Every company on the UK register — trading or dormant, large or small — must file a confirmation statement with Companies House at least once every 12 months. It is one of the simplest filings a company makes, yet it is also one of the most commonly overlooked, and the consequences of ignoring it are surprisingly serious: failing to file can lead to a fine and the company being struck off the register.
This guide explains what the confirmation statement is, what it covers, when and how to file it, and what has changed recently.
What is a confirmation statement?
The confirmation statement (form CS01) replaced the old annual return in June 2016. Despite the different name, the idea is similar: rather than reporting new information, you are confirming that the information Companies House holds about your company is accurate and up to date at a particular date.
It is not a financial filing. It contains no accounts, no profit figures and no tax information — those are dealt with separately through your annual accounts and Corporation Tax return. Think of the confirmation statement as an annual “health check” of the company’s public record.
What information does it confirm?
When you file, you are confirming that the following details on the register are correct:
- Registered office address — the company’s official address. Under the rules introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, this must be an “appropriate address” where documents can reach a person acting for the company — a PO Box on its own is no longer acceptable. See our guide to the registered office address.
- Directors and company secretary — the officers of the company and their details.
- SIC codes — the codes describing what your company actually does. If your activities have changed, the confirmation statement is where you update them. Our separate guide explains what a SIC code is.
- People with significant control (PSCs) — the individuals who ultimately own or control the company. Read more in our guide to persons of significant control.
- Shareholders and statement of capital — who holds the company’s shares and how the share capital is structured.
- Registered email address — since March 2024, every company must maintain a registered email address that Companies House uses to communicate with it. This is not published on the public register.
Since March 2024 the confirmation statement also includes a statement of lawful purpose — a confirmation that the company’s intended future activities are lawful. It sounds like a formality, and for the overwhelming majority of companies it is, but it must be ticked on every statement.
What can you update on the statement itself?
A common point of confusion: some information can be updated as part of the confirmation statement, while other changes must be reported separately before you file it.
You can update on the CS01 itself: SIC codes, the statement of capital, trading status of shares, and shareholder information.
You must file separately first: changes to directors or secretaries, a change of registered office address, and changes to PSC details. Each of these has its own Companies House form, and the confirmation statement then simply confirms the updated position.
When is it due?
Every company has a 12-month review period. Your first review period starts on the date of incorporation; each one after that starts the day after your last confirmation statement date. You must file within 14 days of the end of the review period.
Two points worth knowing:
- You must file even if nothing has changed. A “no changes” confirmation statement takes minutes, but it is still legally required.
- You can file early, and as often as you like. Filing early resets the review period. Many companies file voluntarily when something significant changes, to keep the public record current. You only pay the fee once per 12-month payment period, no matter how many statements you file in that time.
Dormant companies are not exempt — a company that has never traded must still file a confirmation statement every year. See our guide to dormant companies.
How much does it cost?
The Companies House fee is £50 for online filing or £110 on paper. Online filing is cheaper, faster and far less error-prone, and for almost every company it is the sensible route.
Identity verification and the confirmation statement
Since 18 November 2025, identity verification has been rolling out at Companies House. New directors must verify their identity before appointment, and existing directors verify as part of their company’s next confirmation statement during the 12-month transition period — so for many directors, the confirmation statement is the moment the new rules bite. If you would like help completing the checks, see our Companies House identity verification service.
What happens if you don’t file?
A company can be fined up to £5,000 and may be struck off the register if its confirmation statement is not filed. Directors can also be prosecuted for failing to meet the filing requirement.
If that happens, the company ceases to exist, and any assets it holds — money in the bank, property, equipment — pass to the Crown as bona vacantia. Recovering the position means going through company restoration, which is considerably more expensive and time-consuming than the filing that would have avoided it. If you are already in that situation, our guide to company restoration explains the options.
Confirmation statement vs annual accounts
These two filings are often confused, but they are entirely separate obligations with separate deadlines:
- The confirmation statement confirms the company’s structural details — who owns it, who runs it, where it is based and what it does.
- The annual accounts report the company’s financial position for its accounting year.
Filing one does not satisfy the other. A company must file both, every year, and keep proper records in between — our guide to keeping company records covers what to hold and for how long.
How The Company Shop can help
We prepare and file confirmation statements through our company administration service. We can also provide a Belfast registered office for Northern Ireland companies. If your confirmation statement is due or overdue, contact our Belfast team and we will explain what is needed.
This article is for general information only and reflects the position as at the date of publication. It does not constitute legal, accounting or professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. Fees, rules and deadlines may change. You should seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on anything covered here.