Confirmation statement
A confirmation statement confirms to Companies House that the details on the public register are correct: directors, shareholders, people with significant control, registered office and SIC codes. It is filed at least once every twelve months.
Also known as: form CS01
How it works
The statement is a check rather than an account. You confirm the register is accurate, correct anything that has changed, and pay the annual filing fee. Share capital changes and shareholder details go on the statement itself; changes of director, registered office or people with significant control should be filed separately as they happen rather than saved up.
The review period runs for twelve months from incorporation or from the last statement, and you have fourteen days after it ends to file. You can file earlier and start a new period, which some companies do when a change needs to be on record quickly.
Since the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act came in, the statement also requires a lawful purpose confirmation and a registered email address for the company, and directors and people with significant control must have verified their identity. Filing is blocked where those requirements are outstanding.
There is no financial penalty scale as there is for late accounts, but the consequence is more serious: persistent failure to file leads Companies House to start strike-off, and directors commit an offence. Bank accounts and contracts are often lost before anyone notices the proposal in the Gazette.
Who this affects
- Every limited company and LLP on the register
- Companies that have issued or transferred shares during the year
- Directors and people with significant control who must verify identity
- Companies that changed registered office or SIC codes
Common mistakes
- Believing the statement replaces filing accounts
- Saving up director or address changes for the statement instead of filing them when they happen
- Missing the fourteen-day window and risking strike-off action
Frequently asked questions
What is a confirmation statement?
An annual filing confirming that the company information on the public register — directors, shareholders, people with significant control, address and SIC codes — is up to date.
When is it due?
Within fourteen days of the end of each twelve-month review period, which starts at incorporation or on the date of the previous statement.
What happens if I do not file it?
There is no automatic penalty, but Companies House can begin strike-off action and directors commit an offence.
Is it the same as annual accounts?
No. Accounts report the company's finances; the confirmation statement only confirms registered details. Both are required.
Related terms
Work this out
Related reading
Reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT · Last reviewed 13 September 2026 · Figures for 2026/27 · About our practice
Official sources
Not sure how this applies to your company? Get a fixed-fee quote.