Companies House is reviewing the retention period for dissolved company records
Companies House is reviewing the retention period for dissolved company records, following concerns that records should be held for longer than 20 years.
Companies House聽retains聽all聽company聽records聽for as long as those companies are聽active. Records of dissolved companies are currently聽retained聽for 20 years, before selected records聽are transferred聽to the appropriate Public Records Office (for example, The National Archives for companies registered in England and Wales). Unselected records should be destroyed聽under the current policy.聽聽
Companies House has paused the destruction聽and transfer聽of records during this review period.聽It鈥檚聽still possible to聽search for information on the聽聽and the聽聽during the pause. You can also continue to聽request access to company records聽not聽available on this service聽during the pause, for a fee.聽聽
The government鈥檚 aim is to strike the right balance between allowing access to transparent company information in聽the public聽interest, protecting personal data, and providing value for money.聽
Any future proposals to change the retention period will be subject to public consultation.聽
To keep up to date with news and updates from Companies House,聽sign up for聽扒哥吃瓜聽alerts听补苍诲听.