How to File Your First Confirmation Statement

Filing your first Confirmation Statement is a legal milestone for every UK limited company. Get it wrong, and you risk fines, prosecution, or even having your company struck off the register. Get it right, and you’ll stay compliant—and make future filings much easier. This guide strips away the jargon and tells you exactly what to do, when, how, and why, with clear explanations, practical steps, and advice on avoiding common traps.

A Confirmation Statement (form CS01) is an annual filing required by Companies House for every UK limited company and LLP. It replaced the old Annual Return (AR01) in June 2016. The statement confirms that the information Companies House holds about your company is accurate and up to date. This includes details about your registered office, directors, shareholders, people with significant control (PSCs), and share capital.

Filing a Confirmation Statement isn’t optional—it’s a statutory obligation under the Companies Act 2006. Failing to file on time can lead to your company being struck off the register, hefty fines, and even prosecution of directors. But it’s not just a box-ticking exercise; accurate, timely filings maintain your company’s legal standing and credibility, which is crucial if you want to open a bank account, secure funding, or build trust with suppliers.

Many new business owners mistakenly believe the Confirmation Statement is a tax return or an accounts submission. It isn’t. It’s purely about confirming company details. However, it’s just as important as your annual accounts, and both have separate deadlines. The Confirmation Statement is public record—anyone can view it, including customers, investors, and competitors—so accuracy matters.

The deadline for your first Confirmation Statement is not linked to your company's financial year or tax year. Instead, it's set by your 'incorporation date'—the date Companies House officially registered your company. Your first Confirmation Statement is due within 12 months of this date, but you have an additional 14-day filing window, making the final deadline 14 days after your review period ends.

For example, if your company was incorporated on 1 April 2024, your review period ends on 31 March 2025. Your first Confirmation Statement must be filed by 14 April 2025. You can file earlier if you wish, but not after the deadline. Missing the deadline can trigger late penalties, warnings, and eventually, compulsory strike-off.

You can check your company's incorporation date and confirmation statement due date for free on the Companies House register. Companies House will usually send email reminders to your registered office address and any email addresses on file, but you should not rely solely on these. Diarise your deadline as soon as you incorporate.

The Confirmation Statement process is about confirming or updating key company information. Even if nothing has changed since incorporation, you must still file and confirm the details are correct. If anything has changed (e.g. new directors, changes to shareholders, updated PSCs), you must update the relevant records before or as part of your filing.

You’ll need to confirm or update the following information: - Registered office address - Directors’ details (and company secretary, if you have one) - Shareholders’ details (and share capital, if your company has shares) - People with Significant Control (PSCs) - Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes, which describe your business activities - Statement of Capital (if applicable) - Trading status of shares (public or private) - Register location (if you hold certain statutory registers at a different address) It’s essential that all information matches what’s actually true on the date of the statement—not what was true at incorporation, or what you wish were true. If you’ve moved office, appointed a new director, or issued shares, update those details first.

Many new company owners make the mistake of thinking minor admin changes (such as a director’s new service address) don’t matter, or only need to be declared once a year. In reality, most changes to directors, PSCs, or registered office must be reported on separate forms within 14 days of the change, not just on the Confirmation Statement. However, changes to shareholder details and SIC codes can be updated directly within the statement.

Preparation is half the battle. Before starting your Confirmation Statement, make sure you have all the necessary information and documents to hand. Start by reviewing your last filed statement (if any), your incorporation documents, and any Companies House correspondence. Double-check all details, especially if you’ve had staff turnover, changed office address, or issued new shares.

You’ll need the full legal names, service addresses, and dates of birth for all directors. For shareholders, you need names and shareholdings. For PSCs, you must confirm their identity and the nature of their control (e.g., owning more than 25% of shares or voting rights). You’ll also need your company’s SIC code, which you can look up on the Companies House website if you’re unsure. If you have multiple business activities, you can list up to four SIC codes.

If your company has issued shares, you must have a current breakdown of your share capital. This includes the number and type of shares, their nominal value, and which shareholders own which shares. Many companies find mistakes creep in here, especially after share transfers. Double-check your shareholder register and ensure it matches what you plan to file.

• Check your current Companies House record online for accuracy.
• Gather up-to-date details for all directors, shareholders, and PSCs.
• Confirm your registered office address is correct and accessible.
• Review your company’s SIC code(s)—update if your activities have changed.
• Ensure your share capital and shareholder register are accurate.
• Prepare to update any new changes before starting the filing process.

Filing your Confirmation Statement online is the fastest and most convenient method. Around 95% of UK companies do it this way. The process is handled through the Companies House WebFiling service (or via HMRC’s joint filing service for some micro-entities). You’ll need your company authentication code, which acts like a password for your company’s filings. If you don’t have it, request it from Companies House as soon as possible—don’t leave this until the day of your deadline.

The online process is user-friendly but can be intimidating if it’s your first time. You’ll be guided through a series of screens to review, confirm, or update your company’s details. It’s vital to check each section carefully. Any errors go on the public record and can be difficult to correct later. The filing fee—£13 as of 2026—covers a 12-month period and allows unlimited filings within that window, but you must always meet the deadline for your annual statement.

