For UK-registered companies, file your confirmation statement is an essential annual requirement. The document guarantees that Companies House has current information regarding your company. While it may appear to be a mundane formality, not submitting it can have severe repercussions, such as the possibility of being struck off the register.
Knowing what a confirmation statement is and how to file it properly is crucial in keeping your company in good standing. This tutorial takes you through the fundamentals and the process to guarantee complete compliance.
What Is a Confirmation Statement?
A confirmation statement is a snapshot of your company’s information as maintained by Companies House. Formerly known as the annual return, the confirmation statement verifies that all company details are current and accurate.
Data covered in a confirmation statement typically includes:
- Registered office address
- Company officers (secretaries and directors)
- Shareholders and share structure
- SIC codes (Standard Industrial Classification)
We should note that a confirmation statement is not filed for reporting financial data but to confirm any non-financial company data.
When and How to File It
A confirmation statement must be filed at least once within every 12 months, whose deadline is the anniversary of either your company incorporation or the previous confirmation statement being filed. Companies House accepts a 14-day grace period from this date to submit the form.
You can submit your confirmation statement online or by post:
- Online Filing: This is the quickest method. Using the Companies House WebFiling service, you can submit the statement online. It is £13 per submission (or per year if you submit multiple times).
- Postal Filing: You can submit a paper form (CS01) for £40. This is slower and more prone to human error.
Whether done online or by post, the procedure usually involves verifying the most up to date information and making it up to date if required. Any changes that have occurred (e.g. new directors or a change of registered address) must be notified before filing the confirmation statement.
Further Considerations When Filing
Maintaining information up to date: Any changes in company information before the deadline for the confirmation statement, for example, need to be filed on the appropriate forms (e.g., AD01 to
change an address or AP01 to appoint new directors). They must be filed independently of the confirmation statement.
Exemptions and SPVs: There are no size-of-company or trading exemptions to submit a confirmation statement. All dormant companies, special purpose vehicles (SPVs) set up to hold assets of property, and other limited companies must submit it.
To SPV owners, accurate records under the confirmation statement are especially important since mortgage financiers and investors use data supplied by Companies House on a regular basis for due diligence purposes.
Summary and Next Steps
Filing a confirmation statement is not just a statutory obligation—it’s a key aspect of keeping your company’s public record up to date. Proactive filing on filing dates and reporting changes prevents penalties and keeps your company in good standing.
Whether you’re an experienced businessman or establishing a new organisation, knowing and honouring this responsibility is the secret to hassle-free and compliant business operations. Take it as a practice to go through your company information from time to time, and even schedule reminders on your calendar to file in time annually.
