Confirmation Statement: deadlines, what to file, and what changes need declaring

What is a Confirmation Statement?

A confirmation statement (form CS01) is a legal requirement for all UK limited companies, including dormant ones. It acts as a snapshot of your company's details, confirming that the information held by Companies House is correct. This filing is separate from your annual accounts, which report on your company's financial performance.

The purpose of the confirmation statement is to maintain transparency and ensure the integrity of the public register. Even if nothing about your company has changed during the year, you must still file a confirmation statement.

Deadlines and Fees

You must file your confirmation statement at least once every 12 months. The deadline for submission is 14 days after the end of your company's "review period".

The review period typically starts:

• On the date your company was incorporated (for your first statement).
• 12 months from the date of your last confirmation statement.

Companies House will send reminders, but it is your legal responsibility to ensure timely filing. You can check your specific filing deadline on the Companies House company information register.

Filing Fees

From 1 February 2026, the Companies House fee for filing a confirmation statement online is £50. If you choose to file by post using a paper form CS01, the fee is £110. You only pay this fee once per 12-month review period, regardless of how many times you update your records within that period.

What Information Needs Declaring?

The confirmation statement requires you to confirm or update various details about your company.

Key information to include or verify:

• Registered office address: Your company's official address.
• Directors and company secretary (if applicable): Details of all appointed directors and any company secretary.
• People with Significant Control (PSC): Information about individuals or entities who own or control more than 25% of the company's shares or voting rights, or otherwise exercise significant influence.
• Shareholders and share capital: A snapshot of your company's shares, including the total number of shares, their nominal value, and details of each shareholder.
• Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes: These codes describe your company's main business activities.
• Registered email address: You must provide a registered email address for your company if you haven't already. This is used for official communications and is not published on the public register.
• Lawful purpose statement: You must confirm that your company's intended future activities are lawful.

How to File Your Confirmation Statement

Filing your confirmation statement online is generally quicker and cheaper than by post.

Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Gather your details: Have your company number and Companies House authentication code ready. If you don't have an authentication code, you can request a reminder, which Companies House will send by post.
2. Log in to Companies House WebFiling: Visit the official Companies House website and log in to your online account. If you don't have an account, you'll need to register.
3. Select "File a confirmation statement": Once logged in, find the option to file your confirmation statement (often labelled "File a confirmation statement" or "File a CS01").
4. Review company information: Carefully check all the pre-filled information displayed by Companies House, including your registered office, directors, PSCs, share capital, and SIC codes.
5. Update any changes: If any information is incorrect or has changed, you must update it. Some changes can be made directly within the online filing process, while others may require separate forms to be filed first. For example, changes to directors or your registered office address should generally be reported within 14 days of the change.
6. Confirm identity verification: All company directors and PSCs must verify their identity with Companies House. On your confirmation statement, you'll need to provide a unique Companies House personal code for each director and tick a statement confirming their identity has been verified. Companies House will not accept your statement until all directors have verified their identity.
7. Declare lawful purpose: Confirm that your company's intended future activities are lawful.
8. Pay the filing fee: The system will prompt you to pay the £50 online filing fee (figures for illustration — check current rates). You can typically pay by card.
9. Submit: Once everything is confirmed and the fee is paid, submit your confirmation statement. You should receive instant confirmation of receipt.

Common mistakes

• Missing the deadline: Failing to file within 14 days of the review period end can lead to penalties and even your company being struck off the register.
• Not updating changes promptly: Some changes, like directors or registered office, need to be reported within specific timeframes, not just on the confirmation statement.
• Confusing it with annual accounts: The confirmation statement is separate from your company's financial accounts.
• Incorrect PSC information: Failing to update People with Significant Control details after ownership changes is a common error.
• Not verifying identity: From November 2025, directors and PSCs must verify their identity, and this is a prerequisite for filing the confirmation statement.