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.
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If you’re running a limited company in the UK (or you’re about to set one up), Companies House filings are one of those “non-negotiables” you’ll deal with every year.
And while the admin side is usually manageable, the costs can be confusing - especially because some filings are free, some have small fixed fees, and the expensive part often comes later if you miss deadlines.
In this guide, we’ll break down the main Companies House fees UK businesses typically pay, what’s free, what’s not, and how to build a simple compliance routine so you don’t get caught out.
What Are Companies House Fees (And What Are You Actually Paying For)?
Companies House fees are the charges you pay to file certain documents with Companies House. Companies House is the UK registrar of companies, and it keeps the public record of your company details - things like your directors, registered office, shareholders, and annual filings.
Not every filing has a fee.
In fact, many common updates are free, but some key submissions (like incorporating a company or submitting your confirmation statement) come with a fixed filing fee.
Why Do Companies House Filing Fees Matter For Small Businesses?
For most small businesses, the filing fees themselves aren’t huge - the bigger risk is:
- Late filing penalties (especially for annual accounts),
- potential offences and enforcement action for ongoing non-compliance, and
- knock-on problems with banks, investors, customers, suppliers, and grant providers who check your Companies House record.
So, it’s worth understanding the cost landscape upfront and building good habits early.
If you’re still at the setup stage, start with Register a Company so your structure and filings are aligned from day one.
The Main Companies House Filing Fees UK Companies Should Budget For
Below are the most common Companies House filing fees small businesses run into. Fees can change, and some filings can be submitted online or on paper with different costs - so always double-check the current fee when you file.
Company Incorporation (Setting Up A Limited Company)
To incorporate a company (i.e. create a limited company), you’ll typically pay:
- Online incorporation: usually cheaper (commonly around £50)
- Paper incorporation: usually more expensive (commonly around £71)
- Same-day incorporation: typically a premium fee (often around £78, where available)
Incorporation is a one-off cost, but it’s often your first encounter with Companies House fees.
At incorporation, you’ll also adopt the company’s constitution (its internal rulebook). That’s where Articles of Association come in - they matter more than most founders realise, especially once there’s more than one shareholder.
Confirmation Statement (Annual Filing)
Most companies need to submit a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months. This confirms that your company information on the public register is accurate (or updates it).
The confirmation statement usually attracts a filing fee, commonly:
- Online filing: around £34
- Paper filing: around £62
Even if nothing has changed, you generally still need to file it - and pay the fee - to stay compliant.
Annual Accounts (Usually No Filing Fee - But Big Penalties If Late)
For most companies, there is no Companies House fee to file annual accounts.
However, this is where compliance gets serious: late accounts can trigger automatic financial penalties, and repeat late filing can become very expensive.
If you’re unsure which type of accounts you need to file (and what directors need to keep an eye on), full accounts versus “total exemption” accounts is a good place to start, because the format and disclosure requirements affect what you file and when.
Changing Your Company Name
If you decide to rebrand, you may need to file a name change with Companies House.
Commonly:
- Online name change: around £8
- Paper name change: typically higher than online (often around £40, but always check the current fee before filing)
It’s a small filing fee, but make sure the decision is properly approved internally too (for example, using the right resolutions and keeping company records tidy).
Registering A Charge (Eg A Lender’s Security)
If your company grants security to a lender (for example, a debenture or fixed/floating charge), you’ll likely need to register that charge.
This usually has a Companies House fee (the amount can change over time, but is commonly in the £20–£30 range). Always confirm the current fee at the point of filing.
This filing is time-sensitive - missing the deadline can cause real problems for the charge’s effectiveness against certain parties and its priority, so it’s one to treat as “urgent admin”, not “later admin”.
Which Companies House Filings Are Free (And Still Easy To Get Wrong)?
One reason people get caught out is assuming “no fee” means “not important”. In reality, lots of key updates are free to file - but still legally required, and still visible to anyone checking your company record.
Examples of filings that are often free include:
- Changing your registered office address (your official company address)
- Appointing or resigning a director
- Updating director details (like service address)
- Updating People with Significant Control (PSC) information
- Allotting shares (the Companies House filing may be free, but the legal/tax implications often aren’t)
A Quick Tip: Make Sure Your Companies House Record Matches Reality
If you’ve moved premises, changed your trading name, brought on an investor, or had a director step back, it’s worth doing a quick check that your Companies House profile reflects that.
This matters because banks, suppliers, investors and even customers can (and do) look you up.
If you need a practical way to check who’s listed and what’s been filed, search for company directors is a useful starting point when you’re auditing your public record.
And if you’re ever asked for it, knowing your company registration number (and keeping it consistent on invoices, websites and letterheads) helps you look credible and stay compliant.
What Happens If You Miss A Filing? (The Real Cost Of Non-Compliance)
Most small business owners don’t get stressed about the fee itself - they get stressed when they realise something was due two months ago, and now there are penalties or warnings landing in the inbox.
