Of interest to all working in companies
Companies House published two stakeholder newsletters in December.
The first of these, published on 5 December, focussed on changes to UK company law arising from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. There’ll be new responsibilities for:
• all new and existing company directors
• people with significant control of a company
• anyone who files on behalf of a company
Companies House has launched a new website about the upcoming changes which will help us all to keep up to date on what is changing so that we can take action at the right time.
It has also launched a question bank – this month the subject is registered email addresses. The questions and answers are replicated here as they don’t yet seem to be on the website:
- Question: Will it be possible to register the same email address for more than one company?
- Answer: Yes, you'll be able to do this.
- Question: Will communications sent to the registered email address be clear as to the company that it relates to?
- Answer: If the communication relates specifically to a company and its situation, then the company will be clearly identified. If the purpose of the communication is to deliver a general update, such as changes to legislation that affects all companies, then the communication may not refer to a specific company.
- Question: Will the registered email addresses be made public?
- Answer: Registered email addresses will be held securely and kept private.
- Question: If Companies House raises a query with the company through the registered email address, will the response need to come from the same registered email address?
- Answer: We would recommend that it's best practice to send responses from the registered email address. This is the most secure and efficient method.
- Question: It would be helpful to have an understanding of how the process for registering/changing a registered email address will work. How will we know that the registration/change has become effective?
- Answer: The filer updating the email address will receive notifications that the filing has been received, registered or rejected. Users with authorisation to file on behalf of the company will be able to view the latest email address registered, through the different online services that support the registered email address requirement – including the ‘confirmation statement’ and a new ‘update registered email address’ service.
- Question: Will it be necessary to use the company’s authentication code in order to register/change its registered email address?
- Answer: There'll be a new ‘update a registered email address’ service. Once signed in and authenticated, users will be able to view the current email address registered and change it, if required. The user will also be able to view the registered email address in their WebFiling company profile and on their confirmation statement. Both will offer links to the service where it can be changed.
- Question: If my organisation provides our email address as a registered email address for a company and the client terminates services with us, will there be a process by which we can notify Companies House that the address is no longer an 'appropriate' email address for that company?
- Answer: There'll be a process for account holders to notify us that an email address is no longer in use or appropriate for use as a registered email address. We'll then take action to obtain an updated email address from the company. As with a physical registered office address, companies have a duty to maintain an appropriate email address and the company commits an offence if this is not the case.
The newsletter goes on to announce that post will no longer be accepted at the Belfast office. From 4 March 2024, all companies who want to file paper documents will need to post them to the Companies House Cardiff office.
It also confirms that the WebCHeck and Companies House Direct services have closed.
The second newsletter, published on 21 December, announced that the Register of Overseas Entities has now reached a milestone figure of more than 30,000 registrations.
