How to File a Confirmation Statement on Time and Get It Right

Most company secretaries and governance professionals have experienced the same moment at least once. A routine internal review uncovers a director who resigned months ago but still appears on the public register or shareholders whose details no longer match internal records. These issues often surface right before a confirmation statement UK filing is due, creating a scramble to correct information before submission.

This is exactly why annual confirmation statement filing matters. It is not just a regulatory formality but a crucial checkpoint that ensures your company’s statutory information remains accurate, credible and compliant.

As Jerri-Lea Brown, Founder of Sage Governance, explains, “A confirmation statement is a governance safeguard. When companies treat it as a strategic review rather than a box-ticking exercise, compliance becomes far simpler to manage.”

Many organisations rely on their internal secretarial teams to manage these reviews, but increasing complexity and tighter Companies House expectations mean these tasks can take more time than they used to. This is where specialist corporate governance support, like the services provided by Sage Governance, can help reduce risk and manage filings with greater consistency.

What Is a Confirmation Statement

Professionals often ask what is confirmation statement and why it matters. At its core, the confirmation statement is an annual statutory filing that verifies your company’s essential details. Understanding what is a company confirmation statement is key because it confirms the accuracy of information already on the public register.

Companies House requires confirmation statements from all limited companies and LLPs. The statement of confirmation includes the registered office address, directors, shareholders, people with significant control (PSCs), share capital and SIC codes. Unlike accounts or tax returns, it focuses on statutory data rather than financial performance.

According to guidance from Companies House all companies must complete a statement of confirmation every 12 months, even if no changes have occurred. Failing to do so risks non-compliance, reputational issues or even strike-off.

As Jerri-Lea Brown notes, “Your confirmation statement acts as a public assurance that the company’s core information is correct. Inconsistent or outdated data damages credibility with regulators, investors and partners.”

When Is a Confirmation Statement Due

Annual confirmation statements play a vital role in maintaining legal compliance and transparency. They verify and update the public record with essential company details, helping regulators, shareholders and potential partners rely on accurate information when assessing your organisation.

A company’s review period lasts 12 months. It begins on the incorporation date or the previous statement date and ends the day before the anniversary. You then have 14 days to complete filing a confirmation statement. The confirmation statement timeline resets every time you file 

Missing confirmation statement deadlines UK can create significant risks, particularly for companies preparing for audits, due diligence or funding rounds.

How to File a Confirmation Statement

For many companies, this is where secretarial support services become invaluable, especially when statutory registers, PSC information or shareholder changes need to be reconciled before filing. Structured oversight helps ensure the confirmation statement process is accurate from the outset, reducing the likelihood of corrections later.

Companies file online through the WebFiling portal. To complete confirmation statement submission, you must:

1. Log into your Companies House account

2. Select your company and start filing a confirmation statement

3. Review and update statutory details such as directors, shareholders, PSCs, SIC codes and capital

4. Confirm accuracy through the statement of confirmation

5. Submit the CS01 form electronically

6. Pay the annual £34 fee

The online confirmation statement forms process usually completes within 24 hours. If information has changed, this must be updated before filing a confirmation statement to ensure confirmation statement compliance.

Understanding how to file correctly prevents avoidable errors and avoids the need to update confirmation statement filings later.

Common Confirmation Statement Mistakes

Most issues arise from avoidable confirmation statement mistakes. The most frequent include failing to update PSC or shareholder information, overlooking director appointments or resignations and choosing incorrect SIC codes. These common confirmation statement mistakes can lead to mismatched public records, which affect credibility during audits or due diligence.

A compliance expert from Inform Direct notes that errors often occur when companies assume no changes have happened, rather than checking internal registers thoroughly.

Other confirmation statement errors to avoid include:

• Using outdated registered office details

• Forgetting to record share allotments

• Submitting without checking the company’s internal registers

• Selecting SIC codes that no longer reflect business activity

These issues are common in companies where governance tasks are managed reactively rather than through a consistent process. External secretarial support can help establish those systems, ensuring registers remain up to date throughout the year rather than only at filing time. 

Repeated confirmation statement mistakes can trigger compliance checks or administrative delays and may complicate companies house filing during critical business transactions.

Penalties for Late Filing

Many companies misunderstand the consequences of late filing of confirmation statement obligations. While there is no automatic financial penalty, the risks remain significant.

Companies House may issue warnings, pursue prosecution or, in severe cases, initiate strike-off action. According to detailed guidance from 1st Formations officers can face fines of up to £5,000 for persistent non-compliance.

Strengthened confirmation statement penalties under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act also reinforce the importance of timely annual confirmation statement filing.

Companies must not rely solely on notification emails. Robust internal controls are essential to ensure no missed deadlines.

This is why many organisations introduce independent governance oversight, particularly when internal teams are stretched. A dedicated compliance partner provides an additional safeguard against missed deadlines and incomplete filings.

Correcting a Filed Confirmation Statement

If you need to update confirmation statement filings or correct confirmation statement errors, the process is manageable when addressed promptly.

To correct inaccuracies, companies submit a new CS01 accompanied by form RP04. This notifies Companies House of the specific error. The updated information should be filed through the WebFiling service, ensuring that all historic changes, such as director updates or shareholder changes, are already reflected.

Companies House typically updates the public register within 24 hours. While there are no additional fees for resubmission, repeated mistakes may draw compliance attention under confirmation statement requirements.

If your company is struggling with outdated registers, inconsistent filings or capacity constraints, Sage Governance can help. We provide corporate governance and secretarial support that keeps your statutory information accurate, your filings on time and your organisation fully compliant. Get in touch to discuss how we can help strengthen your governance processes.

FAQs

What is confirmation statement and why is it required?

A confirmation statement verifies your company’s core statutory information. Companies House uses it to ensure public records are accurate and up to date.

Can I file a confirmation statement early?

Yes. You can file at any point during the 12-month review period. Filing early resets your next confirmation statement date.

What happens if my confirmation statement contains an error?

You can correct confirmation statement errors by resubmitting form CS01 with RP04 to amend the public record. Prompt correction reduces compliance risks.