Error codes you might receive when submitting your Final Accounts

This article provides a list of error codes you may receive from Companies House when filing your Final Accounts report, along with suggested steps to take to resolve them.

When you submit Final Accounts to Companies House through FreeAgent, you’ll receive an error code if Companies House rejects your submission. Below is a list of error codes that you may receive and how to resolve them:

• 502: authorisation failure
• 1559: outdated company name
• 2313: incorrect company name and number
• 2422: attempting to file accounts for a CIC
• 3081: incorrect or missing date
• 3082: duplicate accounts submitted
• 8023: submission status not yet available
• 9999: multiple reasons
• 10000: temporary error
• 11783: incorrect company name

Making corrections

When you finalise your company’s End of Year report by adding your signature, an initial lock is placed on your accounts to prevent you from making any further changes.

In order to make changes, you would need to remove the lock on your End of Year report by removing your signature. Please note that you can only remove this lock to make changes if you haven’t yet filed your Final Accounts or Corporation Tax return through FreeAgent.

If you’ve filed either of these through FreeAgent, you’ll no longer be able to remove this lock on your accounts. For details on your options in each of these scenarios, including when both Final Accounts and Corporation Tax returns have been filed, please see this article.

Removing your signature

To remove your signature from your End of Year report, navigate to the ‘Accounting’ tab at the top of the screen and select ‘End of Year’ from the drop-down menu.

Select ‘Remove signature’.

Select ‘OK’ in the pop-up window to complete the process.

You’ll now be able to make changes to your accounts and finalise your End of Year report again once you’ve made the relevant changes.

Error code 502: authorisation failure

This error code is a result of an authorisation failure, which is usually due to an incorrect Presenter ID, Presenter Authentication Code or Company Authentication Code being entered. For more information on how to apply for a Companies House presenter account, please see this article.

When submitting Final Accounts to Companies House, please enter your Presenter ID, Presenter Authentication Code and Company Authentication Code into FreeAgent manually, rather than allowing your browser to auto-fill the fields for you, to avoid any errors.

Error code 1559: outdated company name

This error code is a result of the company name shown on the Final Accounts submission relating to a previous name of the company, rather than the current name held at Companies House. You can check the Companies House website to confirm the correct name.

To correct the company name in your FreeAgent account, first remove your signature from your End of Year report, then select 'Settings' from the drop-down menu in the top-right corner and select 'Company Details'.

Make sure that the ‘Company Name’ in the ‘Company Details’ section is correct. For more information on how to add or edit your business’s details, please see this article.

Once you’ve updated the company name, select ‘Save Changes’ at the bottom of the screen and try submitting your Final Accounts to Companies House again.

Error code 2313: incorrect company name and number

This error code is a result of the company name and number shown on the Final Accounts submission not matching the records held at Companies House. You can check the Companies House website to confirm the correct name and number.

To correct the company name and number in your FreeAgent account, first remove your signature from your End of Year report, then select 'Settings' from the drop-down menu in the top-right corner and select 'Company Details'.

Make sure that the ‘Company Name’ and ‘Company Registration Number’ match the records held at Companies House. For more information on how to add or edit your business’s details, please see this article.

Once you’ve updated the company name and registration number, select ‘Save Changes’ at the bottom of the screen and try submitting your Final Accounts to Companies House again.

Error code 2422: attempting to file accounts for a CIC

This error code is a result of a Community Interest Company (CIC) trying to file accounts electronically via accounting software, which isn’t possible. Please visit the CIC Regulator’s website for further guidance on how to file your accounts electronically.

If you run a CIC, you can use FreeAgent for your company’s day-to-day bookkeeping, but you won’t be able to use it to file your statutory accounts and Company Tax Return, as FreeAgent does not support form CIC34.

Error code 3081: incorrect or missing date

This error code is a result of the balance sheet not being made up to the correct accounting reference date, or the date being missing. Please note that it is only possible to change the date with Companies House by completing an accounting reference date amendment form.

If you have shortened your accounting period with Companies House, please ensure that you have updated your accounting dates in FreeAgent to match the records held at Companies House. Please note that you can only extend or shorten your accounting year end date in FreeAgent if there are no account locks in place and if the year in question is also the first year of bookkeeping in FreeAgent.

To extend or shorten your first accounting year end date in FreeAgent, first remove your signature from your End of Year report, then select 'Settings' from the drop-down menu in the top-right corner and select 'Accounting Dates'.

Once you’ve entered the correct dates, select ‘Save Changes’ at the bottom of the screen and try submitting your Final Accounts to Companies House again.

Error code 3082: duplicate accounts submitted

This error code is a result of a set of accounts for this accounting period having already been submitted and accepted for filing at Companies House from outside of FreeAgent. This suggests that the accounts that you’re trying to file through FreeAgent are a duplicate set.

Please note that it’s not possible to file an amended set of accounts through FreeAgent. You would need to file an amended set of accounts with Companies House in paper format. For more information, please see the following HMRC guidance.

Error code 8023: submission status not yet available

This error code is a result of the submission status of a set of accounts being checked too soon. This is usually a temporary error, so please please wait 24 hours and try submitting your Final Accounts to Companies House again to see if the error code persists or if a different code appears.

Error code 9999: multiple reasons

There are a few issues that may cause a 9999 error code. It could be due to a busy server, incorrect company registration number, some unsupported character(s) within Manage notes and settings, or an invalid authentication code. Please refer to the relevant section below.

Busy server

The 9999 error code may mean that the server is busy due to experiencing an unusually high volume of usage. In this scenario, please wait 24 hours and try submitting your Final Accounts to Companies House again.

Incorrect company registration number

The 9999 error code may mean that the company registration number is incorrect. You can check your certificate of incorporation or the Companies House website to confirm the correct number.

To correct your registration number in FreeAgent, first remove your signature from your End of Year report, then select 'Settings' from the drop-down menu in the top-right corner and select 'Company Details'.

Make sure that the ‘Company Registration Number’ matches the record held at Companies House. For more information on how to add or edit your business’s details, please see this article.

Once you’ve updated the company registration number, select ‘Save Changes’ at the bottom of the screen and try submitting your Final Accounts to Companies House again.

Unsupported characters within Final Accounts report notes

When adding a note to your Final Accounts report, make sure that there are no unsupported characters (*/ etc.) and no extra spaces.

Invalid company authentication code

The 9999 error code could be due to an invalid company authentication code.

Once you’ve requested a company authentication code, please enter your Presenter ID, Presenter Authentication Code and Company Authentication Code into FreeAgent manually, rather than allowing your browser to auto-fill the fields for you, when submitting Final Accounts to Companies House, to avoid any errors.

Error code 10000: temporary error

This is usually a temporary error, so please wait 24 hours and try submitting your Final Accounts to Companies House again.

Error code 11783: incorrect company name

This error code is a result of the company name shown on the Final Accounts submission not matching the records held at Companies House. You can check your certificate of incorporation or the Companies House website to confirm the correct name.

To correct your company name in your FreeAgent account, first remove your signature from your End of Year report, then select 'Settings' from the drop-down menu in the top-right corner and select 'Company Details'.

Make sure that the ‘Company Name’ in the ‘Company Details’ section is the current name of your company held at Companies House. For more information on how to add or edit your business’s details, please see this article.

Once you’ve updated the company name, select ‘Save Changes’ at the bottom of the screen and try submitting your Final Accounts to Companies House again.