What Is a Confirmation Statement?

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If you run a limited company, one of the smaller jobs on your annual to-do list is the confirmation statement. It’s quick, it’s important, and missing it can have consequences out of all proportion to how little effort it takes. Here’s what it is, when it’s due and what you need to check.

The basics

A confirmation statement is how you tell Companies House that the information it holds about your company is up to date. It replaced the old annual return in 2016.

Every limited company has to file one at least once every 12 months, including dormant and non-trading companies. LLPs have a similar requirement and file their own version of the confirmation statement.

It’s a confirmation, not a full account of your year. You’re not filing figures or a tax return here. You’re checking that the information Companies House holds about your company is correct and confirming that it is up to date.

What does a confirmation statement cover?

When you file a confirmation statement, usually online or using form CS01, you’re checking information on the public register, including:

your registered office address and registered email address
the nature of your business (your SIC codes)
your directors and company secretary, if you have one
your shareholders and statement of capital, for companies with shares
your people with significant control (PSCs), which can include people who hold more than 25% of the company’s shares or voting rights

There’s an important distinction here. You can update some information through the confirmation statement, including your SIC codes, shareholder information and statement of capital.

Other changes need to be reported to Companies House separately. For example, if you appoint or remove a director or change your registered office address, you should tell Companies House when the change happens rather than waiting for the next confirmation statement.

When is a confirmation statement due?

Your company has a 12-month review period. For a new company, this starts on the date it was incorporated. After that, a new review period usually starts the day after the confirmation date of your previous confirmation statement.

You must file your confirmation statement within 14 days of the end of the review period.

You don’t have to wait until the end of the 12 months. You can file a confirmation statement earlier if you want to, which starts a new review period.

Your confirmation statement date doesn’t necessarily line up with your accounts or Corporation Tax deadlines, so it can be an easy one to lose track of. You can check your company’s next confirmation statement date on its Companies House record.

What’s changed recently?

Company law has changed significantly under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, and there are now a few extra requirements to be aware of.

Companies need to provide Companies House with a registered email address. This isn’t shown on the public register, but Companies House uses it to contact the company.

Each confirmation statement must also include a statement confirming that the company’s intended future activities are lawful.

Identity verification is another important change. Since 18 November 2025, identity verification has been a legal requirement for company directors and people with significant control.

Directors receive a Companies House personal code when they verify their identity. A company will not be able to file its confirmation statement unless all of its directors have completed the required identity verification and the necessary personal codes are provided as part of the filing process.

PSCs also have identity-verification requirements, although the process and deadlines for providing their personal codes are different.

How much does a confirmation statement cost?

From 1 February 2026, it costs £50 to file digitally and £110 to file on paper, so filing online is both quicker and cheaper.

The fee is normally payable with the first confirmation statement you file during your 12-month payment period. If you choose to file another confirmation statement within the same payment period, you don’t normally pay the fee again.

What happens if you don’t file?

This is where a small job can become a serious one.

Failing to file a confirmation statement is a criminal offence. The company and its directors can be prosecuted, and the company could face a financial penalty of up to £5,000.

Companies House can also take steps to strike the company off the register. If a company is struck off, it stops existing as a legal entity and its assets can pass to the Crown.

For the sake of a relatively straightforward annual filing, that’s a steep price.

The bigger practical risk for most businesses isn’t deciding not to file. It’s simply forgetting. The confirmation statement has its own deadline, separate from your accounts and tax returns, which makes it another date that needs to be monitored.

Confirmation statement FAQs

When is my confirmation statement due?

Your company’s review period usually ends 12 months after it was incorporated or 12 months after the confirmation date of its previous confirmation statement. You then have 14 days to file. You can check the exact date on your company’s Companies House record.

Do I need to file a confirmation statement if nothing has changed?

Yes. Every company must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months, even if none of its details have changed. Dormant and non-trading companies still need to file one.

What happens if my confirmation statement is late?

Failing to file a confirmation statement can lead to prosecution or a financial penalty of up to £5,000. Companies House may also take action to strike the company off the register. If yours is overdue, it’s worth dealing with it as soon as possible.

Can I change my directors on a confirmation statement?

No. Changes to directors need to be reported separately to Companies House. The confirmation statement can be used to update certain information, including SIC codes, shareholder information and the company’s statement of capital.

How much does a confirmation statement cost?

From 1 February 2026, the Companies House fee is £50 if you file digitally and £110 if you file on paper. You normally only pay the fee with the first confirmation statement filed during the company’s 12-month payment period.

Do directors need to verify their identity before a confirmation statement can be filed?

Yes. Identity verification is now a legal requirement. Directors receive a Companies House personal code when they verify their identity, and the relevant code needs to be provided to Companies House. A company will not be able to file its confirmation statement unless all of its directors have completed the required identity verification.

Is a confirmation statement the same as company accounts?

No. They’re completely separate filings. Annual accounts report the company’s financial information. A confirmation statement confirms that key information Companies House holds about the company is correct and up to date. A company will normally need to file both.

Is a confirmation statement the same as the old annual return?

The confirmation statement replaced the annual return in 2016. They serve a similar purpose, but the confirmation statement is based on checking and confirming the information Companies House already holds about the company.

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Here’s how we help

For our limited company clients, the confirmation statement is one of the things we keep an eye on so you don’t have to. We track the date, check the register is right, and file it on time, and we flag anything that needs updating while we’re there.

If you’re already working with another accountant, moving over is more straightforward than most people expect, and our guide on how to change accountants walks you through it.