Every UK limited company and LLP has to file a confirmation statement at Companies House at least once a year, whether or not the business is actually trading. It is one of the cheapest, most routine filings a company makes, and also one of the easiest to forget. This guide covers the current fee, the deadline, and what actually happens if you miss it.
Quick Answer
A confirmation statement, form CS01, confirms that the information Companies House holds about your company is still accurate. It must be filed at least once every 12 months, within 14 days of the end of your review period. The current fee is £50 online or £110 by paper, following the fee change on 1 February 2026, and it covers the whole 12-month period regardless of how many times you file within it.
What Is a Confirmation Statement?
A confirmation statement is not your accounts, and it is not a tax return. It is a snapshot confirming that your company’s registered details, directors, shareholders, People with Significant Control, registered office and SIC code, are still correct on the public register. It replaced the old Annual Return in June 2016. If something has changed, you use the confirmation statement to update the record; if nothing has changed, you simply confirm that.
When Is Your Confirmation Statement Due?
Your first review period runs for 12 months from the date of incorporation. After that, each new period runs 12 months from the date of your last confirmation statement. You then have 14 days after the end of that review period to file. For example, if your review period ends on 15 January, your filing deadline is 29 January.
You can file at any point during your review period rather than waiting until the deadline, though filing early starts a fresh 12-month period from that filing date, which can bring your next deadline forward sooner than expected.
Current Confirmation Statement Fee
| Filing Method | Fee (from 1 February 2026) |
|---|---|
| Online, via WebFiling or software | £50 |
| Paper, form CS01 by post | £110 |
The fee covers the entire 12-month payment period, not each individual filing. If your company’s details change more than once during the year, you can file additional confirmation statements within that same period without paying again.
Do Dormant Companies Need to File One?
Yes. Every company on the register, including dormant and non-trading companies, must file a confirmation statement every 12 months, even if nothing has changed. There is no exemption for a company that has never traded. This sits alongside, but is separate from, dormant company accounts filed with Companies House.
What Information Does the CS01 Cover?
- Registered office address
- Directors and company secretary details
- Shareholder and share capital information
- People with Significant Control (PSC) details
- SIC code, describing the company’s business activity
- Registered email address and a lawful purpose statement, both required since the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
The confirmation statement is not the correct form to make these changes in the first place. If your registered office, directors, or SIC code have changed, you file the specific update first, through the relevant Companies House filing, and the confirmation statement then confirms the corrected record. This is a common point of confusion covered in more depth in our guide to registering and managing a company with Companies House.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?
Unlike late annual accounts, there is no automatic sliding-scale financial penalty for a late confirmation statement. That does not make it low risk. Missing the deadline is a criminal offence for the company and its officers, and Companies House can take escalating action:
- A reminder shortly after the review period ends, followed by a formal warning notice, typically giving around 28 days to file
- Under powers granted by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, a financial penalty ranging from £250 to £2,000 depending on the circumstances
- Persistent failure to file, usually after several months overdue, leads to strike-off proceedings, with a notice published in the Gazette
- If unresolved within two months of that notice, the company is dissolved, and any remaining assets pass to the Crown
- The court can also fine the company and its officers up to £5,000 for the underlying offence, and directors of struck-off companies can face disqualification for up to 15 years in serious cases
How to File a Confirmation Statement
- Log into Companies House WebFiling or your accounting software’s filing service
- Review each section: registered office, officers, shareholders, PSC details, SIC code, and registered email address
- Confirm the lawful purpose statement
- Update any section that has changed using the correct standalone filing first, if needed
- Pay the £50 online fee and submit
Since November 2025, directors must also have completed identity verification with Companies House before a confirmation statement can be filed, in line with the wider identity checks now required across company filings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a confirmation statement cost in the UK?
£50 if filed online, or £110 by paper, following the fee change on 1 February 2026. This covers the full 12-month payment period, however many times you file within it.
How often do I need to file a confirmation statement?
At least once every 12 months, within 14 days of the end of your review period.
Do dormant companies need to file a confirmation statement?
Yes. Every UK company, including dormant ones, must file a confirmation statement annually, even if nothing has changed.
What happens if I miss the confirmation statement deadline?
There is no automatic fine, but Companies House can issue a financial penalty of £250 to £2,000, and persistent failure to file leads to strike-off and dissolution of the company.
Can I update my company’s registered office using the confirmation statement?
No. Changes like registered office, directors, or SIC code need their own specific filing first. The confirmation statement then confirms the updated details are correct.
Key Takeaways
- Every UK company and LLP must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months, within 14 days of the review period ending
- The fee is £50 online or £110 by paper, covering the whole 12-month period
- Dormant companies must still file, even with no changes
- Missing the deadline is a criminal offence and can lead to a penalty of £250 to £2,000 or strike-off
- Directors must complete identity verification before filing
About the Author
This guide was prepared by the Business Mine editorial team, who research and write practical UK business, tax and finance guides. Information is checked against current Companies House guidance at the time of publication. This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice; for advice specific to your circumstances, consult a qualified accountant.
