If your company has a director or PSC with address or information protection, it’s important to understand which type of protection applies, as this determines whether you can file your Confirmation Statement (CS01) electronically using Inform Direct or must use a paper process.
Types of Protection
1. Address Protection (Section 243 for directors/LLP members, Section 790ZF for PSCs)
- This protection prevents Companies House from sharing the individual’s usual residential address with credit reference agencies.
- The address is not shown on the public register, but Companies House still holds it privately.
- You can continue to file your Confirmation Statement (CS01) electronically via Inform Direct or Companies House WebFiling as normal.
2. Full PSC Information Protection (Section 790ZG/Section 1088)
- You will see that the residential address is missing.
- This is a higher level of protection available only to PSCs.
- None of the PSC’s information is shown on the public register, and Companies House does not share any details with credit reference agencies.
- If any PSC in your company has this level of protection, you cannot file the Confirmation Statement (CS01) electronically. All filings that include PSC information (including the CS01) must be submitted on paper using special forms provided by Companies House.
Filing the Confirmation Statement (CS01) on Inform Direct
If Only Address Protection Is in Place (Section 243/790ZF)
- You can file the CS01 electronically using Inform Direct as usual.
- There are no special restrictions or additional steps required.
- Inform Direct will guide you through the process, and Companies House will not display the protected address on the public register.
If Full PSC Information Protection Is in Place (Section 790ZG/Section 1088)
- You cannot file the CS01 electronically using Inform Direct or any other online system.
- You must contact Companies House to request the special paper forms (these are only accepted on coloured paper provided by Companies House).
- Complete and submit the paper CS01 by post, following the instructions provided by Companies House.
- This restriction applies to all filings that include PSC information, not just the CS01.
How to Tell Which Protection Applies
- Address protection is the most common and allows for normal electronic filing.
- Full PSC information protection is rare and only applies if Companies House has granted this status for a PSC. If you are unsure, check your company records or contact Companies House for confirmation.
Summary Table
Protection Type | Who It Applies To | Can File CS01 Electronically? | Action Required |
|---|---|---|---|
Address Protection (243/790ZF) | Directors, LLP members, PSCs | Yes | File as normal on Inform Direct |
Full PSC Info Protection (790ZG/1088) | PSCs only | No | Request and file paper forms |
Further Help
- If you are unsure which protection applies, or need to request special forms, contact Companies House Secure Registers Team.
- For more information, see the official Companies House guidance on address and PSC protection.
Key Points:
- Most companies with address protection can file CS01s electronically via Inform Direct.
Only companies with a PSC under full information protection must file on paper.