Registered Email Address: The Companies House Requirement You Might Have Missed

If you've filed a confirmation statement since March 2024, you may have noticed a new mandatory field: registered email address. This requirement caught many directors off guard, and Companies House has been rejecting confirmation statements that don't include one.

This is not optional. Every UK limited company must now have a registered email address on the public register. If you haven't provided one yet, your next confirmation statement will be rejected until you do.

What Changed on 4 March 2024

On 4 March 2024, significant provisions of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCT Act) came into force. Among the many changes designed to improve corporate transparency and combat economic crime, one affects every single UK company: the registered email address requirement.

From this date, all limited companies filing a confirmation statement must provide a registered email address. This email address becomes part of the company's official record and is used by Companies House for formal communications.

The change applied immediately. Any confirmation statement filed on or after 4 March 2024 must include a registered email address. Companies House will reject submissions that don't comply.

What Is a Registered Email Address?

Your registered email address is an official email contact for your company, held on the Companies House register. Think of it as the email equivalent of your registered office address.

Just as Companies House sends formal letters to your registered office, they will now send official electronic communications to your registered email address. This includes:

Filing reminders and deadline notifications
Warnings about potential strike-off action
Confirmation of accepted filings
Security alerts about your company record
General compliance communications

Important: The registered email address is not displayed on the public Companies House register. Unlike your registered office address, which anyone can see, your registered email is kept private. It's only used for communications between Companies House and your company.

Why Companies House Now Requires It

The registered email requirement is part of broader reforms under the ECCT Act designed to:

1. Improve Communication Speed

Previously, Companies House relied on postal correspondence to registered offices. This was slow, expensive, and letters often went unread (especially for companies using accountant addresses). Email communication is immediate and more likely to reach the right person.

2. Strengthen Security

When Companies House detects suspicious activity on your company record (someone trying to change directors or file documents fraudulently), they can now alert you by email instantly rather than posting a letter that might arrive days later.

3. Reduce Fraudulent Filings

Company hijacking, where criminals file false documents to take control of legitimate companies, has increased. Quick email alerts help legitimate directors spot and challenge fraudulent filings before damage is done.

4. Support Digital-First Operations

Companies House is modernising its systems. The registered email requirement is part of a broader shift toward digital communications, reducing costs and improving efficiency for both Companies House and companies.

How to Add or Update Your Registered Email

If you haven't provided a registered email address yet, you'll need to do so the next time you file a confirmation statement. Here's how:

Adding Your Email During Confirmation Statement Filing

Log in to your Companies House account at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
Select your company from your account dashboard
Start your confirmation statement filing
You'll see a new section asking for your registered email address
Enter a valid email address that you actively monitor
Complete the rest of your confirmation statement as normal
Pay and submit

The email address is added automatically when you complete the confirmation statement. You don't need to file a separate form.

Updating an Existing Registered Email

If you've already provided a registered email but need to change it, you can:

Update it on your next confirmation statement by simply entering the new email address
File a change online through your Companies House account (available for most changes)

There's no separate form to file and no additional fee to change your registered email address.

What Email Address Should You Use?

Consider carefully which email address to register. This email will receive official communications about your company, including time-sensitive alerts.

Good choices:

A company email address you check regularly (director@yourcompany.com)
Your personal email if you're a sole director
A shared inbox that multiple officers can access

Poor choices:

An email you rarely check
A personal email you're about to close
An unmonitored catch-all address
Your accountant's email (unless they've agreed and you'll still see messages promptly)

What Happens If You Don't Provide One

If you attempt to file a confirmation statement without a registered email address, your filing will be rejected.

This means:

Your Confirmation Statement Deadline Still Applies

The rejection doesn't extend your deadline. If your review period ends on 15 February and you have 14 days to file, you still have until 1 March. If your first filing is rejected on 25 February for missing email, you now have just 4 days to resubmit correctly.

Repeated Rejections Risk Strike-Off

If you keep failing to file a valid confirmation statement (perhaps not realising why it's being rejected), Companies House will eventually begin strike-off proceedings. The consequences of being struck off are severe: your company ceases to exist, bank accounts are frozen, and assets pass to the Crown.

No Grace Period

There was no transition period for this requirement. From 4 March 2024, it applied to all confirmation statements. Companies that had just filed in February 2024 were fine until their next filing, but companies filing in March 2024 and later had to comply immediately.

How This Connects to Your WebFiling Account

Many directors confuse the registered email address with their Companies House account (WebFiling) email. These are different things:

WebFiling Account Email	Registered Email Address
Used to log in to Companies House online services	Official email address for your company on the register
Personal to you as an individual	Belongs to the company, not you personally
Can be different for each director with an account	One address per company
Used for account-related notifications	Used for company-related communications
Been around for years	New requirement from March 2024

You can use the same email for both, but you don't have to. The registered email is specifically for Companies House to contact your company about official matters.

Multiple Directors, One Registered Email

If your company has multiple directors, you can only have one registered email address. Decide internally who will monitor it and ensure that important communications are shared with other officers as needed.

Some companies create a shared mailbox (e.g., companysec@yourcompany.com) that multiple directors can access. This ensures communications aren't missed if one director is unavailable.

Best Practices for Your Registered Email

Monitor It Actively

The whole point of the registered email is rapid communication. If you only check it monthly, you'll miss time-sensitive alerts about potential fraud or filing deadlines.

