Confirmation Statement: What It Is, When It's Due, and How to File It
What Is a Confirmation Statement?
A confirmation statement (formerly the annual return) is a snapshot of your company's key information that you must file with Companies House at least once every 12 months. It confirms that the information held on the public register is accurate and up to date.
It replaced the old "annual return" in June 2016 and is governed by the Companies Act 2006, as amended.
What Information Does It Cover?
Your confirmation statement confirms the following details are correct:
- Registered office address
- Directors and secretaries (names, addresses, dates of birth)
- Shareholders and share capital (who owns what)
- People with Significant Control (PSCs) — anyone who owns 25%+ of shares or voting rights
- SIC codes (your industry classification)
- Statement of capital (total number and value of shares)
If any of this information has changed, you must file the relevant change forms before submitting your confirmation statement.
When Is It Due?
Your first confirmation statement is due 12 months after your company was incorporated. After that, it's due every 12 months from the date your last confirmation statement was made up to.
Example:
- Company incorporated: 15 March 2025
- First CS due: 15 March 2026
- Next CS due: 15 March 2027
You can file it early, but the next due date will still be calculated from the "made up to" date you chose.
How Much Does It Cost?
- Online filing: £34
- Paper filing: £62
There is no discount for filing early.
How to File
- Log in to the Companies House WebFiling service
- Select "File a confirmation statement"
- Review each section — make sure all details are current
- Pay the fee
- Submit
The process takes around 10-15 minutes if your details are up to date.
What Happens If You Don't File?
Unlike annual accounts, there is no automatic financial penalty for a late confirmation statement. However, the consequences can be far worse:
- Companies House may begin (dissolving your company)
Never miss a filing deadline
FileMinder automatically tracks every UK company compliance deadline for you.
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