The confirmation statement is the annual check that keeps a UK company’s public record accurate. It is short, but it carries legal weight, and getting it wrong or missing it can cause serious problems. This guide brings together everything a director needs to know in one place: what the statement is, who files it, what goes in it, when it is due, what it costs, what happens if you are late and how to file it properly. Each section links to a deeper article if you want more detail.
1. What is a confirmation statement?
A confirmation statement, form CS01, is a yearly filing to Companies House confirming that the information held on the register about your company is correct. It replaced the annual return in 2016. It confirms your registered office, registered email address, officers, people with significant control, shareholders and share capital, SIC codes and, since March 2024, that the company’s activities are lawful. It contains no financial information. For a short introduction, read our article on what a confirmation statement is.
2. Who has to file one?
Every company registered in the UK must file at least once every 12 months. That covers private limited companies, public companies, companies limited by guarantee and limited liability partnerships. Dormant companies and companies that have never traded must file too. New companies must file their first statement within 12 months of incorporation. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are not registered at Companies House and do not file. See who needs to file a confirmation statement for edge cases.
3. The key dates
Three dates matter. The confirmation statement date is the date to which the information must be correct. The review period is the 14 days following that date. The filing deadline is 14 days after the end of the review period. You can file at any time from the start of the review period to the deadline. Filing early or late does not change your next date, which is always 12 months after the previous statement date. You can find your dates on the Companies House register, as explained in how to find your confirmation statement date, and work through examples in when is my confirmation statement due.
4. What you need before you start
Gather your company name and number, your six-character authentication code, the registered office and email address, officer details, PSC details, shareholder information and your SIC codes. If you cannot find the authentication code, request a new one early because it is posted to the registered office. Directors must also have verified their identity under the new rules. Our checklist of what information you need goes through every item.
5. Section by section
The statement works through the registered office and email, the officers, the PSC information, the statement of capital and shareholders, the SIC codes and the lawful purpose declaration. At each step you confirm or update. If something has changed during the year, make sure the right form has been filed first, because the confirmation statement does not add or remove an officer by itself. Our step-by-step CS01 walkthrough shows what each screen asks.
6. How to file
You can file online through the Companies House service using your authentication code, or ask an accountant or filing agent to do it. Online filing takes 10 to 20 minutes and you receive an acceptance email, usually within hours. Paper filing is rarely used. Our guide on how to file a confirmation statement online takes you through the process, and you can order our service if you would rather hand it over.
7. What does it cost?
Companies House charges £50 for an online confirmation statement. Professional services add their own fee. At File Confirmation Statement, the online service is £100 plus VAT (£120 in total) with the Companies House fee included and filing within two working days. Our assisted service, with a call first, is £120 plus VAT (£144 total). If you need it urgently, 24-hour filing is £125 plus VAT. Late filings carry the normal fee plus any penalty charged by Companies House. For a full discussion, see how much a confirmation statement costs and how to avoid hidden costs.
8. What happens if you are late?
Failing to file on time is an offence by the company and by every officer in default. There is no automatic financial penalty, unlike late accounts, but Companies House can prosecute and can begin strike-off, which dissolves the company. Reminders come first, followed by notices of intention to strike off and a Gazette notice. You can stop the process by filing before dissolution. Read what happens if you miss the deadline, the article on late filing penalties and how to file an overdue statement. If you are already late, our late confirmation statement service can help.
9. Related filings that affect the statement
Several other filings interact with the confirmation statement. Appointments and resignations of directors, changes to the registered office, share allotments and transfers, and PSC updates should be filed when they happen. Director identity verification is now part of annual compliance, because the statement includes a declaration about it. See our guides on appointing a director, changing the registered office, allotting shares and director ID verification.
10. Common mistakes
The most common errors are filing before the review period opens, relying on an out-of-date registered email, losing the authentication code, forgetting PSC changes after a share transfer, leaving SIC codes unchanged after the business has moved on and assuming that a dormant company is exempt. Each is easy to avoid with a calendar, a monitored email address and a yearly review of the register. See our article on common confirmation statement mistakes.
11. A yearly routine that works
Put the first day of your review period in your calendar. A month earlier, check the register, confirm that every director has verified their identity and gather any changes. On the first day of the window, file. Save the acceptance email and note the next date. Twice a year, read the register. If compliance is a burden, outsource it to a service that diarises the date for you.
12. Choosing between doing it yourself and using a professional
Filing yourself costs only the statutory fee and is perfectly valid. A professional adds cost but also checks, speed and diary management. If your company is simple and you are comfortable online, file yourself. If you manage several companies, live abroad, have recent changes or simply want certainty, a fixed-fee service is good value. Our article on whether you need an accountant explores this further.
Summary
A confirmation statement is a simple yearly duty with serious consequences if ignored. Know your dates, keep the register accurate, verify your directors and file early. If you would like us to handle it, you can order online and we will file within two working days.
Quick reference table in words
Frequency: every 12 months. Review period: 14 days after the confirmation statement date. Deadline: 14 days after the review period ends. Fee: £50 online. Who files: directors or an authorised agent using the authentication code. Penalty for lateness: no automatic fine, but offences, prosecution and strike-off. Related requirements: director identity verification, PSC accuracy, registered office and email, and the lawful purpose statement.
Where to go next
If you are new, start with what a confirmation statement is and who needs to file. If you are preparing to file, read the checklist of information needed and the step-by-step CS01 guide. If you are late, read how to file an overdue statement and then use our late filing service. If you are managing several companies, set up a compliance calendar using our calendar guide, and consider using a fixed-fee provider so that every filing is handled the same way.
A note on accuracy
Rules change, particularly after the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Fees, timelines and requirements can be updated. Always check GOV.UK before you file, and speak to a regulated accountant if your situation is complex. This guide is general information and not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a confirmation statement?
A yearly filing to Companies House confirming that the information held on the register about your company is correct.
How often must I file?
At least once every 12 months, with a 14-day review period and a further 14 days to file.
How much does it cost?
The Companies House fee is £50. Our online service is £100 plus VAT including that fee.
What if I miss the deadline?
File immediately. Late filing is an offence and can lead to prosecution and strike-off.
Do dormant companies file?
Yes. Every company must file at least once every 12 months.
Related articles
- The Complete Guide to SIC Codes for UK Companies
- The Complete Guide to PSCs: People with Significant Control
- The Complete Guide to Director ID Verification in the UK
- The UK company annual compliance calendar
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