Alex is Sprintlaw’s co-founder and principal lawyer. Alex previously worked at a top-tier firm as a lawyer specialising in technology and media contracts, and founded a digital agency which he sold in 2015.
If you run a UK limited company (or you’re about to set one up), you’ll probably come across the Companies House £13 fee at some point.
It’s small enough to seem like an admin footnote, but it’s attached to one of the most important compliance tasks your company has to complete each year. Miss it (or misunderstand what it’s for), and you can trigger missed deadlines, avoidable complications, and unnecessary stress.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what the Companies House £13 fee is, when it applies, how to pay it, and what you should do internally to stay compliant as your business grows.
What Is The Companies House £13 Fee?
In most cases, when people search for the Companies House £13 fee, they’re referring to the online filing fee for your company’s Confirmation Statement.
The Confirmation Statement is a required filing that keeps your company’s public record up to date. It confirms key company information, such as:
- your registered office address
- your directors and company secretary (if you have one)
- your shareholders and share capital
- your SIC code(s) (business activity classification)
- your People with Significant Control (PSC) details
When you file your Confirmation Statement online, Companies House charges a £13 fee.
Important note: This fee is charged per confirmation statement period, not necessarily per filing action. In practice, most companies file once each year, so you’ll usually see this as an annual £13 compliance cost. If you file more than once within the same period, Companies House generally won’t charge the fee again for that same period.
Is The £13 Fee The Same As Filing Annual Accounts?
No. Filing annual accounts is a separate legal obligation, with different deadlines. Most companies can file accounts without a filing fee (depending on the filing method and what you’re submitting).
The Companies House £13 fee is most commonly linked to the Confirmation Statement, which is about confirming company details, not reporting financial performance.
Is There Ever Another “£13 Fee” At Companies House?
Occasionally, business owners see £13 appear in other contexts (for example, when registering a company online, depending on the service level and what you’re doing). But for most small businesses, the recurring and most searched reference to £13 is the Confirmation Statement fee.
When Does The Companies House £13 Fee Apply?
The Companies House £13 fee applies when you file your Confirmation Statement online for a confirmation statement period.
Every company must deliver a Confirmation Statement at least once every 12 months, even if:
- nothing has changed since the last statement, or
- your company is dormant, or
- your company hasn’t traded yet
This is one of those “yes, you still have to do it” obligations that catches people out - especially founders who’ve been busy building the business and assume compliance can wait.
How Often Do You Pay The £13 Fee?
Most companies pay it once per year when they file the Confirmation Statement for a new confirmation statement period.
However, if you file multiple Confirmation Statements within the same 12-month confirmation period, Companies House generally charges the fee only once for that period. As a general rule, plan for this as an annual compliance cost and keep a compliance calendar so you don’t miss deadlines.
Paper Filing Vs Online Filing
The £13 fee is for online filing. Paper filings typically cost more.
For small businesses, online filing is usually the quickest and simplest option - and it reduces the risk of delays caused by postage or processing time.
Why This £13 Filing Matters More Than The Amount
It’s easy to focus on the “£13” part and miss the bigger issue: the Confirmation Statement is one of the key ways Companies House ensures your company record stays accurate.
If your public record is inaccurate, it can create real-world business headaches. For example:
- Banking delays: banks and lenders may check Companies House before opening accounts or approving finance.
- Investor or buyer red flags: if you’re raising funds or selling, due diligence often includes reviewing your filings.
- Contracting issues: counterparties may verify your registered office, director details, or company status before signing.
- Compliance enforcement: repeated failures to file can lead to escalation, including prosecution and, in serious cases, strike-off action.
In other words, paying the Companies House £13 fee is rarely the problem - it’s what the filing represents: keeping your company’s legal identity up to date.
Common Situations Where Your Details Change
Even if you think “nothing has changed,” it’s worth double-checking. Common changes that should be accurately reflected include:
- issuing new shares to a co-founder or investor
- transferring shares between shareholders
- appointing or removing a director
- changing your registered office address
- updating your SIC codes as your business evolves
- changes to your PSC details (for example, ownership percentages)
If you’re bringing in new shareholders or setting clear rules on ownership and decision-making, having a properly drafted Shareholders Agreement can make the process far smoother (and reduce disputes later).
How To Stay Compliant: A Practical Checklist For Small Businesses
Staying compliant is much easier when you treat it like an ongoing business system - not a once-a-year panic.
Here are practical steps you can put in place to reduce the risk of missed filings (and surprise admin):
1) Keep A Simple “Company Details” Record Internally
Don’t rely on memory or old email chains. Keep a central record (even a secure shared document) that lists:
- current directors and their appointment dates
- shareholders, share classes, and ownership percentages
- PSC details
- registered office address
- important filing deadlines
This makes it much easier to confirm your details when the Confirmation Statement is due.
2) Put The Right Governance Documents In Place Early
A lot of compliance stress happens because the business doesn’t have clear internal rules - so changes (like issuing shares) become messy and unclear.