Keep It Current

If you change email providers or close an email account, update your registered email promptly. Use your next confirmation statement or file the change separately.

Don't Use Throwaway Addresses

Some directors, concerned about spam, consider using a disposable email. This defeats the purpose. Companies House communications are important, and you need to receive them.

Consider a Dedicated Address

For companies with multiple directors or employees, a dedicated company email (like filings@yourcompany.com or directors@yourcompany.com) can ensure continuity even if individual staff leave.

Set Up Forwarding If Needed

If your primary email is personal but you want company communications to also reach a business address (or vice versa), set up forwarding rules. The registered email should ultimately reach someone who can act on it.

Add It to Your Safe Senders

To avoid Companies House emails going to spam, add their domains (@companieshouse.gov.uk) to your email safe senders list.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Assuming Your Old Email Still Works

If you had email correspondence with Companies House before March 2024, that doesn't mean you have a registered email on file. The registered email is a new, separate data field introduced by the ECCT Act. You must actively provide it via your confirmation statement.

Mistake 2: Using an Email You Don't Control

Don't use your old employer's email, an email belonging to a former business partner, or any address you might lose access to. If a dispute arises and you can't access the registered email, you might miss critical communications.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Rejection Notices

If your confirmation statement is rejected, you'll receive a notification explaining why. Read it carefully. Many rejections are due to the missing registered email. Simply adding the email and resubmitting usually resolves the issue.

Mistake 4: Assuming Your Accountant Handles It

While your accountant may file your confirmation statement, the registered email should probably be one you can access directly. You need to see security alerts promptly. Discuss with your accountant who will monitor the registered email.

Mistake 5: Providing a Generic Company Info Email

If your company has an info@yourcompany.com that receives hundreds of emails daily, important Companies House messages might get lost. Use an address that's monitored for important correspondence.

Mistake 6: Forgetting About It After Setup

The registered email isn't a one-time setup. You need to maintain access to it and update it if circumstances change. Add a reminder to review it annually alongside your confirmation statement.

What Other ECCT Act Changes Affect You?

The registered email requirement is just one of many changes under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Other provisions being phased in include:

Identity Verification Directors and PSCs will need to verify their identity with Companies House. This is being rolled out gradually and aims to prevent fraudulent appointments.

Registered Office Rules Companies House gained new powers regarding registered office addresses, including the ability to change a company's registered office to their own address if mail is returned undelivered.

Statement of Lawful Purpose Companies must confirm they intend to carry on lawful activities (previously implicit, now explicit).

Enhanced Filing Powers Companies House can now query and reject documents more effectively, rather than simply accepting whatever is filed.

These changes collectively aim to make the UK company register more accurate and trustworthy. Staying aware of new requirements helps you remain compliant without surprises.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the registered email address shown publicly?

No. Unlike your registered office address, the registered email address is not displayed on the public Companies House register. It's kept confidential and used only for official communications between Companies House and your company.

When did the registered email requirement start?

The requirement came into force on 4 March 2024 as part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Any confirmation statement filed on or after this date must include a registered email address.

What happens if I don't provide a registered email?

Your confirmation statement will be rejected. You won't be able to complete the filing until you provide a valid email address. This could cause you to miss your filing deadline, potentially leading to strike-off action.

Can I use my accountant's email as the registered email?

Technically yes, but it's generally not advisable unless you've agreed this with your accountant and trust that urgent messages will reach you quickly. Security alerts about potential fraud need immediate attention.

Is the registered email the same as my WebFiling account email?

No, these are separate. Your WebFiling account email is personal to you and used to log in to Companies House services. The registered email belongs to your company and is used for official communications. You can use the same address for both if you wish.

How do I change my registered email address?

You can update it on your next confirmation statement by simply entering the new address. You can also file the change separately through your Companies House online account.

Will I receive spam at my registered email?

No. The registered email is only used by Companies House for official communications. It's not published or shared with third parties. You should only receive legitimate messages from Companies House.

Do dormant companies need a registered email?

Yes. All limited companies must have a registered email address, including dormant companies. You'll need to provide one when filing your next confirmation statement.

What if my confirmation statement was rejected and I don't know why?

Check the rejection notice carefully. A common reason since March 2024 is the missing registered email address. Log back into your Companies House account, add the email, and resubmit your confirmation statement.

Can multiple directors have separate registered emails?

No. Each company has one registered email address. If you have multiple directors, you'll need to decide which email to use and ensure important messages are shared internally.

How AccountsOS Helps You Stay Compliant

Keeping track of changing compliance requirements is challenging when you're focused on running your business. AccountsOS helps you stay on top of your obligations:

Deadline Tracking We monitor your confirmation statement deadline alongside all your other filing requirements. You'll never be surprised by an approaching due date.

Compliance Alerts When regulations change, like the registered email requirement, AccountsOS keeps you informed about what you need to do differently.

Companies House Integration AccountsOS syncs with Companies House to track your company information. You can see what's on the register and identify any gaps before they cause filing rejections.

Filing Reminders Automatic reminders give you plenty of notice before deadlines, so you have time to gather information (like deciding which email to register) without last-minute panic.

The registered email requirement is a small change with potentially serious consequences if you miss it. Don't let your next confirmation statement be rejected. See how AccountsOS works to keep your company compliant with evolving requirements.