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August 12, 2026
Does Every Limited Company Need a Confirmation Statement?
If you run a UK limited company, you will generally need to file a confirmation statement with Companies House at least once every 12 months. This applies to most registered companies, including companies that are dormant or have not traded.
The confirmation statement helps Companies House ensure that the information held about your company is accurate and up to date.
A confirmation statement is a filing used to confirm that important information Companies House holds about your limited company is correct.
It replaced the former annual return and is an important part of maintaining a UK company.
Depending on your company's circumstances, the information covered can include:
You should review your company's information before submitting the statement and make any necessary updates through the appropriate Companies House filing process.
Most UK limited companies registered with Companies House are required to file a confirmation statement.
This requirement generally applies even if the company:
Therefore, having no changes to report does not normally remove the requirement to submit a confirmation statement.
Yes. A company being dormant does not normally exempt it from filing a confirmation statement.
Dormant companies still have ongoing Companies House responsibilities while they remain registered. These can include filing confirmation statements and submitting the appropriate accounts.
This is an important distinction because company accounts and confirmation statements are separate filings.
You still need to file the confirmation statement.
The purpose of the statement is not simply to report changes. It is also your opportunity to confirm that the information Companies House holds about the company remains correct.
If there have been no relevant changes, the company can generally confirm that its existing information is accurate.
A company must generally submit a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months.
Companies House uses a review period to determine when the next confirmation statement is required. You can file more frequently if necessary, but you should make sure you understand how doing so affects your company's next review period.
Your company's current filing information and deadlines can be checked through the official Companies House register.
No. They are different filing requirements.
Annual accounts provide financial information about the company and its financial position.
A confirmation statement primarily confirms that the company's registered information is accurate and up to date.
Filing your accounts does not replace your confirmation statement, and filing your confirmation statement does not replace your accounts.
Failing to submit a required confirmation statement can create compliance problems for the company and its officers.
Companies House may take action where a company fails to meet its filing obligations, and persistent non-compliance can ultimately put the company's continued registration at risk.
For this reason, company owners should keep track of both their confirmation statement deadline and accounts filing deadline.
If you own or manage a UK limited company while living overseas, the company's confirmation statement requirements generally still apply.
The location of the director or shareholder does not normally remove the company's UK filing responsibilities.
This makes confirmation statements particularly important for overseas owners who may not regularly check correspondence relating to their UK company.
You can search for your company using the Companies House online service.
Your company's public record provides information about its filing history and when its next confirmation statement is due.
Checking the register regularly can help you avoid missing important company filing deadlines.
Yes. A company can generally submit a confirmation statement before the end of its current review period.
However, filing early can affect the company's next review period, so it is worth understanding the timing before submitting an early statement.
If your company is still registered, you should not automatically assume that starting the process of closing it removes existing filing responsibilities.
Requirements can depend on the company's status and where it is in the closure or strike-off process.
If you are closing a company, check its current status and outstanding filing requirements with Companies House.
Before filing, it is useful to review your company's details and make sure that the information held by Companies House is correct.
Generally, yes. A lack of income or trading activity does not normally remove the requirement to file a confirmation statement.
Yes. Dormant companies generally continue to have confirmation statement obligations while they remain registered.
Yes. The filing confirms that the company's existing information is correct, even when nothing has changed.
No. It is a Companies House filing rather than a Corporation Tax return.
No. They are separate filings with different purposes.
So, does every limited company need a confirmation statement?
For most UK limited companies, the answer is yes. The requirement generally continues whether the company is actively trading, dormant or has had no changes during the year.
Keeping your confirmation statement up to date is a basic but important part of running a compliant UK limited company.
Because Companies House requirements and filing procedures can change, always check the latest guidance before filing.
Official guidance: Companies House – Filing your confirmation statement
