A confirmation statement is a document that limited companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) in the United Kingdom must file annually with Companies House.
Let’s find out more about it, and how it works.
What do you have to include?
The confirmation statement contains information about the company, including
- its registered office address
- names and addresses of its directors and secretaries
- details of its shareholders.
It’s used to confirm that the information held on record by Companies House is accurate and up-to-date.
Here’s an example of a confirmation statement from Companies House, so you can see what needs to be included.
When does it need to be filed?
Your first confirmation statement needs to be filed within 12 months of your incorporation date, and then every 12 months.
The deadline for filing the confirmation statement is 14 days after this 12 month period.
So if your company is incorporated on 14 February 2023, your first confirmation statement will report on any changes for the 12 months to14 February 2024.
You have to file this confirmation statement by 28 February 2024.
When might the filing deadline change?
You can file a confirmation statement at any time during the year, for example if you want to force through some changes you’ve made, like updating shareholders.
As soon as you file a confirmation statement ahead of your usual reporting period, Companies House will update your reporting period and deadlines.
So using the example above, your original reporting period is 14 February. But you make some changes to shareholders mid-year, so you file a new confirmation statement on 30 September 2023.
Your new reporting period is now 30 September each year, and the filing deadline will be 14 October each year.
Who files the confirmation statement?
This is the responsibility of the directors of the company, but you can ask your accountant to do it for you.
How do you file the confirmation statement?
You can file via the Companies House online service.
You’ll need to have a Companies House login.
You’ll also need your company’s registration number, and authentication code.
The authentication code is unique to your company. If you’ve lost it, you can request it to be posted to you via the above link.
It usually arrives within 48 hours.
How much does it cost?
The Companies House filing fee is £13, which you pay online when you submit the confirmation statement.
Your accountant will usually charge a set fee, which will include the filing fee, and a fee for their expertise and time.
What’s an annual return?
The confirmation statement used to be called an annual return, but the name was changed in 2016 when the process was streamlined and simplified.
Some people still refer to it as an annual return.
What next?
If you’d like our help with your limited company, check out how we work here and get in touch.
Also check out our other Limited Company guides here:
- Do I need a limited company?
- How do I take cash out of my limited company?
- Should you buy a car through your limited company
- Should I buy an electric car through my business?
