A Confirmation Statement or form CS01, previously known as annual return, is a legal document that every UK limited company and LLP must submit to Companies House once a year. It confirms that your company’s information held on the public register is accurate and up to date as of a specific review date.
You don't report tax or profits through filing the confirmation statement. Instead, you confirm your company'sstructure: who the directors are, who holds shares, what activities your business carries out, and who controls the company. If any of those details have changed during the year, you update them before or as part of the filing.
What Information Does a Confirmation Statement Cover?
Your confirmation statement confirms the following details held at Companies House:
- Company directors and company secretary
- Registered office address
- Shareholders and share capital
- SIC codes that describe your business activity
- People with Significant Control
- Registered email address
- A statement confirming the company intends to operate lawfully
If any of the above information has changed during your review period, make sure to update it before or when you file. The Confirmation Statement becomes part of the public record, so errors with shareholdings or details about who controls the company can lead to compliance issues and might attract further scrutiny from regulators.
Who Needs to File a Confirmation Statement?
Every UK limited company, LLP, dormant companies and brand new ones must file confirmation statement with Companies House at least once every 12 months. Even if nothing has changed all year, you still have to file, just to confirm everything is up to date. If you don’t, you could face penalties or even have your company struck off.
All of the following must file a confirmationstatement with Companies House every year:
- Active trading companies
- Dormant companies
- Limited liability partnerships (LLPs)
- Newly incorporated companies
- Small, medium and large businesses
When is a Confirmation Statement Due?
If your company is new, your first Confirmation Statement is due within 12 months of incorporation. After that, you need to file every 12 months, and you have 14 days after your review period to submit it.
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Example date (Incorporated or last filed)
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Review period ends
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Final filing deadline
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1 January 2026
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31 December 2026
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14 January 2027
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15 April 2025
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14 April 2026
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28 April 2026
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30 September 2025
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29 September 2026
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13 October 2026
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You can also file confirmation statement early at any point during the review period. When you do, your next 12-month review period starts the day after your filing date. Many companies choose to file early after making changes such as adding a director or updating shareholdings, so that the public register stays updated with the latest information.
What Happens if You File Late?
Filing your confirmation statement late does not carry an automatic financial penalty in the way that late accounts do. However, the consequences are still serious:
- Companies House will issue a warning notice requesting immediate filing
- If you continue to ignore it, Companies House can begin strike-off proceedings meaning removing your company from the register
- A struck-off company loses its legal status, which means it cannot trade, hold assets, or enter contracts
- Directors of struck-off companies can face personal legal consequences for continued trading
If your confirmation statement is already overdue, do not wait. GoForma can file your overdue statement and bring your company back into compliance quickly.
DIY vs GoForma - Which Option Works for You?
You can file your own confirmation statement directly with Companies House. Here is an honest comparison of both options:
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Factor
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DIY with Companies House
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GoForma accountant service
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Cost
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£50 Companies House fee
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£85 (includes £50 CH fee)
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Your time
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60–120 minutes per filing
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15 minutes to provide information
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Accountant review
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None as you are responsible for accuracy
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Named ACCA/AAT accountant checks everything
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Error risk
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You bear full legal responsibility
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We check for errors before submission
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PSC check
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Manual, you must verify yourself
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Included in our review
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Pre-filing advice
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None
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Free consultation with a qualified accountant
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Overdue filings
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You manage the process
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We handle it and bring you back into compliance
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Best for
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Directors confident in their company records
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Directors who want accuracy and peace of mind
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GoForma's advantage: The £35 difference between DIY and GoForma covers a full accountant review, PSC verification, SIC code check and a free pre-filing consultation. For most directors, that is worth significantly more than £35 in time saved and risk avoided.
What’s Included in GoForma’s Confirmation Statement Filing Service?
Our Confirmation Statement Filing service is designed for UK limited companies that want accurate reporting, clear advice and full compliance with Companies House.
Here is what you receive:
- Full review of company records
- PSC verification
- Shareholder and share capital check
- Registered Office and Address Check
- SIC code review
- Filing submission to Companies House
- Confirmation once accepted
- Registered Email Address
Let GoForma Handle Your Confirmation Statement Filing
Your confirmation statement is a legal requirement, not optional, not negotiable and not something you can skip if you are busy. Miss the deadline, and you could face fines, risk being struck off the company register, and deal with unnecessary complications for your business.
GoForma gives you a named, qualified accountant who checks your company records before anything is submitted. We catch errors. We verify your PSC information. We review your SIC codes. And we file correctly, on time and for a fixed fee of £85, including the Companies House charge.
Start with a free consultation. Speak to an accountant about your company's position before you commit to anything. We will confirm your next due date, flag anything that needs attention and explain exactly what we will do. Take action now!
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