Twenty-three people were disqualified from acting as company directors in the first six months of 2026 for “persistent or serious non-compliance” with their filing duties, according to figures published by Companies House on Thursday, with bans totalling 70 years.
The disqualifications, which ranged from six months to five years, followed criminal convictions for failing to file documents such as annual accounts and confirmation statements. Courts also fined the 23 directors a combined £17,810, including £15,600 for non-filing of accounts and £2,200 for non-filing of confirmation statements, Companies House said.
Separately, 360 directors of 332 companies were convicted of filing offences between January and March. Companies House said these included 355 convictions for accounts offences, with total fines of £129,970, and 157 convictions for confirmation statement offences, with fines of £53,300. The registrar was also awarded £31,075 in costs.
Companies House did not publish comparable figures for previous years, but disqualifications are understood to have run at about 12 a year in the past, and courts have been handing down longer bans as the offences are treated more seriously.
Martin Swain, director of intelligence and law enforcement engagement at Companies House, said: “Limited liability encourages enterprise, giving businesses the confidence to start, invest and grow.
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