- When your confirmation statement is due
- What it costs, as of October 2026
- The new step: every director must verify their identity
- What you must update before you file
- Your registered email address stays private
- Older companies and the payment period
- How to file
- What happens if you don't file
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
A confirmation statement is the yearly filing every UK company makes to confirm the information Companies House holds about the company is up to date. You must file at least one every 12 months, within 14 days of the end of your review period, and as of October 2026 it costs £50 online or £110 on paper.
It used to be called the annual return, and plenty of small company directors still think of it as a box-ticking job. It mostly is, except for one new step that now stops filings dead: identity verification.
When your confirmation statement is due
Companies House works on a review period. It ends 12 months after your incorporation date, for your first statement, or 12 months after the confirmation statement date on your last one. You then have up to 14 days after the review period ends to file.
| Question | Answer from Companies House |
|---|---|
| How often? | At least one confirmation statement every 12 months |
| Deadline | Up to 14 days after the review period ends |
| Nothing changed? | You must still file, confirming your records are up to date |
| Can you file early? | Yes, but you then choose a new confirmation statement date and the next review period starts the day after it |
| Where to check your date | Your company's page on the Companies House register, or sign up for email reminders |
What it costs, as of October 2026
| How you file | Fee |
|---|---|
| Online (WebFiling) | £50 |
| Through software | £50 |
| Paper form CS01 by post | £110 |
The fee is charged with your first statement in each 12-month payment period, and Companies House is clear that the payment period is separate from the review period. Your first payment period covers 12 months from incorporation. File a second statement in the same payment period, after a change for example, and you don't pay the annual fee again. Companies House updated its fees on 25 September 2026, so if you saw a different figure elsewhere, it may be out of date.
The new step: every director must verify their identity
This is the change catching small companies out. Companies House says all company directors must verify their identity before you file, and it won't accept your confirmation statement until every director has done it. People with significant control (PSCs) must verify too and provide their Companies House personal code.
- Each director verifies once, online through GOV.UK One Login, and gets a unique personal code.
- If you have more than one director, you need each director's personal code.
- On the statement, you tick to confirm each director has verified.
- If you've verified before, your code is in your Companies House account.
My guide to Companies House identity verification walks through the process. Do it weeks before your deadline, not on day 13, especially if a co-director is hard to pin down.
What you must update before you file
The confirmation statement only confirms what's already on the register. Companies House says you must tell it about changes to these first, separately:
- directors and secretary
- people with significant control
- registered office address
- registered email address, which you must give in your statement if you haven't already
Other changes go in the statement's additional information section: your Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code, statement of capital, trading status of shares, PSC exemption and shareholder information. You also have to state that the company's intended future activities are lawful.
Your registered email address stays private
If you haven't given Companies House a registered email address yet, you must include one in the statement. Companies House uses it to contact you about the company, and it says the address won't be published on the public register, so you don't need a throwaway inbox for it.
Older companies and the payment period
For companies old enough to have filed annual returns (form AR01), each payment period covers 12 months and ends on the anniversary of the return date of your last annual return. You can't change your payment period, even if you file early and move your review period.
How to file
- Sign in to Companies House WebFiling with your company's authentication code, or register for it first.
- Check every detail on the register and make any required changes before you start.
- Make sure every director, and any PSC, has a personal code.
- Complete the statement and the additional information section if anything there has changed.
- Pay the fee if it's your first statement in the payment period.
If you're setting up a new company, the statement comes round 12 months after you register the company, so put the date in your diary on day one.
What happens if you don't file
Companies House says you can be fined up to £5,000 and your company may be struck off the register if you don't file your confirmation statement. It may also issue a financial penalty. Being struck off means the company is dissolved, which is a far bigger problem to reverse than a late form.
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My verdict
Sign up for the Companies House email reminder, get every director's identity verified now, and file online for £50 as soon as your review period ends. It's a short job when your register is up to date; the only time it turns stressful is when a director hasn't verified and the 14 days are running out.
Directors who take dividends should also know the allowance and rates in our dividend allowance guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is my confirmation statement due?
Within 14 days of the end of your review period, which ends 12 months after incorporation or after the date on your last confirmation statement.
How much does a confirmation statement cost?
As of October 2026, £50 to file online or through software and £110 to file a paper CS01 by post.
Do I need to file if nothing has changed?
Yes. Companies House says you must file even if there have been no changes during the review period.
Why was my confirmation statement rejected?
Companies House won't accept it until all directors have verified their identity and provided their personal codes.
What happens if I don't file a confirmation statement?
You can be fined up to £5,000 and the company may be struck off the register.
Will my registered email address be public?
No. Companies House says the registered email address won't be published on the public register.
Can I file a confirmation statement early?
Yes. You then choose a new confirmation statement date and your next review period starts the day after it.
