Companies House – online filing presenter account

If you file accounts at Companies House through third-party software, you are required to have a ‘Presenter Identifier’ and ‘Presenter Authentication Code’.

The Presenter Identifier starts with 000 and ends with 000, is a mixture of numbers and letters and is 11 characters long. This is usually entered in capitals.

Companies House has different types of accounts and what you need to file to Companies House will determine which account you should apply for.

• Application for a presenter credit account – for filing documents with a fee
  This application will permit you to file all Companies House Forms – for example, company incorporations, annual confirmation statements, accounts to Companies House – with a Presenter ID and Authentication. The payment of fees will be by credit account rather than by credit or debit card.
  (Tick the option for software filing to make sure your account is correctly set up.)
  
  
• Application for a presenter account – for filing documents without a fee
  This application will permit you to file accounts online to Companies House with a Presenter ID and Authentication.
  (Tick the option for software filing to make sure your account is correctly set up.)

If you register for a presenter credit account (for filing documents with a fee) there’s no need to apply separately for a presenter account.

When the customer’s application is approved, Companies House will allocate a Presenter Identifier and Presenter Authentication Code to the customer. The allocated Presenter Authentication Code can be changed by requesting Companies House to allocate a new code to the customer.

If Companies House has a reason to believe the Presenter Authentication Code or Presenter Identifier have been discovered and/or used by a person without the knowledge, consent or permission, express or implied of the customer, and on such occasion as Companies House may deem reasonably necessary, Companies House may withdraw the Presenter Authentication Code and allocate replacement(s) to the customer.

Companies House may reveal or disclose the Presenter Authentication Code and Presenter Identifier, in addition to the customer name, address and telephone number, to any person to satisfy the legal demand of a government body, court of law or other competent tribunal or as required by any applicable law, rule or regulation.

The Presenter Authentication Code and Presenter Identifier allocated to the customer by Companies House are confidential and personal to the customer and it is the customer’s responsibility to keep its Presenter Authentication Code and Presenter Identifier safeguarded.

The customer shall notify Companies House immediately if it suspects that a person has discovered or is making use of the Presenter Authentication Code or Presenter Identifier without the consent or permission of the customer.

Companies House reserves the right at its discretion and without prior written notice to terminate or suspend availability of the customer’s electronic filing services account and will notify the customer in writing of any such termination or suspension.

• Web filing service
  This service will not work with third-party software providers; however, it will provide you with an email address and password log in which will give you access to the variety of forms to complete online. Please note that if you are completing fee-bearing forms, you will be required to input the debit/credit card details. Please click to register.

Before you can file on your client’s behalf, you’ll need their unique company authentication code provided by Companies House.