What is a Company Registered Email Address?

As of March 2024, all limited companies looking to incorporate in the UK are and have been expected to provide an email address, known as the company registered email address. All existing Companies have been expected to provide one when their next confirmation statement is due. This email will be used for official communications between Companies House and the business.

Once the company has been incorporated, the registered email address will need to be included on the annual confirmation statement return for each submission. Failure to comply with providing this is considered an offence and can result in serious consequences.

Where the changes were introduced

This change was introduced in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, whereby companies must provide an "appropriate" registered email address with Companies House. This change was also updated in the Companies Act 2006 to include the necessary statements.

The company email must be a valid one and routinely assessed by the businesses director or secretary.

Email Address Rules (as per Companies House):

The company must provide an email address and read any and all communication the company receives.
The company email will not be published on the Companies House public register (only for Companies House to view).
Companies House may use the email to contact you directly.

Types of Correspondence from Companies House

There are multiple reasons for Companies House getting in touch with the business.

This includes the following: reminders for filing deadlines for example company accounts and confirmation statement, information on identity verification and other Companies House updates and queries on any company filings submitted. - It's important to check the company email on a regular basis.

Updating Your Company Email Address:

If you would like to change and update your company registered email, then this is a quick and simple process that can be done directly through the Companies House website.

Reasons for companies wanting to change the email can include: the email of the director at the time of incorporation has now changed, the company appoints a new director or secretary so the company email would need to be updated or just a general change.

Please see the following steps on how to update a registered email address:

Sign in to your Companies House account.
Enter the company registered number.
Provide the Companies House authentication code.
Confirm that it's an appropriate email address under the Company Act 2006.

This should only take a few minutes to complete and Companies House will notify you once the change has been made.

Valid types of Company Registered Emails:

Company email addresses should be appropriate under the expectation that a director, or someone acting on behalf of the company, is able to view and respond to any correspondence from Companies House.

Company emails can fall under any of the following categories:

Director or secretary's current email address
Email set up for specifically for the company and for corresponding with Companies House
Email of the company's accountant or other agent (this also applies if they work overseas)

This registered email for your company, can also be the same email used for any number of other companies. For example if a group of associated companies would like to use the same email for correspondence with Companies House then this is allowed.

Is the new identity verification email address (for directors) the same as the registered company email address?

Note on identity verification

In light of new changes at Companies House, company directors will now have to verify their identity. The director will need to provide an email address to help complete the verification process.

The email required to verify the director's identity does not have to be the same as the registered company email. These are separate email addresses - the identity verification email should be a personal and unique one to be used.

Incorporating Through Us

If you are looking to incorporate your business through our website then, by law, we will also require you to provide an email address you would like to be used as the company registered one.

Once the email you would like registered with Companies House, and all other necessary information has been provided, then we can proceed with the incorporation process of the company!

Key Takeaways

Ensure to choose a valid and appropriate email address to register and complies with the Companies Act 2006.
If not done so already, add a registered email address to the Companies House website (company incorporated before the rule).
If you would like to update/change the registered email, this is an simple process that can be done through the Companies House website quickly.