What is a confirmation statement?
What does a confirmation statement contain?
A confirmation statement confirms that the information Companies House holds about the company is up to date, and reports anything that changed. Every company must file one, including dormant and non-trading companies, even if nothing has changed. According to Companies House guidance it covers:
- A statement that the company's intended future activities are lawful.
- Confirmation that directors have verified their identity, with their personal codes.
- People with significant control information.
- The registered email address.
- Changes to directors, secretary, registered office or PSC details.
- Optional updates: SIC codes, statement of capital, shareholder information and whether shares are traded.
When is it due?
The company must deliver it within 14 days after the end of each review period (Companies Act 2006, section 853A). The first review period is the 12 months beginning with the day of incorporation; each later one is the next 12 months. Filing early, at any time, restarts the 12-month cycle from that confirmation date.
The Companies House fee is £50 online or £110 on paper.
Where do you see it on the register?
The Companies House company page shows "Confirmation statement: next statement date" and "due by", and flags the statement as overdue when the due date passes. Each filing appears in the filing history as "Confirmation statement made on [date] with updates" or "with no updates". The free monthly register file carries the same dates (next due date and last made-up date), and the public API returns an overdue flag for the confirmation statement.
Worked example
Example (illustrative, not a real company): a company was incorporated on 10 March 2025.
- First review period: 10 March 2025 to 9 March 2026.
- Deadline to file: 23 March 2026 (14 days later).
- The director files on 1 February 2026 instead. The next review period now runs from 2 February 2026 to 1 February 2027, with a deadline of 15 February 2027.
What happens if you do not file?
Failing to deliver a confirmation statement within 14 days after the review period is an offence by the company and every officer in default under section 853L of the Companies Act 2006, punishable by a fine and, for continued failure, a daily default fine. Companies House guidance says a company can be fined up to £5,000 and may be struck off the register.
Why it matters when checking a company
An overdue confirmation statement is a stronger warning than late accounts, because the filing is short and cheap: missing it often means no one is looking after the company. Persistent non-filing is one of the routes to a first Gazette notice. On 1 October 2026, 423,006 companies had the status "Active - Proposal to Strike off", separate from the 93,785 with overdue accounts (see the data).
You can check a company's filing status before you sign a contract or pay an invoice.
Common confusions
- It is not the annual accounts. It contains no financial figures.
- It is not a tax return. HMRC is not involved.
- "No updates" is a valid filing. It still has to be made every year.
Sources
FAQ
How long do you have to file a confirmation statement?
You have 14 days after the end of the review period. The review period is 12 months from incorporation for the first statement, then 12 months from the last confirmation date. Companies House shows the exact "due by" date on the company's page. You can file earlier, and doing so moves the next review period to start from the date you confirmed.
What is the penalty for a late confirmation statement?
Not filing is a criminal offence for the company and its officers, punishable by a fine and a daily default fine for continued failure. Companies House guidance says companies can be fined up to £5,000 and may be struck off the register. Repeated failure to file is also one of the signals that leads the registrar to start compulsory strike-off.
Do dormant companies need to file a confirmation statement?
Yes. Every company must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months, including dormant and non-trading companies, even when nothing has changed. Fees paid to Companies House for registering a confirmation statement do not count as a significant accounting transaction, so paying the fee does not stop a company from being dormant.
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