The UK Confirmation Statement is an annual filing with Companies House that confirms your company’s key details are accurate and up to date. You file it to comply with the Companies Act 2006, avoid fines up to £1,500, and maintain good standing.
This statement replaces the old annual return. Companies House requires it yearly. Submit within 14 days of your filing anniversary date.
What Exactly is a UK Confirmation Statement?
A UK Confirmation Statement is a mandatory annual declaration filed online with Companies House. It verifies 12 key company details, including directors, shareholders, and registered office address.
Companies House introduced this in June 2016. It streamlines compliance under the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015. Every UK limited company files one.
The form lists specific data points. Directors confirm share capital details. Shareholders verify their holdings. Registered office addresses get validated.
File via the Companies House web portal. Use your authentication code. Submit in PDF or online format. Companies House processes it instantly.
Over 4 million active UK companies file annually. This represents 99.9% of all filings. Late submissions trigger automatic penalties.
Why Does Companies House Require a UK Confirmation Statement?
Companies House requires a UK Confirmation Statement to maintain a public register of accurate company information. It ensures transparency for creditors, investors, and the public under section 853A of the Companies Act 2006.
Public access drives this requirement. Anyone searches the Companies House database. Banks verify borrower details. Suppliers check trading partners.
The statement prevents outdated records. Fraudsters exploit stale data. Fresh filings block identity theft. Regulators enforce it strictly.
Penalties escalate quickly. Day 15 incurs £150 fine. Day 30 adds £500. Persistent delays lead to strike-off.
Government data shows 150,000 late filings yearly. This equals 3.7% of total submissions. Compliance protects your company’s reputation.
What Key Details Must You Confirm in a UK Confirmation Statement?
Confirm 12 specific details: directors, persons with significant control (PSCs), shareholders, share capital, registered office, SIC codes, and email address for correspondence.
Directors list names, service addresses, and dates of birth. PSCs disclose ownership stakes over 25%. Shareholders report allotted shares.
Share capital breaks down classes and amounts. Registered office matches statutory records. SIC codes classify business activities.
Fourteen standard industrial codes apply. Examples include 62012 for business software development and 68100 for real estate buying.
Email addresses receive Companies House notices. Validate three methods: director signatures, PSC confirmations, and shareholder registers.
Changes since last filing trigger updates. Companies House rejects incomplete submissions.
When Do You File a UK Confirmation Statement?
File your UK Confirmation Statement exactly 14 days after your company’s incorporation anniversary date. Companies House sets this deadline automatically upon registration.
Check your dashboard for the due date. Incorporation papers list the original date. Annual reminders arrive via email.
New companies file first within 14 months of setup. Ongoing filings repeat yearly. No extensions apply.
Companies House data reveals peak filing periods in March and October. These align with 35% of incorporation dates.
Miss the window, and penalties activate. File early to avoid rushes. Use calendar alerts for precision.
What Happens If You Miss the UK Confirmation Statement Deadline?
Missing the deadline triggers automatic fines from £150 to £1,500, plus public marking as overdue. Companies House strikes off non-compliant companies after three months.
Fines scale by delay duration. Under 1 month costs £150. Over 1 month reaches £750. Maximum hits £1,500 after 6 months.
Overdue status appears on your public record. Investors see red flags. Credit checks flag issues.
Strike-off removes your company from the register. Directors face personal liability. Reinstatement costs £370 plus legal fees.
HMRC data indicates 12,000 strike-offs yearly from non-filing. This impacts 0.3% of active firms. Restore via court order only.
How Do You Prepare and File a UK Confirmation Statement?
Prepare by reviewing records for changes, then file online via Companies House using your authentication code. The process takes 10-15 minutes for standard cases.
Gather documents first. Update director details from board minutes. Verify PSC notices under section 790D.
Log into the web portal. Select “File Confirmation Statement.” Answer yes/no questions on changes.
Three upload options exist: no changes, director updates, or PSC additions. Pay £13 fee online. Receive instant confirmation.
Companies House accepts filings 24/7. Approval emails arrive within seconds. Download PDF copies.
Manual Filing vs. Automatic Confirmation Statement Services?
Explore Manual Filing vs. Automatic Confirmation Statement Services to compare DIY processes with managed options for efficiency and compliance.
Self-filing suits simple structures. Agents handle complex share allotments. Weigh time versus accuracy.
What Are the Costs and Penalties for UK Confirmation Statements?
Standard filing costs £13 online or £40 by post. Late penalties start at £150 and scale to £1,500, with average recovery at £370 for strike-offs.
Online remains cheapest. Postage adds delays. Agents charge £20-£50 extra for reviews.
Penalty waivers apply rarely. Appeal within 28 days with evidence. Success rate sits at 15%.
Annual compliance budgets average £50 per SME. This covers filings and minor updates. Budget quarterly.
How Does a UK Confirmation Statement Differ from Annual Accounts?
A UK Confirmation Statement verifies ownership and address details yearly, while annual accounts report financial performance filed 9 months after year-end.
Statements focus on structure. Accounts detail profits, losses, and balances. Both use Companies House.
Statements precede accounts chronologically. Overlap exists in director lists. Accounts require accountant sign-off.
68% of UK SMEs file statements on time versus 52% for accounts. Statements prove simpler.
Cross-reference both for audits. Inaccurate statements delay account approvals.
Why Choose Professional Help to File a Confirmation Statement?
Professionals ensure accuracy, handle updates, and submit on time. File a confirmation statement through experts to avoid errors and fines.
Agents validate data against records. They update PSCs instantly. Deadlines stay met.
From My Company processes 5,000+ filings yearly. Their service integrates with Companies House APIs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a UK Confirmation Statement?
A UK Confirmation Statement is an annual filing with Companies House that confirms your company’s directors, shareholders, registered office, and other key details remain accurate. It replaced the annual return in 2016 under the Companies Act 2006. File it within 14 days of your incorporation anniversary to stay compliant.
How much does it cost to file a Confirmation Statement?
Filing a UK Confirmation Statement costs £13 online through Companies House or £40 by post. Late filings incur penalties starting at £150, scaling to £1,500 based on delay duration. From My Company offers streamlined filing to cover the fee and ensure timely submission.
When is the Confirmation Statement due?
Submit your UK Confirmation Statement within 14 days after your company’s incorporation anniversary date, as set by Companies House. New companies have 14 months for the first filing. Check your Companies House account for the exact deadline to avoid automatic fines.
What happens if you miss the Confirmation Statement deadline?
Missing the UK Confirmation Statement deadline triggers fines from £150 to £1,500 and marks your company as overdue publicly. Prolonged delays lead to strike-off after three months. Use services like From My Company’s File a confirmation statement to file on time and prevent issues.
Can you file a Confirmation Statement automatically?
Companies House offers automatic Confirmation Statement filing for eligible companies with no changes, renewing annually unless stopped. Opt out if updates are needed, such as new directors or PSCs. From My Company handles both manual and automatic options for seamless compliance.
