Audit1This article is general information about public company records. Audit1 is not a statutory audit, a regulated assurance engagement or a substitute for professional verification.
When you look up a UK company, every filing on its record has an official look. It is easy to assume that anything on the public register has been checked by someone. Here are the common myths, set against what Companies House and GOV.UK say.
Myth: If it is on the register, Companies House has verified it
Fact: Companies House says on its service information page that it carries out basic checks on documents received to make sure they have been fully completed and signed, but that it does not have the statutory power or capability to verify the accuracy of the information companies send to it. The same page says the fact that information has been placed on the public record should not be taken to indicate that Companies House has verified or validated it in any way.
Myth: Every document is closely reviewed before it appears
Fact: GOV.UK guidance on searching the register says that a close review of each document during registration is not always possible. It says Companies House makes checks against all filings and may make further enquiries before information is placed on the register. For accounts, the guidance says it only makes basic checks.
Myth: Errors on the register are not possible
Fact: Companies House says occasional inaccuracies may occur, and that it corrects them as soon as they are drawn to its attention. It also says it cannot take responsibility for the consequences of errors or omissions. If you spot something that looks wrong, the guidance says to contact Companies House.
Myth: The register is a private service for professionals
Fact: Companies House says it makes all the public data it holds on companies available free of charge, and that you do not need to register to view company information through the search service. The law requires certain information, including details of officers and people with significant control, to be collected and made public.
Myth: Identity verification means the whole record is now checked
Fact: A GOV.UK press release published on 5 August 2025 confirmed that mandatory identity verification for directors and people with significant control would begin on 18 November 2025. It describes the aim as giving more assurance about who is setting up, running and controlling companies. It also gives the end of the 12-month rollout for existing people with significant control as around mid-November 2026. That is about who an individual is. The release does not say that identity verification checks the accuracy of other filed information, such as accounts. Because the rollout dates may have moved on, check the current position on GOV.UK.
Separately, a Companies House blog post dated 26 October 2023 said new legislation would give the registrar powers to scrutinise and reject information that seems incorrect or inconsistent with information already on the register. Powers of that kind are not the same as checking every filing for accuracy, and we have not verified how they are applied in practice.
How to read a filing sensibly
- Treat a filing as a statement made by the company, not a finding by the registrar.
- Note the date you looked, because the register changes.
- Compare the record with what the company has told you, and ask about differences.
- For anything material, take advice from a suitably qualified professional.
Not an audit
This article is general information only. It is not an audit, not regulated assurance and not professional advice, and Audit1 does not verify the information on the public register.