By
August 12, 2026
How Do I File a UK Confirmation Statement?
If you run a UK limited company, you generally need to file a confirmation statement with Companies House at least once every 12 months. The filing confirms that the information Companies House holds about your company is accurate and up to date.
For most businesses, filing a confirmation statement online is relatively straightforward. This guide explains what you need, what to check and how to complete the process.
A confirmation statement is an official Companies House filing used to confirm that your company's registered information is correct.
It replaced the old annual return and must generally be filed even if nothing about the company has changed. Dormant and non-trading companies are also normally required to file one.
Before starting your confirmation statement, you should have your company information and filing details available.
Depending on the filing service you use, you may need:
Companies House now requires directors to verify their identity. For a company's next confirmation statement, the relevant personal code must be provided for each director, and Companies House will not accept the confirmation statement until all directors have completed the required identity verification.
For most companies, filing online is the quickest option.
Before filing, search for your company on the Companies House register and review the information currently recorded.
Check details such as:
Companies House advises companies to update incorrect or outdated information before filing the confirmation statement where the relevant information cannot be changed through the filing service being used.
If information has changed, make the required updates using the appropriate Companies House service.
Certain information can be updated as part of the confirmation statement process, including information relating to SIC codes, statement of capital, trading status of shares and shareholder information. Other company changes may need to be reported separately.
Do not simply confirm information you know is incorrect.
Identity verification is now an important part of Companies House compliance.
Current directors need to verify their identities and receive a unique Companies House personal code. For the company's next confirmation statement, you need to provide the personal code for each director and confirm that the directors have verified their identities.
A director generally only needs to verify their identity once and can then use the same personal code for relevant Companies House roles and appointments.
You can file electronically using the Companies House online services.
A streamlined confirmation statement service is available for certain private companies limited by shares. Companies that do not meet its eligibility requirements can use WebFiling instead.
File a confirmation statement with Companies House
During the filing process, carefully review the information relating to your company.
You are confirming that the information Companies House requires you to maintain is accurate and up to date.
If nothing has changed, you still need to complete the confirmation statement.
When required, enter the Companies House personal code for each current director.
Companies House states that a company's confirmation statement cannot be accepted until all directors have completed their identity verification requirements.
If your company has not already supplied a registered email address, you will need to provide one.
Companies House uses this address to communicate with the company, but the registered email address is not published on the public register.
Once you are satisfied that the information is correct, submit the confirmation statement and pay the applicable filing fee.
As of 2026, the standard online annual confirmation statement fee is £50. Companies House operates this as an annual fee rather than charging again for every confirmation statement submitted during the same payment period.
Because fees can change, check the current Companies House fee before filing.
Once the filing has been accepted, keep a copy or record of the submission for your company records.
You can also check your company's filing history on the Companies House register to confirm that the confirmation statement has been recorded.
Yes. Companies can still file a confirmation statement using the appropriate CS01 paper form.
However, filing online is generally quicker and cheaper.
As of 2026, Companies House states that filing a confirmation statement on paper costs £110, compared with £50 through the relevant online service.
For most companies, online filing is therefore the more convenient option.
Yes. An accountant or company formation agent can file a confirmation statement on behalf of a company.
Directors can share their Companies House personal codes with trusted people who need them to make filings on their behalf, such as an accountant or authorised agent.
However, company directors remain responsible for ensuring that the company's statutory obligations are met.
You still need to file.
A common misconception is that a confirmation statement is only necessary when company information has changed.
In reality, the statement is used to confirm that the existing information is correct, so a company generally needs to file even when there have been no changes during the review period.
Yes. Dormant and non-trading companies generally still need to file confirmation statements while they remain registered at Companies House.
Dormant status does not normally remove this filing requirement.
A company generally needs to file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months.
The company has a review period, and the confirmation statement must be filed within the applicable filing period after that review period ends.
You can file more frequently if necessary, but filing early can affect the dates of subsequent review periods.
No.
A confirmation statement and annual accounts are separate Companies House requirements.
Your annual accounts provide financial information about the company.
Your confirmation statement confirms that key information held on the Companies House register is accurate.
Submitting one does not replace the requirement to submit the other.
Before submitting your confirmation statement, check that you have:
Yes. Company directors can generally file the confirmation statement themselves through Companies House without using an accountant.
As of 2026, Companies House lists the annual fee as £50 for the relevant online service and £110 for paper filing.
Always check the latest Companies House fees before submitting.
For online filing services that require it, yes. The company authentication code acts as an important security credential for Companies House filings.
Yes. Mandatory Companies House identity verification requirements are now in effect. Current directors need to provide their personal codes as part of the company's next confirmation statement process.
Yes. In fact, you still generally need to file the confirmation statement even when there are no changes to report.
Filing a UK confirmation statement is an important part of keeping a limited company compliant with Companies House.
For most companies, the process involves checking the company's registered information, making any necessary updates, ensuring directors have completed identity verification, providing the required personal codes and submitting the statement online.
Even if your company is dormant or nothing has changed during the year, you generally still need to file.
For the latest requirements, fees and filing procedures, always check official Companies House guidance before submitting your confirmation statement.
Official Companies House guidance on filing a confirmation statement
