Missing a Companies House deadline is easy to do and surprisingly costly, so it is worth understanding exactly how the confirmation statement timeline works. Many directors confuse the confirmation statement date, the review period and the filing deadline, and end up filing too early or too late. This guide explains all three and shows how to work out when your confirmation statement is due.
The three dates you need to know
Every confirmation statement involves three related dates.
- The confirmation statement date: the date to which the information in the statement must be correct.
- The review period: the 14 days that start the day after the confirmation statement date.
- The filing deadline: 14 days after the end of the review period.
In practice, this means that once your confirmation statement date has passed, you have 28 days in total in which to file, and you can file at any time from the start of the review period.
How to find your date
The simplest way is to search for your company on the Companies House register and open the overview page. Under the heading for confirmation statements you will see the next statement date and the date by which it must be filed. If the company is new, your first confirmation statement date is 12 months after your incorporation date. After that, each date is 12 months after the previous statement date, regardless of when you actually filed. Our guide to finding your confirmation statement date explains this in more detail.
A worked example
Imagine your company was incorporated on 10 March 2025. Your first confirmation statement date is 10 March 2026. The review period runs from 11 March to 24 March 2026, and the filing deadline is 7 April 2026. Notice that the deadline is measured from the end of the review period, which is why people sometimes think they have longer than they do.
If you filed on 15 March 2026, your next confirmation statement date would still be 10 March 2027, not 15 March. Filing early or late does not move the date.
Can I file early?
Yes. You can submit your statement any time from the start of the review period. You cannot file before the review period opens. Many directors prefer to file on day one of the review period so it is out of the way. If you try to file before that date, Companies House will reject the submission. Read more in our article on filing early.
What if the deadline falls on a weekend or bank holiday?
The date is the date. Companies House online filing runs around the clock, so if the deadline falls on a Saturday or bank holiday you must still file by the end of that day. There is no automatic extension. To be safe, aim to file a week before. See our guide on bank holidays and weekends.
What happens if you miss it?
If you do not file within the deadline, the company is in default of its legal obligation. Companies House will usually send reminder letters and notices, and may start the process to strike the company off the register. Directors can be prosecuted and fined. See what happens if you miss the deadline, and if you are already late use our late confirmation statement service.
Reminders from Companies House
Companies House sends email reminders to the registered email address about a month before the deadline. If your email address is outdated, you might never see them, which is a common cause of late filing. Make sure the registered email is monitored. Our article on reminder emails explains which messages are genuine and which might be scams.
How accountants help
A good accountant or filing agent will diarise your date and file before the deadline. If you use us, we will work from your company name, check your details and file within two working days of receiving your information. You can order online whenever you are ready.
Tips for never missing it
- Put the review period start date in your calendar with a reminder.
- Use a shared company email address for the registered email.
- Check your PSCs and shareholders before the review period starts.
- Consider using a professional service with a fixed fee.
Why the dates are set up this way
The system exists so that the public register is checked at regular intervals. Companies House does not want to be told only when something changes, because many changes go unreported. By forcing an annual confirmation, it gives creditors, banks, suppliers and the public some assurance that the details they see are fresh. The two-stage structure, a review period followed by a deadline, gives you a predictable window in which to check your records and file, rather than a single date that is easy to miss.
Common mistakes with the timeline
The most frequent error is assuming that the deadline is 12 months from the date you last filed. It is not. The date is anchored to the previous confirmation statement date, and filing early or late has no effect on it. Another mistake is counting the 14 days from the confirmation statement date and forgetting that a second 14-day period follows. A third is relying on a single reminder email sent to an old address. Directors who have moved house, changed their email provider or left the company in the hands of a former bookkeeper are particularly exposed.
What if the company has just been formed?
For a brand-new company the first confirmation statement date is exactly 12 months after the date of incorporation. If you incorporated on 1 June, your first date is 1 June of the following year, the review period ends on 15 June, and the deadline is 29 June. Plan for it in your first-year compliance calendar, alongside your first annual accounts and corporation tax return. Our compliance calendar guide shows how all the dates fit together.
What if I have changed accountant?
When a company changes accountant, the confirmation statement is often forgotten in the handover. Ask your outgoing accountant for the date of the last statement and confirm who holds the company authentication code. If you are not sure, you can check the register yourself or ask us to look at it for you. We can take over the diary and file on your behalf each year.
Building a safety margin
Because the penalties for missing the deadline are serious, it makes sense to build a safety margin. File in the first week of the review period, not the last. If something goes wrong, for example a rejected submission, a lost authentication code or a missing PSC detail, you still have time to put it right without being in default. Directors who file at the last minute are the ones who find themselves searching for answers on the final day.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I have to file a confirmation statement?
You have 14 days after the end of the 14-day review period, so 28 days after the confirmation statement date.
Does my deadline change if I file early?
No. Your next confirmation statement date stays 12 months after the previous date, however early or late you file.
Is there a grace period for late filing?
No. After the filing deadline the company is in default, although enforcement action usually starts with reminders.
Where do I find my deadline?
On the Companies House register, in the overview page of your company, and in the reminder emails sent to the registered email address.
Summary
Know your confirmation statement date, remember the review period and treat the filing deadline as a hard stop. If you want to remove the worry completely, let us handle it.
Related articles
- What Happens If You Miss the Confirmation Statement Deadline?
- Confirmation Statement Late Filing Penalties: What You Could Face
- Can Companies House Strike Off Your Company for a Late Confirmation Statement?
- The complete confirmation statement guide
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