How to File Confirmation Statement with Companies House

Purpose of a Confirmation Statement

Every company, including dormant and non trading companies, must file a confirmation statement. The purpose of submitting the Confirmation statement (previously known as annual return) is to confirm that important company information recorded with Companies House is up-to-date and accurate at a specific date. If the recorded company information is changed, incorrect or out of date, the company must update it before or at the time of submitting the confirmation statement.

Why File a Confirmation Statement?

Filing the annual confirmation statement is a legal requirement, providing public registers with important company data.

1. Legal Compliance: Filing a Confirmation Statement is a statutory requirement, mandated by the Companies Act. Failure to comply can result in severe consequences, including financial penalties or even the dissolution of your company.
2. Transparency and Trustworthiness: Beyond mere compliance, the Confirmation Statement serves as a tool for transparency. It provides stakeholders, including clients, investors, and partners, with an overview of your company's current structure and ownership. This transparency is foundational for building and maintaining trust in the business world.
3. Accurate Record-Keeping: The Confirmation Statement acts as a snapshot of your company's details at a specific point in time. It ensures that the information held by Companies House is up-to-date and accurate.
4. To avoid Penalties and Legal Consequences: Timely filing of the Confirmation Statement is crucial to avoid penalties. Late submissions can result in fines, and repeated non-compliance may lead to more severe legal actions.
5. Preserving Good Standing with Authorities: Regularly filing the Confirmation Statement demonstrates your commitment to corporate governance and regulatory adherence. This proactive approach helps maintain a positive standing with regulatory authorities, contributing to a smooth and trustworthy relationship with governmental bodies.

What is Included in a Confirmation Statement?

Before submitting the confirmation statement, you must check your company's data registered at Companies House, which includes following:

• Company name and registered office address or Single Alternative Inspection Location (SAIL address)
• Current company officers (i.e., directors, company secretary, LLP members)
• Location of the company’s statutory registers (i.e., at the registered office or held at Companies House)
• Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes stating the principal business activities
• Name of each shareholder
• Shares held by each shareholder (class, quantity, and details of any transfers)
• Statement of capital
• Trading status of shares
• People with Significant Control (PSCs)
• Exemption from keeping a PSC register

How to File Confirmation Statement?

There are 2 ways to submit confirmation statement to Companies House:

• Online via WebFiling - You’ll need your password and authentication code. If you do not have these, you’ll need to register for online filing
• By post using form CS01 - Download and fill in parts 1 to 4 if you’re updating information about your company.

Confirmation Statement Filing Fee

The annual filing fee for submitting the confirmation statement is as below:

• Online filing fees - £13
• Paper filing via post - £40

Your payment of annual fee due based on your payment period:

• 12 months starting with the date of incorporation
• For older companies, each payment period covers 12 months and ends on the anniversary of the return date of your last annual return (AR01)

The above fees are paid annually and only once a 12 months. During each 12 months period, you can file as many confirmation statement as you want for no additional charge.

Confirmation Statement Filing Deadline

You must file a confirmation statement once a year. Your 12 months review period starts on either:

• your company incorporation date
• last confirmation statement filing date

Make sure to file your confirmation statement within 14 days of the end of your review period. For example, if your company is incorporated on 1st January 2024, your 12 month review period starts from 1 January 2024 and ends on 31st December 2024.

Overdue Confirmation Statement

Even though there is no late filing penalties for an overdue confirmation statement, you must file it without missing your confirmation statement filing deadline.

If you don't submit on time, the Companies House will issue an automatic warning to submit the late confirmation statement ASAP. Not filing confirmation statement on time and ignoring the warnings is a criminal offence. If you don't take immediate actions, you company can be struck off the register (closed down) and you will no longer be able to trade. We recommend signing up for email reminders from Companies House to ensure that your confirmation statements are filed on time.

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Filing a confirmation statement with Companies House is an essential responsibility for every company. It ensures that your company's information is accurate and up to date, helping maintain transparency and accountability.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Responsible for Filing the confirmation statement?

It is the legal responsibility of the company directors to file all statutory documents including confirmation statement to the Companies House by the deadline even if the administrative tasks are delegated to a company secretary. In an LLP, designated members are responsible for filing confirmation statements.

Can I Report Changes Using the Confirmation Statement?

Yes, you can report the changes to SIC codes, shares, and shareholders, statement of capital, trading status of the shares, and exemption from keeping a PSC register using the confirmation statement. You must report other information such as amendments to officers’ details, PSCs separately using a relevant Companies House forms.

What if There are no Changes to Report?

If there are no changes to report, filing a confirmation statement is still necessary. Simply confirm the correctness and up-to-date status of the previously filed information.

What if I Forget to File a Confirmation Statement?

If you forget to file a confirmation statement by the deadline, you should file it as soon as possible. Even though there’s no penalty for filing your confirmation statements or annual returns late, the registrar could take steps to strike off your company and company officers/LLP members may also face prosecution.

Do dormant companies have to file a confirmation statement?

All the limited companies and LLPs (Limited Liability Partnerships) registered in the United Kingdom, whether active or dormant, must deliver a confirmation statement to Companies House each year.