Guidance

Christmas and New Year opening times at Companies House

Availability of our contact centre and filing services over the festive period.

Same day services

You must apply before 12pm on Friday 22 December 2023 if you’re using a same day service to:

  • file a change of company name online
  • incorporate a company (software only)

If you apply after 12pm, your application may not be processed until Wednesday 27 December 2023.

Reduction of capital (form SH19)

You must file your same day reduction of capital (form SH19) and any supporting documents before 11am on Friday 22 December 2023. You must use the upload a document to Companies House service to file your documents.

If we receive your documents after 11am, your application may not be processed until Wednesday 27 December 2023.

Certified copies of certificates and documents

To use the express dispatch service, you must place your order before 11am on Friday 22 December 2023.

If you order after 11am, your order may not be processed until Wednesday 27 December 2023.

Ordering certified documents and certificates from Companies House.

Online services

Companies House online services are available throughout the Christmas and New Year period.

You can use our online services to:

You’ll need your company authentication code. If you need to request a code, you should allow plenty of time as it’s sent to your company by post.

Contact centre availability

Telephone: 0303 1234 500

Date Availability
Friday 22 December 2023 Open from 8:30am to 4pm
Monday 25 December 2023 Closed
Tuesday 26 December 2023 Closed
Wednesday 27 December 2023 Open from 8:30am to 6pm
Thursday 28 December 2023 Open from 8:30am to 6pm
Friday 29 December 2023 Open from 8.30am to 6pm
Monday 1 January 2024 Closed
Tuesday 2 January 2024 Open from 8.30am to 6pm (Edinburgh office closed)

Companies House office access and opening times.

If you need to file your accounts on paper, you should send them to us well before the deadline and consider using guaranteed next day delivery.

We cannot accept postal delays as a reason to appeal a late filing penalty.

Published 21 November 2019
Last updated 6 December 2023 + show all updates
  1. Guidance updated for 2023.

  2. Christmas 2022 opening times updated.

  3. Updated Christmas and New Year opening times for 2021/22.

  4. Updated our Christmas and New Year opening times for 2020/21.

  5. Added translation