Check whether you already have it
Look for Companies House’s original letter or a saved company filing record. Ask the director or accountant who previously filed for the company. Treat the code like an officer’s signature: do not share it with anyone you do not trust to file1.
Fileyear asks for it when submitting a filing that needs it. Never send it in a support message, a public document or an ordinary email.
Request a reminder
Use Companies House’s official online service to request the authentication code. The normal reminder goes by post to the registered office and can take up to ten working days. Check that the address is accessible before requesting it1.
Companies House also explains the alternative request route where you cannot access the registered office. Follow the current instructions on the official page; do not replace the registered office simply to receive one letter without understanding the consequences1.
Check your company’s dates and set a reminder
Search the Companies House register. Your company page shows its filing dates, what to file next and a reminder you can set.
Keep the filing deadline in view
Requesting a code does not extend the accounts or confirmation-statement deadline. Start early. If a deadline is imminent, check the official filing alternatives and, for accounts, whether the company can request an extension before its deadline1.
You can prepare figures and review them while finding the code. Nothing is filed merely because you prepared a draft.
Personal code or authentication code?
| Code | Belongs to | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Six-character authentication code | The company | Authorising online filings |
| Eleven-character personal code | A verified person | Linking identity verification to director and PSC roles |
A confirmation statement can need both the company authentication code and each relevant director’s personal code. Read where to find your personal code if that is the one you have lost2.