and tax returns explains the main annual requirements and the difference between Companies House and HMRC filings.
Remember: directors remain legally responsible
Using an accountant does not remove a director’s legal responsibilities.
Running a limited company comes with obligations covering areas such as annual accounts, confirmation statements, Corporation Tax and maintaining accurate company information.
There is no general legal requirement for every limited company to appoint an accountant, but directors are still responsible for ensuring these requirements are dealt with correctly.
We explain this in more detail in our guide: Do I Need an Accountant for a Limited Company in the UK?.
The increasing number of changes at Companies House makes having a clear process for company administration increasingly important.
What happens next?
The immediate change is relatively straightforward.
New Companies House users will use GOV.UK One Login, while existing users can continue using their existing login for now.
Eventually, existing users will also need to migrate.
The bigger practical issue is for companies currently sharing login credentials. Because GOV.UK One Login is designed around individual users, businesses should start moving away from shared Companies House accounts.
Directors should also make sure they understand the separate identity-verification requirements and do not confuse completing one process with completing the other.
Companies House has said that existing users will receive notice before they are required to migrate, so directors should keep an eye on official communications as the rollout progresses.
Need help managing your limited company’s accounting obligations?
Companies House administration is only one part of running a limited company.
Accounts, Corporation Tax, bookkeeping, deadlines and company filings all need to work together.
At Merranti Accounting, we work with limited company directors to help manage their accounting requirements while giving them a clearer understanding of what needs to be done and when.
If you are unsure about your company’s accounting obligations, upcoming filings or whether your current accounting setup is giving you the support you need, contact Merranti Accounting to speak to the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to create a GOV.UK One Login immediately?
Not necessarily. If you already have a Companies House account, Companies House currently allows you to continue signing in with your existing details. New users need to use GOV.UK One Login. Existing users will eventually need to migrate.
When will existing Companies House accounts stop working?
Companies House had not announced a final compulsory migration date when this article was written. It has said users will be given notice before they are required to move.
Can my employees share my GOV.UK One Login?
No. A GOV.UK One Login should belong to one individual and use that person’s email address and phone number. Companies House warns that sharing an account after it has been linked to GOV.UK One Login may trigger security controls.
Is GOV.UK One Login the same as verifying my identity with Companies House?
No. The sign-in change and Companies House identity verification are separate processes. Creating or using a GOV.UK One Login should not be treated as confirmation that all of your Companies House identity-verification obligations have been completed.
Can my accountant still file information for my company?
Accountants and other authorised agents can continue to assist businesses with Companies House matters, subject to the relevant Companies House requirements. Directors should nevertheless understand that responsibility for the company’s legal obligations ultimately remains with the company and its directors.