Here’s how non-compliance can become expensive.
Late Accounts Penalties
If your annual accounts are filed late, Companies House can issue an automatic penalty. Penalties generally increase the later you file, and if you file late two years in a row, the penalty can be doubled.
For private companies, late filing penalties commonly range from:
- £150 (up to 1 month late)
- £375 (1 to 3 months late)
- £750 (3 to 6 months late)
- £1,500 (more than 6 months late)
That’s where the “true” cost of Companies House compliance often sits - not in the filing fee, but in the avoidable penalty.
Risk Of The Company Being Struck Off
If you ignore filing requirements for long enough, Companies House may start compulsory strike-off action (removing the company from the register). This commonly happens where Companies House has reason to believe the company is no longer carrying on business - for example, after a persistent failure to file accounts and/or confirmation statements.
Strike-off isn’t just a paperwork issue. It can affect:
- your ability to trade, invoice and get paid,
- contracts you’ve entered into,
- company assets, and
- your future plans (including selling the business or raising investment).
If the company is no longer active and you’re trying to keep things tidy, it may be better to formally deal with it - for example, by making a company dormant (where appropriate) or closing a limited company properly.
Director Responsibilities And Personal Risk
Companies House compliance isn’t just “company admin”. Directors have legal duties to keep records and ensure the company meets its filing obligations.
Depending on the filing, missing obligations can also create personal risk for directors (for example, Companies House enforcement action, and in some cases prosecution and fines for failure to file accounts). So, it’s worth treating filings like tax deadlines: routine, calendarised, and not something you want to scramble to fix at the last minute.
How To Stay Compliant And Keep Companies House Fees Under Control
The good news is that staying compliant is usually straightforward once you set up a system.
Here are practical steps that help most small businesses avoid unnecessary Companies House costs.
1) Build A Simple Filing Calendar
At minimum, track:
- Confirmation statement due date (every 12 months)
- Annual accounts due date (normally 9 months after your accounting reference date for private companies)
- Corporation tax deadlines (these are HMRC deadlines, separate to Companies House filings - and the rules can be fact-specific, so this isn’t tax advice)
Put reminders in your calendar for 6 weeks before the due date, then 2 weeks before, then 2 days before. That way if your accountant needs something from you, you’re not rushing.
2) File Online Where Possible
Online filing is usually:
- cheaper (where a fee applies),
- faster, and
- less prone to delays.
Even when paper filing is allowed, it can increase the chances of postal delays or rejected forms, which can push you into late-filing territory.
3) Keep Your Statutory Registers And Company Records In Good Shape
Companies House is one piece of the compliance puzzle. Internally, you also need to keep accurate company records - like decisions, share issues, and director appointments.
For example, if you’re issuing shares to a co-founder or investor, the Companies House filing might be easy, but the underlying legal steps (board approvals, shareholder approvals, updated cap table, and updated constitutional documents) are where businesses often slip up.
When you’re formalising how ownership and decision-making works, a Shareholders Agreement can be a key part of staying organised and avoiding disputes later.
4) Don’t “Set And Forget” Your Company Structure
A common scenario is this:
You set up a company when it’s just you, using standard documents, and everything’s fine. Then the business grows - you bring on a business partner, hire staff, take investment, or change what you sell.
At that point, Companies House compliance often becomes more complicated, because changes in the business usually mean changes in:
- shareholdings,
- director responsibilities,
- decision-making processes, and
- the contracts you rely on day to day.
If you’re changing how the company is run, documenting decisions properly matters. Even something as simple as using a directors resolution for key approvals can help keep your records consistent with what you file.
5) Do A Quick “Public Profile Check” Every Quarter
This is a low-effort habit that prevents a lot of headaches.
Every few months, check that your Companies House page shows the correct:
- registered office,
- director list,
- PSC details, and
- filing status (confirmation statement and accounts up to date).
It’s much easier to fix issues early than to untangle them during a due diligence process or when you’re trying to open a bank account quickly.
Key Takeaways
- Some Companies House filings have fixed fees (like incorporation and the confirmation statement), but many common updates (like director changes) are free.
- The biggest “cost” is often late filing penalties, especially for annual accounts - which can add up quickly and may double for repeat late filing.
- Budget for typical Companies House filing fees like incorporation, confirmation statements, name changes, and charge registration, and remember online filing is often cheaper.
- Staying compliant is mostly about systems: set up a calendar, file online, keep internal company records consistent, and do regular checks of your public profile.
- If your business has changed (new shareholders, new directors, new funding, or restructuring), it’s worth getting legal support so your governance documents and filings match the reality of how you operate.
If you’d like help setting up your company properly or keeping your filings and company documents compliant as you grow, you can reach us at 08081347754 or team@sprintlaw.co.uk for a free, no-obligations chat.
