One missed filing can legally wipe your company off the register without any warning. A confirmation statement is a legal document that every UK limited company and LLP must file with Companies House once a year to confirm that their company details are correct and up to date. It covers your registered office address, directors, shareholders, share capital, and people with significant control (PSC).
It is not the same as your annual accounts or corporation tax return. These are three completely separate filings. Missing it is a criminal offence and can result in your company being struck off the register. So, are you sure yours is being filed correctly every single year?
What is a Confirmation Statement?
A confirmation statement is a legal document that every UK limited company and limited liability partnership (LLP) must file with Companies House once a year. It was introduced in June 2016 to replace the old annual return. The purpose is simple: to confirm that the information Companies House holds about your business is correct and up to date.
It is important to know that the confirmation statement is not the same as your annual accounts or your corporation tax return. These are three separate filings. You cannot use one to replace the other. At Vital Accountax, our Confirmation Statement service handles this for you quickly and without stress.
Who Needs to File a Confirmation Statement?
Every registered UK company must file a confirmation statement, whether it is actively trading or dormant. There are no exceptions. It does not matter if nothing has changed since last year. You still need to file.
It is your responsibility as a director to ensure this is submitted correctly and on time. It applies to limited companies, partnerships, and start-ups.
What Information is Included in a Confirmation Statement?
There are some important facts about your company that you will need to include in your confirmation statement. Every section plays a specific role in keeping your public company record accurate and legally compliant.
Key Company Details You Must Confirm
All of the following should be reviewed and confirmed on each filing, even if there has been no change.
- The address of your business (the address where you will conduct business).
- Directors/Company Secretaries (names and details)
- Shareholders and the percentage of ownership held by the shareholders.
- Persons with Significant Control (PSC) (Anyone who has more than 25% of the control of the company)
- SIC codes (the codes that describe what your business does)
- Share capital (the total value of shares in your company)
PSC details are especially important. Significant Control refers to individuals or organisations that own or control over 25% of the shares or voting rights. It’s a requirement in anti-money laundering (AML) regulations to increase transparency within UK businesses.
Should any of these details change between this and the following year, you will need to update them prior to submission. Your bookkeeping service keeps your records arranged throughout the year making it easy and convenient to update your confirmation statement.
When is a Confirmation Statement Due?
You must file your confirmation statement at least once every 12 months. The due date is based on the anniversary of your company’s incorporation date or the date you last filed your confirmation statement.
You have a 14-day window after the end of your 12-month review period to submit. You can also file early if you prefer. However, filing early resets your confirmation date to the new filing date so that the next one will be due 12 months from that date.
The filing fee is £34 online or £62 by post. Filing online is faster and costs less, so most directors go with the online route.
How to File a Confirmation Statement Step by Step
Filing your confirmation statement online is the most common method. Here are the steps to follow through the Companies House WebFiling portal.
Steps to Complete Your Filing
Following each step carefully helps you avoid errors that could delay your filing or affect your company registration.
- Step 1: Gather all your company information, including any changes made in the past year
- Step 2: Log in to your Companies House account at gov.uk
- Step 3: Go to the “File Confirmation Statement” section
- Step 4: Review the details shown and update anything that has changed
- Step 5: Pay the filing fee online
- Step 6: Submit the statement and save your confirmation email as proof
If you would prefer a professional to handle this, our Accounts and CT600 service team at Vital Accountax can file your confirmation statement alongside your other annual obligations.
What Happens if You Miss the Deadline?
It’s not just a matter of an administrative error. It is a criminal offence if you fail to file. Your company can be struck off the register by Companies House and dissolved for good. A director may also be prosecuted or disqualified.
Unlike some other filings, there is no direct financial fine just for being late with the confirmation statement. But losing your company entirely is a far worse outcome than any fine. The safest approach is always to file on time, every single year.
Confirmation Statement vs Annual Accounts: What is the Difference?
A lot of directors mix these two up, but they serve very different purposes. The confirmation statement sets out your company’s structure, including who owns it and who runs it. Your annual accounts, on the other hand, show your financial performance for the year, including profit, loss, and assets.
Both are separate legal requirements with different deadlines. You need to file both every year without fail. If you need help staying on top of your financial filings, our Self Assessment and VAT Returns services can take the pressure off completely.
Do You Need an Accountant to File a Confirmation Statement?
Technically, you can file the confirmation statement yourself. It is not as complex as a corporation tax return. However, many business owners prefer to have their accountant handle all their annual statutory filings. This saves time and reduces the chance of costly errors.
At Vital Accountax, we offer a dedicated Confirmation Statement service that can be bundled with your payroll, CIS Returns, and other statutory filings. We make sure nothing gets missed so you can focus fully on running your business.
Stay Compliant With Vital Accountax
The confirmation statement is one of the most important filings a UK director must complete each year. It keeps your company records accurate, your business’s legal standing intact, and Companies House fully informed of any changes to your structure or ownership.
Whether you are a new startup or an established limited company, Vital Accountax is here to make company compliance easy. From Company Formation to CGT Returns, we cover every filing you need. Get in touch with us today and let us handle the paperwork while you focus on growing your business.
