SimpleReturns

The confirmation statement: what it is and isn't

Reviewed by Lee Jones, Founder · Updated 17 July 2026
The short answer

The confirmation statement is a quick yearly check-in with Companies House. You look at the details they hold about your company, fix anything that has changed, and confirm the rest is still right. There are no money figures in it. It is not your accounts, and it is not a tax return. It costs £50 to file online.

Official source. This guide is a plain-English summary of official GOV.UK guidance, not advice. The authoritative source is The confirmation statement on gov.uk. Always rely on that over our summary.

What does the confirmation statement actually confirm?

It is a check on the public record, nothing more. You are telling Companies House that the following details are still correct, or updating them if they are not:

  • your registered office address
  • your directors, and your company secretary if you have one
  • the address where you keep your company records
  • your shareholders and the shares they hold
  • your SIC code, which is the short code that describes what your company does
  • your people with significant control, meaning anyone who owns or controls a big share of the company

You also need to give Companies House an email address for the company if you have never provided one before.

Notice what is missing from that list: money. No profit, no turnover, no tax. If the reminder you received is about a confirmation statement, nobody is asking about your numbers.

When is it due? The dates game explained

Two rules cover it:

  1. You must review your records and file at least one confirmation statement every 12 months. That 12-month stretch is called your review period.
  2. Once the review period ends, you have 14 days to file.

Here is a worked example. Say your review period ends on 9 May. You then have 14 days, so your confirmation statement is due by 23 May. Your first review period starts on the day your company was formed, and later ones start the day after the date of your last statement.

The 14 days matter because they are short. Accounts deadlines give you months. This one gives you two weeks, which is exactly why the reminder emails feel so sudden.

What does it cost?

Filing online costs £50 a year. Filing on paper costs £110, and you have to post a cheque with your company number written on the back, so almost everyone files online. You may also need to verify your identity using GOV.UK One Login before you can file.

Is this the same as my accounts?

No. Your annual accounts are a separate yearly job for Companies House. Accounts are about money: they show what your company owns and owes at its year end, and for most small companies they are a short set of figures. The confirmation statement contains none of that. It only checks names, addresses, shares and codes. You file both with Companies House, but they are two different filings with two different deadlines. Our guide on Companies House and HMRC draws the full picture.

Is it a tax return then?

Also no. Your Company Tax Return goes to a completely different organisation, HMRC, and it works out how much Corporation Tax your company owes. The confirmation statement never touches HMRC and never affects your tax. Filing your confirmation statement does not mean your tax is done, and filing your tax return does not mean your confirmation statement is done. Three jobs, every year: confirmation statement to Companies House, accounts to Companies House, tax return to HMRC.

What happens if I forget?

Take it seriously, because it is against the law not to file. You can be fined up to £5,000 and your company can be struck off the register, which means it stops existing. Companies House does not treat this as a formality: strike-off is how they clear out companies that have gone quiet. If you have missed the 14-day window, file it now rather than waiting for letters to escalate.

Who files what: an honest note

SimpleReturns files your annual accounts and your Company Tax Return, the two jobs with numbers in them, for £99 covering both, and it is free to start. The confirmation statement is not something you need us for: it is a few minutes of checking boxes on the Companies House website for £50, and you can do it yourself today. We would rather tell you that plainly than charge you for a form you can finish before your tea goes cold.

Common questions

What details does the confirmation statement confirm?

Your registered office address, your directors and any company secretary, the address where you keep your company records, your shareholders and the shares they hold, your SIC code, and your people with significant control. There are no money figures in it.

How much does a confirmation statement cost?

Filing online costs £50 a year. Filing on paper costs £110, and you have to post a cheque with your company number written on the back, so almost everyone files online.

Is the confirmation statement the same as my annual accounts?

No. Accounts are about money: they show what your company owns and owes at its year end. The confirmation statement only checks names, addresses, shares and codes. You file both with Companies House, but they are two different filings with two different deadlines.

What happens if I forget to file my confirmation statement?

It is against the law not to file. You can be fined up to £5,000 and your company can be struck off the register, which means it stops existing. If you have missed the 14-day window, file it now rather than waiting for letters to escalate.

Want the two money filings handled?

SimpleReturns files your annual accounts and your Company Tax Return, the two jobs with numbers in them, for £99 covering both, and it is free to start. The confirmation statement is not something you need us for: it is a few minutes of checking boxes on the Companies House website for £50, and you can do it yourself today.

Start your return

That is the accounts and tax return side; the confirmation statement you file directly with Companies House.

General guidance, not advice. This guide explains how the rules generally work for small UK limited companies. It isn't tax advice for your specific situation, if you're unsure, check with us or an accountant.