For example, your company’s rulebook typically starts with its Company Constitution (Articles of Association). If you’re growing or bringing in investors, it’s worth ensuring your governance documents match how you actually run the business.
3) Record Major Decisions Properly
When your company makes important decisions (like appointing a director, approving a share issue, or entering a major agreement), you should record those decisions in writing.
Depending on the decision, that may involve shareholder resolutions and/or board resolutions. Keeping clear Meeting Minutes can help you stay organised and provide evidence of proper process if you’re ever challenged.
4) Use A Compliance Calendar With Reminders
At minimum, diarise:
- your Confirmation Statement deadline (the one linked to the Companies House £13 fee)
- your annual accounts deadline
- any HMRC tax deadlines that apply to your business (for example, corporation tax and VAT, where relevant)
If you’re a founder managing everything yourself, reminders can be the difference between “easy admin day” and “urgent problem week”.
5) Be Careful When Hiring Or Scaling Operations
Company compliance isn’t just about Companies House filings. As you grow, you’ll also need to keep an eye on employment and data protection obligations.
For example, if you’re hiring staff, it’s usually a good time to get an Employment Contract in place so expectations and protections are clear from day one.
And if you collect customer or website user data (for example, through online orders, enquiry forms, or mailing lists), having a proper Privacy Policy can help you meet your UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 obligations.
How To Pay The Companies House £13 Fee (And What Happens After You File)
In most cases, you’ll pay the Companies House £13 fee as part of the online Confirmation Statement filing process.
Practically, what you should expect is:
- you review your company’s current information
- you confirm the details are correct (or update where needed)
- you submit the Confirmation Statement online
- you pay the £13 fee as prompted during submission
- Companies House processes the filing and updates the public register
Processing times can vary. If you’re about to sign contracts, apply for finance, or complete a transaction where your company details need to be current, it’s smart to file early so you’re not waiting on processing.
What If You Can’t Afford The Fee Right Now?
£13 is relatively small compared to most business expenses, but cash flow can be tight - especially early on.
The bigger risk is that skipping filings creates larger costs later (including time spent fixing issues and the risk of enforcement). If finances are tight, it’s usually better to treat compliance costs as “non-negotiables” and plan them into your annual budget.
What If Someone Else Handles This For You?
Many businesses delegate Companies House filings to an accountant, company administrator, or internal operations person.
That’s completely fine - but directors are generally still responsible for ensuring the company meets its legal filing obligations. So even if you outsource the admin, it’s worth keeping visibility through:
- clear task ownership (who files what)
- written confirmation when filings are submitted
- a central calendar of deadlines
If you’re setting up a new company and want the structure done properly from the start, it can help to Register a Company with the right supporting documents rather than rushing through setup and trying to patch things later.
Common Mistakes Business Owners Make With The Companies House £13 Fee
The £13 fee itself is straightforward. The problems usually come from timing, assumptions, or messy internal records.
Mistake 1: Thinking It’s Optional If Nothing Has Changed
Even if everything is exactly the same, you still need to deliver a Confirmation Statement at least every 12 months.
Mistake 2: Mixing Up Accounts, Tax Returns, And Confirmation Statements
These are different compliance tasks with different deadlines and different agencies involved. For example:
- Confirmation Statement: Companies House (includes £13 online fee)
- Annual accounts: Companies House
- Corporation tax return: HMRC
If you’re unsure which is which, you’re not alone - but it’s worth clarifying early so you don’t miss a legal requirement. (This article is general information, not tax advice.)
Mistake 3: Not Updating Shareholder And PSC Information Properly
Startups and small businesses often move quickly. You might issue shares to a co-founder, bring in an angel investor, or restructure ownership - then forget to keep the statutory records and Companies House record aligned.
This is where good governance and clear documentation really pays off, especially as you grow.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Companies House Letters Or Emails
Companies House will usually send reminders to the registered office address. If you don’t monitor that address (or if you changed it and didn’t update records correctly), reminders can get missed.
A simple fix is to ensure your registered office is somewhere reliable and that someone is responsible for monitoring official correspondence.
Key Takeaways
- The Companies House £13 fee most commonly refers to the online filing fee for the Confirmation Statement.
- You must file a Confirmation Statement at least once every 12 months, even if your company is dormant or nothing has changed.
- The £13 cost is small, but missing the filing can lead to escalation, including prosecution and potential strike-off action.
- Staying compliant is easier when you keep good internal records, record decisions properly, and use a compliance calendar with reminders.
- As your business grows, make sure your governance documents (like your Articles and shareholder arrangements) match how the company actually operates.
- If you’re unsure about filings, ownership changes, or governance, it’s worth getting legal help early to avoid bigger issues later.
If you’d like help setting up (or cleaning up) your company’s legal foundations and compliance processes, you can reach us at 08081347754 or team@sprintlaw.co.uk for a free, no-obligations chat.
