Quick Summary: How does syncing work between Inform Direct and Companies House?

Inform Direct both submits filings directly to Companies House when you make changes via the software and also regularly syncs data back from Companies House when filings are made elsewhere. 

However, not all information is updated automatically. Some simple details (like due dates and company names) are brought in automatically overnight, while more complex changes such as share capital, shareholder positions, and officer or PSC updates are often reviewed and synced by our technical team within about a week of the Companies House filing.

Should you need an urgent sync please contact the support team who can complete one for you. 

In some scenarios you’ll still need to replicate changes manually in Inform Direct to keep a full audit trail and avoid duplicate filings

In detail: Does Inform Direct sync with Companies House?

There is a regular sync process completed by Inform Direct to help ensure that details remain up to date. 

Some information, such as due dates and company names are brought in overnight, but other items such as share updates and officer or PSC changes usually need manual syncing so are completed by our technical team. Syncs by our technical team are picked up within a week of the filing at Companies House appearing. 

It is of course best to file via Inform Direct where possible to remove the need for a sync, but we completely understand that there are situations where it is not in your control.

The items to remain vigilant on are:

• Shareholder lists on confirmation statements filed outside Inform Direct. As the software could not assume the transaction details which led to the updated shareholding position, the updated list is not brought in on the sync. It is best instead to replicate the transfers to bring Inform Direct up to date, which will provide a trail in the registers (and does not duplicate any Companies House filing). You will be notified with a Dashboard alert and an email (to principal contacts) to confirm if a confirmation statement 'with updates' is filed outside Inform Direct.
• Conversions of shares from one class to another. If an SH08 has been filed at Companies House, they do not update their electronic statement of capital. It is only updated when the next filing containing share capital is submitted. As they do not update the electronic share data from an SH08, when we sync with them, they do not return any changes and Inform Direct therefore remains with the position prior to the conversion. The conversion is safe to replicate on Inform Direct as it is not an electronic submission, so no filing is duplicated. 
• If there are multiple filings containing a statement of capital using the same date, Companies House only report the first statement of capital for that day. It is best to check in these scenarios that the class total shown on Inform Direct is correct. In the event a statement of capital which is not the final position is shown, please let us know, and we can raise it with Companies House for correction. 

When an updated statement of capital is brought in via a sync, Inform Direct will show an Unreconciled Share Classes Alert. This unreconciled status will allow you to replicate the action taken at Companies House, without it sending any duplicate forms. This will be confirmed by a green submit button appearing rather than the usual red submit to Companies House button. 

Common FAQ's

"Are all changes and filings synchronised both ways?"
No. Inform Direct does not operate a blind, fully two‑way sync for every data item.

When you make changes in Inform Direct and complete a filing (for example, officer changes, registered office changes, share allotments), those filings are sent electronically to Companies House from Inform Direct 

When filings are made directly at Companies House, Inform Direct runs regular syncs. Some information (such as company name and due dates) will be updated automatically, but other items – particularly share updates and officer/PSC changes – are usually reviewed and synced manually, and with share changes, in some cases, must be replicated in Inform Direct by you to preserve the transaction history and avoid duplicate filings 

This means many changes are effectively synchronised both ways, but not every change is automatically mirrored in both systems without review.

"Can I update records to reflect direct filings at Companies House?"

Yes, you can update records in Inform Direct to reflect direct filings made at Companies House, but the process varies depending on the type of change:

Share Transfers: If a confirmation statement (CS01) is filed outside Inform Direct and includes share transfers, you will receive an email notification. You must manually replicate these share transfers in Inform Direct, as we cannot sync transfers automatically.

Share Allotments: It is important to sync changes from Companies House first, so that shares are marked as unreconciled. This ensures that no accidental filings are made when you replicate the allotment in Inform Direct.

Address and Officer/PSC Changes: These changes are automatically synced from Companies House and do not need to be manually replicated.

Share Forms (SH02–SH19): These can be safely replicated in Inform Direct without syncing, as only paper forms are produced and nothing is filed electronically. If you need further guidance on a specific scenario, please contact our support team.