What is a Confirmation Statement at Companies House UK?
Every UK limited company must file a confirmation statement once a year. It’s just a quick check to make sure Companies House still has the right details for your business. This guide walks through what it is, what you need to check, when it’s due, and what happens if you miss it. We’ve helped a lot of first-time directors file these over the years, and the same questions come up again and again.
What is a confirmation statement?
A confirmation statement (form CS01) is a once-a-year declaration that the public information Companies House holds about your company is still accurate.
It’s easy to confuse it with accounts or tax returns, but it doesn’t cover your finances at all. It keeps the public record accurate, which sounds administrative, but it matters more than most people realise when someone looks your company up. You’re confirming things like your registered office, directors, shareholders and PSCs haven’t changed. If anything has changed during the year, for example, you’ve added a shareholder or moved your registered office, you update those details before confirming.
When is the confirmation statement due?
Your confirmation statement is due within 14 days of your “confirmation date”, which is the anniversary of your company’s incorporation in the first year, and the anniversary of your last confirmation date after that.
For example, if your company was incorporated on 4 May 2026, your first confirmation date is 4 May 2027 and you have until 18 May 2027 to file. Companies House will usually send an email reminder, but the responsibility still sits with you, even if that email never shows up (which does happen). You can file early if you want, but that can move your next deadline forward a bit. Filing late, on the other hand, is where problems start.
How much does a confirmation statement cost?
The confirmation statement fee is £50 if you file online and £110 if you file by post.
You only pay once per “payment period” of 12 months, even if you file extra statements mid-year to update PSC details. Most directors just do it once a year online and pay the £50, unless something’s changed, it’s usually straightforward. If you’re worried about missing the date, some services (including ours) can track it and send reminders.
What information do I need to confirm?
When you file, you’re checking a handful of key details, your registered office, directors, shareholders, SIC codes, and PSCs.
You don’t have to re-enter everything from scratch, Companies House shows your current details, and you’re just checking or updating them. The updates we see most often tend to be things like a director moving house, switching accountants and changing the registered office, or tweaking the SIC code after the business shifts direction. PSC information is often where new directors slip up, especially after bringing in a business partner or issuing new shares without realising it affects control. Changes or updates must be made separately and prior to completing the confirmation statement.
What happens if I miss my confirmation statement?
Not filing a confirmation statement is technically a criminal offence under the Companies Act 2006, even though there’s no late filing fee like there is with accounts.
Companies House will send a reminder by email, then a warning by letter, and if the statement is still not filed they can start strike-off proceedings to remove your company from the register. If your company is struck off, it’s removed from the register and effectively stops existing, and any remaining funds can end up going to the Crown. Directors can also face personal fines. The filing itself is quick, usually 10 minutes or so if everything’s already up to date.
Where does the confirmation statement fit in the wider checklist?
The confirmation statement is one of three annual filings every UK limited company has, alongside annual accounts and Corporation Tax. We have laid out the full deadline-ordered list in What to Do After Registering a Company in the UK: A Deadline-Ordered Checklist so you can see how the confirmation statement, accounts and Corporation Tax timings line up across your first year. If you also pay yourself a director’s salary, the rules for When Do I Need to Register for PAYE as a UK Limited Company? are separate, and if you have not yet registered for tax, Do I Need to Tell HMRC I Have Set Up a Limited Company UK? walks through it.
Want the confirmation date tracked for you?
If you don’t want to keep track of all the deadlines yourself, some services will monitor them for you and send reminders when things are due. Company formation, professional email, domain and website are all included. £244 upfront, then £94 a year.
If your company is already formed and you only want help with the website side, Duport’s website build starts from £360. If you mention this article when you get in touch, we’ll honour the £244 bundle rate or £144 website rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a confirmation statement the same as annual accounts?
No, they’re completely separate. The confirmation statement is about your company details, while accounts cover your finances.
Can I file a confirmation statement before the due date?
Yes, you can file at any point during the 12-month review period, and you can file an early statement to update changed PSC or share information without waiting for the anniversary. Depending on when you file, your next deadline might shift, so it’s worth noting the new date.
What is a “PSC” on the confirmation statement?
A PSC is a person with significant control: usually anyone owning more than 25 per cent of the shares or voting rights, or anyone who otherwise has significant influence over the company.
Does my dormant company still need to file a confirmation statement?
Yes, all UK limited companies have to file one each year, even if they haven’t traded.
Can I change my registered office at the same time as filing?
No, you can only update the SIC code and transfer shares within the confirmation statement filing. Any other updates need to be done using the correct forms and be accepted by Companies House prior to filing the confirmation statement. The confirmation statement only confirms the details are correct.
