Companies House sets Christmas cut-off times for same-day services and certified copies
Same-day company name changes and software incorporations need to be in by 12pm on Christmas Eve, and the contact centre closes for four days over Christmas and three over New Year.
Directors who want a company name change or a new incorporation handled the same day before Christmas need to apply by 12pm on Thursday 24 December, Companies House said in its festive timetable for 2026 to 2027, updated on Friday. Anything that misses the cut-off may not be processed until Tuesday 29 December.
The same-day services covered are changing a company name online and incorporating a company through software. A second cut-off applies at New Year: applications made after 2pm on Thursday 31 December may wait until Monday 4 January.
Two other services have 11am cut-offs:
- A statement of capital for a reduction of capital (form SH19), with any supporting documents, has to arrive by 11am on 24 December through the "upload a document to Companies House" service. Later filings may not be processed until 29 December.
- Certified copies of certificates and documents can go by express dispatch if ordered before 11am on Friday 18 December or Thursday 31 December. Orders placed after 11am will still be produced, but Companies House cannot promise when they will be sent.
Phone lines over the holiday
The contact centre will keep these hours:
- Thursday 24 December, 8:30am to 2pm
- Friday 25 to Monday 28 December, closed
- Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 December, 8:30am to 6pm
- Thursday 31 December, 8:30am to 4pm
- Friday 1 to Sunday 3 January, closed
- Monday 4 January, back to 8:30am to 6pm
Online filing stays open throughout, including accounts, confirmation statements, changes to company details and applications to close a company. All of these need the company authentication code, which Companies House sends by post, so anyone without one is advised to request it early.
For companies still filing accounts on paper, Companies House recommends posting them well before the deadline and considering guaranteed next-day delivery. It will not accept postal delays as grounds to appeal a late filing penalty, and separate GOV.UK guidance on appeals lists accounts delayed or lost in the post among the reasons an appeal may not be successful.
