E-filing with Companies House: a step-by-step guide for startups

Of all the things you dreamed of doing as a founder, furnishing Companies House with a range of documentation probably didn’t make the list. But staying compliant is a must, and e-filing makes it quicker and easier. This guide walks you through the process – what to file, how to do it, and how SeedLegals makes it easier (including filing some documents for you, so you don’t have to lift a finger).

Online filing: less paper, less pain, more speed

E-filing isn’t just faster – it’s the smarter way to submit your important company documents. By filing online, you’ll:

• Save your company time, money and loads of printing
• Spend less on incorporation and registration fees – for example, a confirmation statement costs £34 online vs £62 on paper
• Receive confirmation from Companies House that they have received your documents
• Avoid having documents rejected. Built-in checks help you get it right first time
• Be less likely to receive a late filing penalty
• Have access to additional online services with Companies House, such as email reminders

Plus, documents sent by post can take up to three weeks to process, while online filings are typically reviewed within 24 hours. You’ll get an instant receipt confirming your submission, and Companies House will notify you once it’s accepted. If there’s an issue, it’s much easier to correct and resubmit, since there’s no waiting around for lost paperwork or rejection letters in the post.

Which documents can you submit online?

You can submit almost every filing online. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Company formation (IN01) – register your company online
• Confirmation statement (CS01) – keep your company details up to date
• Changes to company details – update your registered office, company name or SIC codes
• Director and shareholder updates – appoint or remove directors, update shareholder information, or record changes in People with Significant Control (PSC)
• Share allotments (SH01) – report new share issuances. Good news: If you use SeedLegals for your funding round, you can submit directly through the SeedLegals platform
• Resolutions and Articles of Association – file changes to your company’s governing documents
• Annual accounts – submit your company’s financial statements to stay compliant

For the full list of e-fileable documents, see this Companies House page.

How to register for Companies House WebFiling

Getting set up with Companies House WebFiling is quick and easy:

• Go to the Sign in to WebFiling page and select ‘Create a new account’
• Enter your email address, and Companies House will send you a verification link
• Click the link, then create a password

Before you can file documents for a company, you’ll need an authentication code. If you haven’t received one yet, request it from Companies House – it’ll be sent to your company’s registered office within 5 working days.

Once you have the code, enter it the first time you access the company’s WebFiling account. You can then store the company details, so you won’t need to re-enter the code for most filings. You’ll also be able to digitally authorise others to file on behalf of the company, making it easier to manage filings as a team.

Which SeedLegals documents can you upload or e-file?

You can submit most key filings online, either by uploading them as documents or e-filing directly with Companies House. Here’s how it works:

• Documents you can upload – these relate to share capital, registrar’s powers, and changes to your company’s constitution. Companies House accepts both electronically completed documents and scanned versions of printed forms. Digital signatures (like those on SeedLegals) are also accepted.
• Documents you can e-file – many filings can be submitted directly online, with no need to upload a separate document.

What can be uploaded vs e-filed?

Can be uploaded:

• SH02 (Return of Share Allotment)
• Written Resolutions
• Articles of Association

Can be e-filed (just copy and paste the details):

• CS01 (Confirmation Statement)
• AP01 (Director Appointment)
• TM01 (Termination of Director Appointment)
• SH01 (Return of Allotment of Shares) – If you’re doing a funding round on SeedLegals, you can file your SH01 directly through the SeedLegals platform – no need to e-file it separately with Companies House.

How to pay for submissions that have a fee?

If the document you are uploading has a fee, the cost will be shown on Companies House and you’ll need to pay this fee before uploading the document.

How to pay:

• Head over to the webpage of the form you’re looking to upload and hit the payment hyperlink and follow the instructions to pay for your document
• After you’ve paid, make a note of the payment reference number. Enter the payment reference number in the service after you’ve uploaded your document

What happens after I upload or e-file a document to Companies House?

You’ll receive a confirmation email to let you know if your document has been uploaded. It will then be processed and where accepted, registered with the date it was uploaded. Or you’ll be emailed about amending the document if it wasn’t accepted.

Need help? Let us do the hard work for you

Whether you’re bringing on a new co-founder, granting shares to a director or advisor, or raising investment in a funding round, SeedLegals is here to help. Our team is ready to support you at every stage – book a call to see how we can make the process seamless.

With our automated workflow, creating the right documents is quick and hassle-free. And if you need guidance, our expert team is always on hand to assist.