Confirmation Statement Cost: Companies House Fees And Filing Requirements

If you run a limited company or LLP in the UK, there’s one annual admin job that’s easy to forget until a deadline reminder lands in your inbox: your confirmation statement.

It’s not the most exciting part of building a business, but it matters. Filing on time keeps your company compliant, avoids unnecessary risk, and helps you stay in control of what’s on the public record at Companies House.

In this guide, we’ll break down the Companies House confirmation statement cost, what it covers, what you actually need to confirm, and a practical filing checklist you can use each year.

What Is A Confirmation Statement (And Who Needs To File One)?

A confirmation statement is a filing you submit to Companies House to confirm that the information they hold about your company is correct and up to date.

It replaced the old “annual return” system, but most business owners still think of it as the same idea: a yearly check-in to keep the public register accurate.

Which Businesses Have To File A Confirmation Statement?

Generally, you’ll need to file a confirmation statement if you operate as:

• a UK private limited company (Ltd)
• a public limited company (PLC)
• a limited liability partnership (LLP)

If you’ve chosen to register a company, you should assume this is an ongoing compliance requirement from day one.

When Do You Need To File It?

Companies House sets a “review period” (usually 12 months). At the end of that period, you have a short window to file the confirmation statement.

In practical terms, you should treat it as an annual deadline and plan to file early, especially if you need time to confirm shareholder details or update your registered office address.

Confirmation Statement Cost: Companies House Fees Explained

The confirmation statement cost is a Companies House filing fee you pay when you submit the statement.

The fee depends on how you file:

• Online filing fee: typically £13
• Paper filing fee: typically £40

Most small businesses file online because it’s cheaper, faster, and reduces the chance of processing delays.

Is The Confirmation Statement Fee Paid Every Time You File?

This is where many directors get caught out. Companies House generally charges the fee per year, not per submission.

That means if you file multiple confirmation statements within a 12-month period, you usually only pay the fee once in that year (as long as the subsequent filings fall within the same “payment period”). This can be useful if you need to update details mid-year and want to keep the public record accurate.

Still, it’s sensible to budget for the annual cost as a recurring compliance expense.

Is The Confirmation Statement Cost Tax Deductible?

For many companies, Companies House filing fees are a normal business expense and may be allowable for corporation tax purposes. Whether it applies in your situation depends on your wider accounting position, so it’s worth confirming with your accountant (this isn’t tax advice).

The key takeaway is that while the confirmation statement cost is relatively small, the consequences of missing the filing can be much more disruptive.

What Information Does Your Business Need To Confirm?

The confirmation statement isn’t where you upload your accounts or explain your business performance. It’s focused on confirming (or updating) key company information held by Companies House.

Before you file, you’ll want to check whether anything has changed during the year. Common changes for small businesses include moving offices, appointing a new director, issuing shares to a co-founder, or changing who has “significant control”.

Typical Information Included In A Confirmation Statement

Depending on your company, you may need to confirm details such as:

• Registered office address
• Directors’ details (and company secretary details if you have one)
• People with Significant Control (PSC) information
• Share capital and shareholder information (for companies limited by shares)
• SIC code(s) (your Standard Industrial Classification describing your activities)
• Company’s statement of capital (where relevant)

Why Getting These Details Right Matters

It’s tempting to think this is “just admin”, but your Companies House record is public and often checked by:

• banks and lenders
• potential investors
• commercial landlords and suppliers
• customers (especially in B2B deals)

If you’ve taken investment or brought on co-founders, keeping your share and control information accurate is especially important. That’s also where having a properly drafted Shareholders Agreement can make updates and decision-making much smoother as your business grows.

And if you’ve made constitutional changes (for example, updated share rights or internal decision rules), you should also make sure your Articles of Association are aligned with what’s happening in the business.

How To File Your Confirmation Statement (A Practical Step-By-Step)

Filing is usually straightforward, but it’s worth approaching it as a repeatable annual process. The goal is to keep your compliance clean without it becoming a stressful scramble each year.

Step 1: Check Your Company Details First

Before you start the filing, pull up your Companies House record and cross-check the basics.

Ask yourself:

• Have we changed address (registered office or trading address)?
• Have we appointed/resigned any directors?
• Has ownership changed (new shares issued or transferred)?
• Has anyone become (or stopped being) a PSC?
• Are our SIC codes still accurate?

Step 2: Make Any Required Updates (If Needed)

A common trap is assuming the confirmation statement is where you “report the change”. In reality, many changes have their own separate forms/processes and should be updated first, then confirmed in the statement.

If you’re making shareholder or structural decisions, it’s also smart to document them properly. For example, you might record approvals via a directors' resolution (and in some cases shareholder resolutions too), so you have a clear paper trail if questions come up later.

Step 3: File Online Where Possible

Online filing is usually the default option for small businesses because it’s cheaper and faster (and, as we covered above, the online confirmation statement cost is typically £13 compared to £40 on paper).

From an operational standpoint, online filing also helps if you’re a time-poor founder trying to keep admin low-friction.

Step 4: Pay The Filing Fee And Keep Proof

Once you submit, you’ll pay the fee and receive confirmation. Save a copy of:

• the submission confirmation
• any receipt/payment reference
• the details you confirmed (or updated)

This helps if you change accountants, add directors later, or need to prove compliance during due diligence (for example, if you sell the business or raise funds).

Step 5: Add A Recurring Calendar Reminder

This sounds basic, but it’s one of the most effective compliance habits you can build. Put a reminder 4–6 weeks before the due date each year so you have time to check shareholdings and PSC information properly.

If you’re planning bigger corporate admin tasks at the same time (like filing accounts), you may also want to schedule them together. Companies House filings often come in clusters, and staying ahead reduces the risk of late filings.

For example, if you’re also working out what kind of accounts you need to file, it can help to understand the difference between abridged accounts and full accounts so you’re not rushing multiple compliance tasks at once.

What Happens If You Don’t File On Time?

Because the confirmation statement cost is relatively low, it’s easy to underestimate how serious the filing obligation is. But missing it can create real risk for your company.

Potential Consequences Of Missing Your Confirmation Statement Deadline

If you don’t file, Companies House can take steps including:

• Prosecution of directors in some situations (it’s a legal filing obligation)
• Striking off the company (removing it from the register)

Striking off is a big deal. If your company is removed from the register, it can affect your ability to trade, access banking, enter contracts, and protect the company’s assets and reputation. Fixing it later can be time-consuming and expensive.

It Can Also Create Commercial Headaches

Even before any formal enforcement action, non-compliance can cause practical issues, such as:

• lenders or investors pausing a deal until filings are up to date
• suppliers tightening credit terms
• customers losing confidence if they check your public record

In other words: paying the confirmation statement cost and filing on time is one of those small admin tasks that protects your business far beyond the £13 fee.

Key Takeaways

• The confirmation statement cost is typically £13 online or £40 by paper filing, payable to Companies House.
• A confirmation statement is an annual filing that confirms your company details (like directors, PSCs, registered office, and shareholdings) are accurate on the public register.
• You can often file more than once in a year without paying the fee again (as the payment generally covers a 12-month period), which helps if you need to update your public record mid-year.
• Before filing, check whether you need to update details first (for example, changes to directors, shareholdings, or PSC information).
• Missing the deadline can lead to serious consequences, including enforcement action and the risk of the company being struck off.
• Staying on top of company compliance is part of building strong legal foundations and protecting your business from day one.

If you’d like help keeping your company filings and internal documents in order (especially when you’re bringing on co-founders, issuing shares, or making structural changes), you can reach us at 08081347754 or team@sprintlaw.co.uk for a free, no-obligations chat.