Electronic Filing
Electronic Filing means registered to Web File OR Software File:
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Web File means registered to use Companies House WebFiling service available on their website www.companieshouse.gov.uk
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Software File means registered to use an approved software provider, such as IRIS, to submit Companies House forms in a predetermined tag format by email
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I am registered for WebFiling, can I electronically file using IRIS?
It is quite common for a current WebFiler to move over to Software File using Company Secretarial.
In this instance, some of the information used when WebFiling can be used for Software Filing.
If an Online Account has been opened with Companies House by the WebFiler a Presenter ID will have been provided, which can be used for either WebFiling or Software Filing.
However, if the WebFiler has been paying by credit card or only non fee bearing documents have been submitted, an Online Filing Services Credit Account Application will need to be completed and sent to Companies House, to receive presenter information (that is, Presenter ID and Authentication Code).
Once this has been received the Presenters' ID and Presenters' Authentication code can be entered in Company Secretarial from Setup | Practice Options | C/H identifiers. The Company Authentication Code can be entered for the client by going to Edit | Company Authentication Code
I have an 8 digit security code from Companies House webfiling, can I use this for electronic filing?
The 8 digit security code is purely for Companies House WebFiling.
This code is not used for software filing. The Presenter ID and the Presenter Authentication codes are applicable for all Companies House Electronic Filing.
The Presenter Authentication number will only be supplied from Companies House if the presenter has opened an online account with Companies House.
If not, an online agreement can be setup by completing the Online Filing Services Credit Account Application.
For more information regarding E-Filing, click here.
How do I enter in my Presenter ID and Presenter Authentication code?
To enter the Presenter ID and Presenter Authentication code, go to Setup | Practice Options | C/H identifiers and enter the details. Once complete, click OK to save changes.
The Presenters ID and Presenters Authentication Code are 11 characters long. For example, Presenter ID = 00001234000, Presenter Reference = A1B2C3D4E5F
For more information regarding E-Filing, click here.
How do I pay for forms that incur charges?
Being registered to software file means that a credit agreement must have been signed and submitted to Companies House.
At the end of each month Companies House will send a statement listing all documents filed in that time using your presenter ID and reference which incurred charges.
Payment is made using the account details supplied in the credit agreement application form.
How do I default to always electronically file Companies House Forms?
To set the forms to generate an E-File as default, go to Setup | Form Options and select the Document format tab.
Select the Companies House Electronic Filing option to set the default option and click OK.
Now when generating forms, forms which can be filed electronically will automatically generate an E-File.
How do I enter Personal Authentication codes for filing form IN01 or AP01/AP02?
From the drop-down menu select Edit | Personal Authentication Data. All the shareholders and the agent are listed.
Where there is data present against a person listed, the font will be black. For those without data, the font is red.
Highlight the required person and click View. Three of the seven fields are to be completed.
Click Save to save or Cancel to exit without saving.
Where an officer or member of the company is a corporate, there will be further list of the relevant people for the corporate.
Only individuals may have personal authenticated data. For further information click here.
How do I know if Companies House received the forms?
When a test e-file is sent to Companies House a response is normally received within approximately 10 minutes.
A live e-file is normally responded to within 2 - 4 hours, the document is marked as pending, a response is received approximately every 4 hours until it is finally accepted or rejected.
Responses are always sent to the email address which has been registered with Companies House, therefore if sending from the wrong email address it can appear as if no response has been received and you should check which email address is registered with Companies House.
The format of the response is difficult to decipher but by copying and pasting it into the Administration | Input E-File Response screen it can quickly be determined which company the response relates to, if the status has altered and if there are any additional messages, for example, rejection reasons.
