Companies House reviews record retention policy

Companies House, the official register of companies in the UK, is currently reviewing the retention period for records of dissolved companies, amidst growing concerns that the current policy may not adequately serve public interest. At present, all records of active companies are kept indefinitely, while those of dissolved companies are held for 20 years, after which selected records are transferred to the appropriate Public Records Office, such as The National Archives for entities registered in England and Wales. Unselected records are then typically destroyed.

In a significant step during this review, Companies House has announced that it has paused the destruction and transfer processes for dissolved company records. During this hiatus, the public can still access information via the Find and update company information service and the Search for a dissolved company service. Requests for access to certain company records not available online can still be made, albeit for a fee.

The government is keen on finding a balance that maintains public access to company information, respects personal data, and ensures value for money for taxpayers. Future proposals that emerge from this review regarding changes to the retention period will be subjected to a public consultation process, giving stakeholders the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns.

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