By
August 12, 2026
What Is the Difference Between Annual Accounts and a Confirmation Statement?
If you run a UK limited company, annual accounts and a confirmation statement are two separate Companies House filing requirements.
The simplest difference is:
Annual accounts report your company's financial information, while a confirmation statement confirms that key information Companies House holds about your company is accurate and up to date.
Most companies need to deal with both, and filing one does not replace the other.
Annual accounts provide financial information about a limited company for a particular accounting period.
Depending on the company and the reporting requirements that apply, the accounts can contain information such as:
The exact documents required depend on factors such as the company's size and whether it qualifies for particular reporting exemptions.
Annual accounts are primarily about the financial position and performance of the company.
A confirmation statement is used to confirm that important information held by Companies House about your company is correct.
It is not a set of financial statements.
Information reviewed or reported through the confirmation statement process can include:
You should also make sure information about directors, the registered office and People with Significant Control (PSCs) is correct, although certain changes need to be reported separately rather than through the confirmation statement itself.
Here is a simple comparison:
Annual AccountsConfirmation StatementFocus on financial informationFocuses on company informationUsually filed annuallyMust generally be filed at least every 12 monthsCovers an accounting periodCovers a confirmation statement review periodCan include a balance sheet and profit and loss informationCan include SIC codes, shareholders and share capitalHas its own filing deadlineHas a separate filing deadlineRequired for dormant companies in an appropriate formRequired for dormant companiesLate filing can result in penaltiesFailure to file can result in enforcement actionDoes not replace a confirmation statementDoes not replace annual accounts
For most UK limited companies, yes.
Companies generally have an obligation to file annual accounts and a separate obligation to file confirmation statements.
Even if both filings are due around a similar time, they remain separate.
For example, submitting your annual accounts does not mean that Companies House automatically treats your confirmation statement as filed.
Likewise, filing a confirmation statement does not satisfy your annual accounts requirement.
No.
Annual accounts and confirmation statements have separate filing deadlines.
For annual accounts, the deadline depends on factors such as whether you are filing your company's first accounts and the company's accounting reference date.
For a confirmation statement, the company has a review period and must generally file at least one confirmation statement every 12 months.
Because these dates can be different, company directors should monitor both deadlines separately.
Annual accounts are concerned with the company's finances.
Depending on the reporting requirements applying to the company, they may contain:
The balance sheet provides information about the company's assets, liabilities and financial position at the end of the accounting period.
The profit and loss account shows financial performance over the accounting period, including income and expenses.
Whether particular information is publicly filed can depend on the company's size and the reporting rules or exemptions that apply.
Notes provide additional information explaining figures and accounting policies used in preparing the accounts.
Certain companies may need to include a directors' report, although exemptions can apply.
The confirmation statement is primarily concerned with the company's registered corporate information rather than its finances.
Depending on your company, you may need to review information relating to:
Not all of these details can necessarily be changed through the confirmation statement. Some changes require a separate Companies House filing.
Generally, yes.
A dormant company normally still has Companies House filing responsibilities.
An eligible dormant company may be able to submit simplified dormant company accounts, but it must generally also continue filing confirmation statements while it remains registered.
This is important because simply stopping trading does not mean you can stop filing with Companies House.
No.
There are actually several different compliance requirements that company owners can encounter:
Annual accounts are financial statements prepared for the company and filed with Companies House where required.
A Company Tax Return is submitted to HMRC for Corporation Tax purposes.
A confirmation statement is submitted to Companies House to confirm the company's registered information.
Although some information may overlap, these are separate requirements.
Companies House can impose automatic late-filing penalties when company accounts are submitted after the deadline.
The amount can increase depending on how late the accounts are, and penalties can be doubled where accounts are filed late in two successive financial years.
Persistent failure to file can also lead to further enforcement action.
Failure to file a confirmation statement can also have serious consequences.
Companies House may take enforcement action, and continued failure to comply can potentially lead to the company being struck off the register.
Directors should therefore treat both accounts and confirmation statement deadlines as important compliance dates.
Yes.
Many businesses appoint an accountant or company agent to handle annual accounts and confirmation statements.
However, directors remain responsible for ensuring that the company meets its legal obligations and that information submitted to Companies House is accurate.
Even when using an accountant, it is sensible to monitor your company's filing deadlines yourself.
You can search for your company using the official Companies House register.
Your company's public record normally displays information including:
Checking your Companies House record periodically is a simple way to identify upcoming or overdue filings.
For your annual accounts:
For your confirmation statement:
No. Annual accounts report financial information, while the confirmation statement confirms key registered information about the company.
Most UK limited companies need to deal with both annual accounts and confirmation statements, although the exact requirements can depend on the company.
No. They are separate Companies House filings.
No. A confirmation statement is not designed to report the company's profit or loss.
Yes. Accountants commonly assist companies with both filings.
Generally, yes. Dormant companies usually still file appropriate accounts and confirmation statements while they remain registered.
The difference between annual accounts and a confirmation statement is relatively simple:
Annual accounts tell Companies House about your company's finances, while the confirmation statement confirms key information about the company's structure, ownership and activities.
Both form part of the ongoing responsibilities of running a UK limited company, but they have different purposes and different deadlines.
Keeping track of both can help your company remain compliant and avoid unnecessary filing problems.
Because Companies House requirements can change, always check the latest official guidance for your company's circumstances.
Official guidance: Running a limited company – annual accounts and confirmation statements
