An introduction to the annual confirmation statement

The annual confirmation statement is a statutory document that companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) must deliver to Companies House at least once per year.

Introduced in 2016 as a replacement for the annual return, it confirms that certain corporate data registered at Companies House and disclosed on public record is accurate on a specified date. Some company details can also be updated on the confirmation statement itself.

We discuss the purpose and requirements of the annual confirmation statement in detail below, including how and when to file this document with Companies House.

What is the purpose of a confirmation statement?

The confirmation statement is used by limited companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) to verify the accuracy of certain information held on the public register at Companies House. By filing a confirmation statement, you are confirming to Companies House that the following details (where applicable) are correct and up to date at the ‘confirmation’ date:

• company/LLP name
• company registration number
• registered office address
• SAIL address (Single Alternative Inspection Location)
• details of every director and company secretary
• shareholders’ details
• issued share capital
• LLP members’ details
• nature of business activities (specified by SIC codes)
• information about People with Significant Control (PSCs)
• location of statutory company registers

The confirmation date is the date on which you complete the statement and verify the accuracy of company information. It falls on either the anniversary of company formation or the anniversary of the last confirmation date.

Any confirmation statement filed from 5 March 2024 onward must also include a registered email address and a statement confirming that the intended future activities of the company are lawful. These two new requirements were introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

How does the confirmation statement differ from the annual return?

When filing an annual return, companies had to provide all of the aforementioned corporate details on each return, even if there were no changes since the last annual return was filed.

You don’t have to do this with the confirmation statement. Instead, you simply review the details currently held on record and confirm that they are accurate and up to date as of the confirmation date.

See also: Company filing and reporting requirements See also: Reporting changes to Companies House See also: LLP filing and reporting requirements explained

Where there are changes, however, the statement can be used to update certain information. You can report changes to existing shareholders’ details, provide details of new members, report changes to share capital, and change your company’s SIC codes.

If there are any other changes that you need to report to Companies House, you must file the appropriate form(s) before or at the same time as the confirmation statement.

How and when to file a confirmation statement

Company officers (directors and company secretaries) and designated LLP members are responsible for delivering a confirmation statement to Companies House at least once every 12 months. The filing deadline is 14 days after:

• the anniversary of company registration, or
• the anniversary of the date on which you filed your last confirmation statement

You can complete and deliver a confirmation statement online or by post using form CS01. The most effective method is online filing through Companies House WebFiling service or Rapid Formations’ free Client Admin Portal. If the company information registered on public record is correct, you simply need to confirm that the details are accurate and up to date.

Our Confirmation Statement Service - keeping your company legal and compliant

If you need to update the company name, addresses, or details of officers or PSCs, you must complete the relevant Companies House form and submit it with your confirmation statement. You can, however, use the statement to notify Companies House about changes to shareholders’ details, share capital, and SIC codes.

You must pay £34 to file online and £62 to file a paper confirmation statement by post. This is a one-off charge per year, regardless of how many statements or updates you file within a 12-month period. With the annual return, companies had to pay a fee every time they filed the document.

What is the confirmation date?

The confirmation date replaces the ‘made up’ date of the abolished annual return. It is the date on which you must confirm that your company details are accurate. It will fall on the anniversary of company formation or the anniversary of the last confirmation date.

You have a period of 14 days after the confirmation date to deliver the statement to Companies House.

Do I need to provide a full list of shareholders?

There is no longer a requirement to provide a full list of shareholders every three years. This was part of the annual return, which no longer exists.

Dormant company requirements

All companies limited by shares or guarantee, regardless of whether they are dormant or active, must submit a confirmation statement to Companies House at least once every year. If you fail to do so, your company will no longer be in ‘good standing’ and it may be struck off the register.