The short answer
A confirmation statement is an annual check that the information Companies House holds about your company is correct. It costs £50 online, must be filed within 14 days after the end of your review period, and every company has to file one even if nothing has changed. Failing to file can lead to prosecution and the company being struck off.
Checked 26 October 2026. Rates for 2026/27.Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee | £50 online |
| Filing frequency | At least every 12 months |
| Filing window | Up to 14 days after the review date |
| Who must file | Every UK limited company |
| Late filing | A criminal offence for the company and its officers |
What a confirmation statement is
A confirmation statement replaced the old annual return. It is a short filing that confirms the company’s key details are up to date on the public register. It covers the registered office, the directors, the shareholders and share capital, the people with significant control, the SIC codes and the location of company registers.
It is not a financial document. It does not contain your accounts, and it has nothing to do with HMRC. It is purely a Companies House filing that shows the information on the register is accurate. Even a dormant company or a company with no activity must file one every year.
When it is due
Your first confirmation statement is due within 12 months of incorporation, with a 14-day period after that to file. After that, one is due every 12 months. The date is the review period end date, and you can find it in your Companies House online service or your email reminder.
You can file at any time during the 12-month review period, not just at the end. Many companies file early to keep it out of the way. If you file early, your next review period starts from that filing date, so you get a new 12-month cycle. Diarise the date, because Companies House does not always send reminders and the penalty for missing it is serious.
How much it costs
The Companies House fee to file a confirmation statement online is £50. A paper filing costs more, at £110, and takes longer. Companies House fees have risen in recent years to fund its enlarged powers under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, and they can change again, so check the current fee on GOV.UK.
If you use an accountant or a company secretarial service, you will pay their fee in addition. Many packages, including our monthly plans, include the confirmation statement filing, so there is no separate charge from us beyond the Companies House fee.
What you must check and confirm
Before you file, review each section for accuracy.
The registered office address and whether it is still correct.
The names, dates of birth, nationality, occupation and service addresses of the directors.
The shareholders, the number and type of shares held, and the total share capital.
The people with significant control, such as anyone owning more than 25% of the shares or voting rights.
The SIC codes that describe the company’s activities.
Where the statutory registers are kept.
If anything has changed since the last filing, you should normally already have filed the specific change, such as a new director or a change of address. The confirmation statement then confirms that the register is correct as it stands.
How to file online
To file, sign in to the Companies House online service with your company number and authentication code. Choose the option to file a confirmation statement, answer the questions on each section, confirm the information is correct, and pay the fee online by card or Companies House account. You receive an email confirmation when the filing is accepted.
If the authentication code is lost, you can request a new one, which is sent by post to the registered office and may take several days. This is one reason to start well before the deadline. Your accountant can file for you using the code, and many do as part of their service.
What happens if you are late
If you miss the deadline, Companies House sends a reminder. If you still do not file, it can begin proceedings to strike the company off the register, and it can prosecute the company and its directors. Failing to deliver a confirmation statement is a criminal offence, and the fine can be up to £5,000 in the magistrates’ court.
A struck-off company ceases to exist, its assets go to the Crown, and the directors can face personal consequences. A restoration costs money and time. It is far easier to file on time, so treat the date as seriously as your tax deadlines.
Common mistakes
Typical mistakes include confusing the confirmation statement with annual accounts, forgetting to update changes in the register before filing, losing the authentication code, and relying on email reminders that never arrived because the contact details were out of date. Another mistake is believing that a dormant company is exempt.
Check that the email address for Companies House notices is correct and monitored. Set a calendar reminder a month before the due date, and ask your accountant to confirm they will file it. Finally, keep the filing confirmation with your company records.
Confirmation statement versus annual accounts
Many new directors mix up the confirmation statement with the annual accounts, but they are different filings. The confirmation statement is a short check of company details at Companies House, whereas annual accounts show the company’s financial position and are also filed at Companies House, with the Corporation Tax return filed separately at HMRC. Each has its own deadline and its own penalty regime.
In practice, a typical company has four recurring obligations each year: the confirmation statement, the annual accounts, the Corporation Tax return and payment, and the director’s Self Assessment. A single calendar covering all four prevents most missed deadlines, and a fixed-fee accountant can maintain it for you.
Keeping your registers in order
The confirmation statement relies on the company’s statutory registers being accurate. These include the register of members, the register of directors and the register of people with significant control. Most small companies keep them electronically, and many accounting and company secretarial tools generate them automatically.
Review the registers before filing. If you notice that a share transfer was never recorded, or that a director’s address changed months ago, fix it first. The statement is a declaration that the information is correct, so a careless filing can lead to inaccurate public records and possible penalties.
A simple annual routine
The easiest way to stay compliant is to build a routine. Choose a date each year, perhaps a month before the review period ends, to review the registers and file the statement. Put the date in your calendar and in your accountant’s reminder system. Check that Companies House has your current email address, so notices reach the right person. When the filing is accepted, save the confirmation email and update your company records. Done in this way, the statement takes about fifteen minutes each year, and the risk of a missed deadline almost disappears.
The bottom line
A confirmation statement is an annual check that the information Companies House holds about your company is correct. If you would rather not do it alone, our fixed fees start at £45.83 + VAT a month.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a confirmation statement?
£50 if filed online with Companies House. A paper filing costs £110.
Do dormant companies have to file a confirmation statement?
Yes. Every UK limited company must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months, even if it has not traded.
What is the deadline to file a confirmation statement?
You have 14 days after the end of your review period. You can file at any point during the 12-month review period, and the period then restarts.
What if the information has not changed?
You still file the confirmation statement. You confirm that the information on the register is correct and that no changes are needed.
Can my accountant file the confirmation statement?
Yes, with your authentication code. Many accountants include the filing as part of a fixed monthly package, so you only pay the Companies House fee.
Can I change the date of my confirmation statement?
Yes, by filing early you start a new 12-month review period from the date you file. You cannot extend a review period, so file by the due date if you want to keep the same cycle.
This article is general information, not personal tax or financial advice. Rules and rates change, so check GOV.UK or speak to an accountant about your circumstances. Rates shown are for 2026/27, last checked November 2026.