Companies House is changing how people sign in to its Find and update company information service, with GOV.UK One Login becoming the main option from late August 2026. The immediate change is modest, but small companies that rely on shared credentials should start preparing now.
What is changing?
Companies House says the sign-in screen for its Find and update company information service will change in late August. GOV.UK One Login will appear as the main sign-in route, while existing users will still be able to use their current Companies House account details for the time being.
New users will need a GOV.UK One Login to access Companies House services. Existing users are not being forced to switch immediately, although Companies House says everyone will eventually need to move across and that further notice will be given first.
The announcement is specifically about signing in. It does not mean users are being asked to complete identity verification as part of this change.
Why shared accounts could cause problems
The most important point for many small businesses is that each GOV.UK One Login belongs to one person. It uses that individual’s email address and phone number, and sign-in includes multi-factor authentication through an authenticator app or SMS.
That does not fit the common practice of several directors, employees or external advisers using one shared Companies House login. Companies House warns that sharing an account after it has been linked to GOV.UK One Login can activate security controls and lock users out.
A lockout could be particularly disruptive when a company is approaching a filing deadline or needs to update important public information. Businesses should therefore treat the transition as an access-management task, rather than waiting until the old sign-in route disappears.
What small companies should check now
Start by identifying everyone who genuinely needs access to the Find and update company information service. This may include directors, a company secretary, finance staff or another person responsible for statutory filings.
Companies House recommends that each person who needs access creates their own Companies House account and links it to their own GOV.UK One Login. Businesses should avoid setting up GOV.UK One Login with a generic team inbox or a shared telephone number, because the account is designed for an individual.
A short access review can reduce the risk of disruption:
- list the people who currently use the company’s Companies House credentials;
- decide who still needs direct access and remove access that is no longer required;
- ask each authorised user to use an individual work email address and a phone they can access for multi-factor authentication;
- record who is responsible for each filing, without storing passwords or authentication codes in a shared document;
- check upcoming confirmation statement, account and other filing dates so the transition is not attempted at the last minute.
What stays the same for now
Existing account holders can continue using their current sign-in details after the new screen appears. Companies House has not announced the date when that option will end, so firms do not need to make a rushed change before late August.
However, any business creating accounts for new staff will encounter the new requirement immediately. It also makes sense to resolve shared-access arrangements early, while the existing route remains available as a fallback.
A practical next step
Nominate one person to review Companies House access this month. They should confirm the authorised users, make sure those people can receive multi-factor authentication prompts, and note any important filing deadlines over the next quarter.
Businesses that use an accountant or company formation agent should also clarify who submits which filings and whether the adviser uses its own authorised access. The aim is not to duplicate work, but to make sure responsibility and access are clear before GOV.UK One Login becomes compulsory for everyone.
The change should ultimately give users a more secure and consistent way to access government services. For small companies, a little preparation now can prevent a shared login from becoming an avoidable operational problem later.
