Key takeaways

  • Every UK company must file a confirmation statement (form CS01) at least once every 12 months, within 14 days of the end of its review period.
  • Filing a confirmation statement online costs £50; a paper CS01 costs £110, according to Companies House fees updated 25 September 2026.
  • You need the company's authentication code and a Companies House sign-in to file online.
  • Since 18 November 2025, each director must give their Companies House personal code as part of the company's next confirmation statement.
  • Every confirmation statement must include a registered email address and a statement that the company's future activities will be lawful.
  • Failing to file is a criminal offence for the company and every officer in default under section 853L of the Companies Act 2006.

A confirmation statement, form CS01, confirms that the information Companies House holds about your company is correct. You file it online at least once every 12 months, within 14 days of the end of your review period, and the online fee is £50. If nothing has changed it is a short online form, as long as each director has their Companies House personal code ready.

What is a confirmation statement?

A confirmation statement is the yearly check that your company’s public record is up to date. It replaced the annual return in June 2016. You confirm, or update, details such as your registered office, directors, shareholders, people with significant control (PSCs) and SIC codes.

It is separate from your accounts. You file accounts and the confirmation statement on different dates. See annual return vs confirmation statement for the history.

When is the confirmation statement due?

You must file within 14 days after the end of each review period. Under section 853A of the Companies Act 2006, the first review period runs 12 months from incorporation, and each later one runs 12 months from the end of the last.

You can file early. If you do, your next review period starts the day after the confirmation date you used. Your exact due date is on the company’s page on the Companies House register.

How much does it cost?

The fee covers your first confirmation statement in each 12-month period. Companies House’s fees page, updated 25 September 2026, lists:

Filing methodFee
Online or software£50
Paper CS01£110

Further statements filed in the same 12 months to update details carry no extra fee. See Companies House fees 2026 for the full list.

What you need before you start

Gather these before you sign in:

  • the company number
  • the 6-character company authentication code
  • a Companies House sign-in, now through GOV.UK One Login
  • each director’s Companies House personal code
  • the company’s registered email address
  • any changes to shareholders, share capital, PSCs or SIC codes
  • a payment card for the £50 fee

How to file a confirmation statement online

  1. Go to the service. Open File your confirmation statement on GOV.UK and select Start now.
  2. Sign in and enter the company details. Give the company number and authentication code.
  3. Check the confirmation date. Use the date shown, or choose an earlier one.
  4. Review each section. Check the registered office, directors, secretary, PSCs, shareholders, statement of capital and SIC codes. Update anything that has changed.
  5. Give each director’s personal code. The service asks for the identity verification details of every director.
  6. Confirm the registered email address. It is not shown on the public register.
  7. Make the lawful purpose statement. Confirm that the company’s intended future activities are lawful.
  8. Pay and submit. Pay the £50 and save the confirmation email.

Check the company’s filing history on the register to confirm the statement has been accepted.

Director identity codes

Since identity verification became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025, directors must give their personal code as part of the company’s next confirmation statement. Companies House guidance, updated 30 July 2026, says a director of more than one company must do this for each one.

PSCs follow a separate timetable. A person who is both a director and a PSC gives their code as a director on the statement, then as a PSC through the “Provide identity verification details for a PSC” service within 14 days, starting the day after the confirmation statement date. Filing early does not move those dates. Our guide to PSC identity verification covers the PSC rules.

The two statements added in 2024

Two requirements apply to every confirmation statement with a statement date from 5 March 2024, according to the Companies House blog:

  • Registered email address. Companies House uses it to contact the company. It is not public.
  • Lawful purpose statement. You confirm the company’s future activities will be lawful. You cannot file without it, even if the company is not trading.

What happens if you do not file?

Failing to file a confirmation statement is a criminal offence. Section 853L makes the company and every officer in default liable to a fine, plus a daily default fine for continued failure. There is no automatic late filing penalty like the one for accounts.

The bigger risk is removal from the register. Companies House can start strike-off action against a company that does not file, which leads to a compulsory strike-off notice in The Gazette.

Which applies to you?

  • If nothing has changed: check each screen, give director codes, confirm and pay £50.
  • If a director has not verified yet: they must verify through GOV.UK One Login or a Post Office before you file.
  • If you have shareholder or PSC changes: update them in the same statement.
  • If you want to file by post: use the CS01 paper form and include a £110 cheque with the company number on the back.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a confirmation statement cost in 2026?

£50 online or through software, and £110 on paper, as listed in Companies House’s fees guidance updated 25 September 2026.

How long do I have to file a confirmation statement?

14 days after the end of your review period. The review period is normally 12 months from incorporation or from your last confirmation date.

Can I file a confirmation statement early?

Yes. You can file at any time, and your next review period then runs from the day after the confirmation date you used.

Do dormant companies need to file a confirmation statement?

Yes. Every company on the register must file one, including dormant and non-trading companies.

Can my accountant file the confirmation statement for me?

Yes. An accountant or other agent can file it for you, but each director must still verify their own identity and give their personal code.

What happens if I file my confirmation statement late?

The company and its officers commit an offence and can be fined, and Companies House may start action to strike the company off.

Sources

Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance on 6 November 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.