On Friday 13 March 2026, Companies House confirmed that a problem had been found in its WebFiling service, which many companies use to submit information such as accounts and director changes. The issue has now been resolved, and the service is fully back online. However, Companies House is advising all businesses to take a few simple precautionary steps.
The problem was caused by a system update made in October 2025 and was not the result of a cyber-attack. In very limited circumstances, it could have allowed a logged‑in WebFiling user to see information that is normally hidden from public view. This included the day element of a director’s date of birth, residential addresses for directors and people with significant control, and company-registered email addresses. It may also have been possible for a logged‑in user to submit certain updates for another company without permission.
Companies House has confirmed that no identity verification details were exposed, no existing filed documents could be altered, and protected personal information remained secure. There is currently no evidence that anyone has used the issue to access or change company information.
As a precaution, Companies House is asking all companies to check their records. This can be done by reviewing the information held in WebFiling and on the “Find and update company information” service. If anything appears unusual or incorrect, Companies House requests that businesses email enquiries@companieshouse.gov.uk with “WebFiling issue” in the subject line, along with the company name and number.
Businesses are also being encouraged to use the free “Follow” service, which sends an email alert whenever a document is filed for a chosen company. This is an easy way to spot unexpected activity quickly.
Companies House has reported the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office and will continue reviewing the situation. Further updates will be issued as their investigation progresses.
Sean Farnell, Partner at Burgis & Bullock, says: “This incident is a reminder of how important it is for company directors to keep an eye on the information held about them and their company records. Regular checks help make sure nothing unexpected slips through and that any issues can be addressed quickly.”
If you would like support reviewing your company records or understanding what action to take, Burgis & Bullock can help guide you through the process: https://www.burgisbullock.com/contact-us/
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