UK company snapshot / extract

What is the Company Snapshot?

In the United Kingdom, the Company Snapshot is the standard public register extract available for all UK-incorporated companies via Companies House, the government agency responsible for company registration and compliance.

This document provides a consolidated overview of a company’s legal, administrative, and financial status. It includes information such as registered office, incorporation date, directors, persons with significant control (PSC), SIC code, and the full filing history. The snapshot is widely used in KYB (Know Your Business), AML checks, onboarding, and corporate due diligence.

The data is made publicly accessible and can be retrieved instantly through the Companies House portal or APIs.

What does it look like?

Below is an extract from a real Companies House Company Snapshot:

Key Elements

1. Document Header with timestamp

It shows it's coming from Companies House register
The document ID and the date it was collected are also visible.

2. Company Overview

The snapshot begins with core identifiers:

• Company name and number
• Date of incorporation
• Legal status (e.g., Active, Dissolved)
• Company type (e.g., Private Limited Company)

Key dates include:

• Accounting reference date
• Last and next accounts due
• Last and next confirmation statement due
• Nature of business (SIC codes) — Standard Industrial Classification

3. Officers and Directors

Under the “People” section, Companies House lists:

• Active officers and past resignations
• Name, nationality, occupation, and residential country
• Date of birth, appointment date, and address for correspondence

4. Persons with Significant Control (PSC) or UBO

The PSC section discloses individuals or entities with direct or indirect control over the company.

Typical information includes:

• Name and status
• Control type: e.g., ownership of more than 75% of shares or voting rights
• Date of notification
• Nationality and country of residence

5. Filing History

This section is critical for compliance verification and reveals:

• All historical filings made with Companies House
• Filing date, form code, and description
• Details on accounts, incorporation, confirmation statements, and capital structure

With Semaphore

Semaphore automates access to UK register data via direct integration with Companies House APIs. Through our platform, you can:

• Instantly retrieve Company Snapshots in structured form
• Extract director and PSC details for KYC/KYB reviews
• Monitor changes in corporate structure or filing status
• Access real-time filings and alerts on overdue accounts or statements

This ensures compliant, up-to-date intelligence across your UK counterparties.