Software Filing Update

March 2007

Current Service
The current Software Filing service allows external companies to develop software packages, enabling either their own employees or customers of their company to manage the submission of a range of forms required by Companies House.

The current service is defined within the Technical Interface Specification (TIS v6.9).

Essentially, Companies House has defined a proprietary interface in a format known as “Tag=Data”, that allows the submission of documents via email. These submissions are protected by the use of company and presenter “authentication codes”. Once received, from a registered email address, these submissions are processed by CH and responses returned to a registered email address in “Tag=Data” format. Where applicable, PDF certificates are attached to the email.

Future Plans
Companies House is aware that some companies may have concerns about this system and, after six years of it remaining unchanged, are looking to upgrade to a system which addresses a number of these concerns.

Companies House’s initial thoughts are to provide a programmatic WEB Service interface that will allow software packages to send data directly to CH via the WEB in encrypted form, utilising the XML format within a GovTalk formatted envelope. Companies House will also provide the capability to obtain data for a company, for which the presenter is allowed to file; via a synchronous WEB service allowing pre-population of forms, or pre-population of local databases.

Responses will be returned in XML format and PDF certificates may be returned as part of the XML.

CH would like to obtain you and your company’s thoughts about this proposition, and invite you to complete a feedback questionnaire.

Benefits of XML Interface
Benefits of moving to an XML interface include:

• XML is an open/industry standard interface definition language.
• XML enables open and portable system interfaces and system integration.
• XML is an e-GIF (e-Government Interoperability Framework) standard and recommended for use on all government Web based interfaces. e-GIF promotes the adoption of XML as the primary standard for data integration and data management for all public sector systems.
• For at least the last five to six years all new developers and Web designers in Universities and Colleges are trained in XML.
• Standardising on XML allows both Companies House and external developers to utilise development and test tools available in the market place.
• Software Filing of accounts insists on XML (specifically xbrl), and as such Companies House recognises that it is currently asking package providers to develop to two interface standards.
• Other European and Irish Software filing systems use an XML interface.
• Companies House wishes to develop more secure communication methods and provide our Software Filers with Web Services which by design employ XML as a data format.
• Companies House wish to investigate reducing the filing burden on companies by liaising with other Government departments in order to provide “single filing” opportunities. The majority of other Govt. Depts (HMRC, HMLR) already utilise XML.
• Interfaces defined in XML provide a more structured way of enforcing interface rules and as such could reduce the number of queries/rejections experienced by customers – thus reducing human involvement and increasing response times.
• For Companies House, XML will mean a reduction in the internal data translations that are required, leading to faster response times and less scope for error.

Click here to complete the feedback questionnaire