You can file a confirmation statement at Companies House online or by post. It’s quicker, simpler, and more secure to deliver this document online, and it only costs £34.00. Sending a paper confirmation statement by post takes longer and costs £62.00. There are also far more instances of paper filings being rejected due to errors or missing information.
The purpose of filing a confirmation statement is to provide Companies House with up-to-date information about your company (or limited liability partnership). Doing so helps to improve the accuracy of corporate data held on the public register of companies. As such, all UK-registered companies (and LLPs) must send a confirmation statement at least once per year. This is required even when there are no changes to report.
Information required to complete a confirmation statement
To complete a confirmation statement electronically, you simply need to check your company’s registered details and either confirm that they are all correct or, if necessary, update the information that is no longer accurate before filing the statement at Companies House.
The details you will need to confirm are as follows:
- Registered office address
- Officers – the director(s) and company secretary (if one is appointed)
- Address where you keep your statutory records – the registered office, SAIL address, or at Companies House
- Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes – these describe what your company or LLP does
- Statement of capital – information about the company’s share capital (share classes, share class rights, number and value of shares in issue, amount unpaid on the shares)
- Members of the company – the shareholders, guarantors, or LLP members
- People with significant control (PSCs)
- The trading status of the shares – i.e. have they been admitted to a trading market
- The company’s registered email address
You can make changes to your statement of capital, shareholder information, and SIC codes on the confirmation statement itself. However, you can’t use the confirmation statement to update the following information:
- Details of company officers
- Details of LLP members
- The registered office or SAIL address
- The address where statutory records are kept
- Details of PSCs
- The company’s registered email address
Changes to these details must be reported to Companies House on separate forms before subsequently being confirmed on the statement. You can update your company’s registered email address online through GOV.UK.
By filing the confirmation statement you are confirming that all information shown on your company’s public profile at Companies House is accurate and up to date.
Filing a confirmation statement by post
If you choose to file your confirmation statement by post, you will need to manually enter and confirm the required information on Companies House form CS01. However, you will only need to use parts 1 – 4 of the form if there have been any changes in the previous 12 months to:
- SIC codes
- shareholders
- issued shares
- the paid-up status of shares
- the trading status of shares
- the company’s exemption from keeping a register of people with significant control
When filing on paper, you will also be required to provide your full company name, company registration number, and the ‘made-up date’ of the statement. The made-up date is also known as the ‘confirmation date’. It is the date on which you confirm that all registered company information is correct.
If you need to change any other company details that you cannot update on the confirmation statement (and you want to make the changes using paper forms, rather than online), you will need to submit the relevant Companies House forms, wait for the changes to be approved, and then file your paper confirmation statement by post.
Due date for filing your confirmation statement
Confirmation statements must be completed at least once every 12 months. This 12-month period is known as the ‘confirmation period’ or ‘review period’. The due date for your company’s first confirmation statement at Companies House is the anniversary of incorporation (the date that you set up your company). You have 14 days after the due date to submit the statement to Companies House.
Example: If you register a company on 10th April 2024, the due date for your first confirmation statement is 10th April 2025. You must file it with Companies House within 14 days, by 24th April 2025.
The due date and filing deadline will remain the same every year unless you file a confirmation statement early. The due date is known as the ‘confirmation statement date’ or ‘made-up date’. This is the date on which you confirm that all registered details are correct.
Consequences of late confirmation statement filing
Company directors and designated LLP members are responsible for ensuring that confirmation statements are completed accurately and delivered to Companies House one time every year. Even if you are planning to close your company and apply to have it struck off the register, you must continue to meet all filing obligations falling due before the date on which your company will be dissolved.
Whilst Companies House does not impose any late filing penalties for confirmation statements, failure to file is an offence. Furthermore, because corporate filing history is a matter of public record, late filing could have a detrimental effect on your company’s credit rating and may damage your professional reputation.
Directors and designated LLP members also risk being personally fined in the criminal courts. Companies House may even seek to strike off the company or LLP if statutory filings remain outstanding.
If you find that you struggle to keep on top of your company filing and reporting obligations, or you simply want to make life easier by reducing your administrative duties, it would be beneficial to appoint an accountant or ask a company formation agent to assist you with these responsibilities.
Confirmation Statement Services from Quality Company Formations
Quality Company Formations’ free online Client Portal makes it easy to keep on top of your reporting obligations and file confirmation statements quickly and securely online. Our service is available to existing customers and non-customers alike. Simply log in or create a new account to manage your company online.
We also offer a Confirmation Statement Filing Service, which is available to all UK-registered limited companies and LLPs. Our specialist team will complete your confirmation statement and file it electronically at Companies House in accordance with the due date.
Our Standard Service is available for £59.99 + VAT. If you would like your confirmation statement to be filed within the next 24 hours, you can select our Express Service for £69.99 + VAT.