If you prefer, you can still file a paper Confirmation Statement (form CS01) by post, but this is slower, costs £40, and is much more prone to delays and errors. Online filing is strongly recommended by Companies House and is almost always the better option for small businesses.

The fee for filing a Confirmation Statement online is £13 (as of 2026), payable by card or PayPal. This fee covers a 12-month period, not each individual statement—so if you need to file more than once in a year (for example, after a major change), you won’t have to pay again until your next annual window. Paper filings cost £40, and take longer to process.

Once you submit your statement and pay the fee, Companies House will process your filing—usually within 24 hours for online submissions (a few days for post). You’ll receive a confirmation email and your filing will appear on the public record. If there are any issues (such as missing or inconsistent information), Companies House may contact you for clarification. Always respond promptly to avoid delays or potential penalties.

If you realise you’ve made a mistake after filing, you can submit a new Confirmation Statement immediately—there’s no extra fee, provided you’re still within the same 12-month period. However, make every effort to get it right first time, as repeated amendments can create confusion on your public record and may trigger Companies House scrutiny.

Thousands of small businesses make avoidable errors on their first Confirmation Statement. The most common is simply missing the deadline—often due to confusion about the review period or waiting for a reminder from Companies House. Always diarise your deadline and set calendar alerts well in advance.

Another frequent error is failing to update changes before filing. If you’ve appointed a new director, moved office, or added a shareholder, you must file the relevant forms (such as AP01 for new directors or AD01 for office changes) before submitting your Confirmation Statement. Failing to do this will mean your statement is rejected, or—worse—your public record is inaccurate, which can have legal and reputational consequences.

Misreporting share capital or PSC information is another pitfall. Many business owners don’t realise that even small changes (like a share transfer between family members) must be properly documented and reported. Double-check your share register and PSC register before filing. If you’re unsure, consult an accountant or company secretary.

• Missing the filing deadline—set multiple reminders.
• Not updating directors or PSCs before filing.
• Incorrect SIC code—use the official Companies House list.
• Errors in shareholder or share capital details.
• Confusing the Confirmation Statement with annual accounts.
• Failing to keep your authentication code secure.

If you’ve missed your Confirmation Statement deadline, act fast. File as soon as possible—even if you’re just a day late. Companies House will issue warning letters to your registered office and may flag your company for potential strike-off. The longer you leave it, the higher the risk of penalties and dissolution.

There is no automatic financial penalty for a late Confirmation Statement, but the indirect consequences are severe. Your company may be struck off the register, meaning it ceases to exist. This has serious knock-on effects—bank accounts frozen, contracts voided, loss of limited liability, and possible personal liability for directors.

If you believe you have a valid reason for missing the deadline (such as serious illness or a Companies House system outage), contact Companies House immediately. They may be able to halt strike-off proceedings if you can demonstrate genuine circumstances and file promptly. However, 'I forgot' is not considered a valid excuse.

• File the overdue statement immediately online.
• Check for any other overdue filings (e.g., annual accounts).
• Contact Companies House if strike-off has begun.
• Update your registered office address if you’re not receiving mail.
• Review your internal processes to prevent future late filings.

The Confirmation Statement rules apply to all UK limited companies and LLPs, whether trading or dormant. If your company is dormant (not trading and has no significant transactions), you still must file a Confirmation Statement every year. The process is identical, though there will be fewer changes to report. Mark your company as dormant only if it meets the strict HMRC and Companies House criteria.

Micro-entities—very small companies under the Companies Act definition—must also file a Confirmation Statement. There are no shortcuts or exemptions. LLPs follow a similar process, confirming the details of members, registered office, and PSCs. Even if you’re a one-person company or family-run LLP, the filing is still mandatory.

If your company is in the process of being dissolved or struck off, you are still required to file a Confirmation Statement up until the date Companies House formally removes your company from the register. Ignoring this can result in enforcement action against the directors or designated members.

Once you’ve filed your first Confirmation Statement, it’s vital to establish a system for future filings. The process repeats every 12 months, and you can file early if you wish. Many companies choose to file shortly after their annual accounts, but this is not required. Your review period remains fixed based on your incorporation anniversary unless you deliberately change it by filing an early statement.

Set calendar reminders for one month and one week before your due date. Consider assigning responsibility for filings to a specific person—preferably someone who has access to all company records and understands what changes need to be reported. Use a secure password manager to store your authentication code and check your registered office post regularly for Companies House correspondence.

If your business is growing or becoming more complex—with new shareholders, directors, or group structures—it may be worth engaging a company secretary or using a professional formation agent to handle filings. This is an extra cost, but it can save time and prevent costly errors, especially if your company’s share structure or ownership is changing regularly.

• Set up annual and quarterly reminders for your filing deadline.
• Keep your authentication code safe but accessible to responsible staff.
• Regularly review your share register, PSC register, and director details.
• Update Companies House immediately when key changes occur—not just at statement time.
• Consider using a professional company secretary if your structure is complex.
• Monitor Companies House email and postal reminders for your company.