# What is a confirmation statement and do I need to file one?

Pick My Accountant (https://pickmyaccountant.co.uk/answers/what-is-a-confirmation-statement/): What is a confirmation statement and do I need to file one? — Quick answer. The confirmation statement (form CS01) is an annual check-in with Companies House confirming your company's registered details are current — directors, registered office, shareholders, people with significant control, and SIC codes. Every company must file at least one every 12 months, even if dormant and even if nothing changed. It's not accounts and contains no financials; failing to file can ultimately get the company struck off.

## Key facts

- Due at least once every 12 months, within 14 days of the end of your review period
- Filed online with a Companies House fee (payable once per 12-month period, however many statements you file)
- Covers registered details only — no financial information
- Dormant companies must still file
- Persistent failure is a criminal offence for directors and leads to strike-off

## What you're actually confirming

That the public register is accurate: registered office and email, directors and secretary, share capital and shareholders, people with significant control (PSCs), and your SIC activity codes. Changes like a new director or address are meant to be reported when they happen through separate filings — the confirmation statement is the annual sweep that certifies everything currently shown is right, and the place to update shareholder details and SIC codes.

## Deadlines and the review period

Your review period runs 12 months from incorporation (or from your last statement's date), and you have 14 days after it ends to file. You can file early — doing so resets the review period, and many companies file alongside another change to keep things tidy. Unlike accounts there's no automatic monetary late-filing penalty, but don't relax: an overdue statement flags publicly on your record, and Companies House will begin strike-off proceedings against companies that stay silent.

## Filing it yourself vs via your accountant

It's genuinely one of the simpler filings — Companies House's online service walks through each section, and if nothing changed you're mostly clicking confirm. Most accountants include it in limited-company packages and handle it with your annual accounts, which is worth it mainly so one professional owns the whole compliance calendar. If you self-file, diarise the deadline: 'we forgot the confirmation statement' is one of the most common reasons small companies drift towards strike-off warnings.

## FAQs

**Q: Is the confirmation statement the same as annual accounts?**
A: No — accounts report finances and are due 9 months after your year end; the confirmation statement certifies registered details and is due within 14 days of your annual review period. Companies must file both, on separate clocks.

**Q: What does it cost?**
A: A modest Companies House fee, paid once per 12-month payment period no matter how many statements you file in it — check the current fee on gov.uk. Accountants typically bundle the filing into monthly packages.

**Q: What if my company is dormant?**
A: You still file — dormant status exempts you from some accounts requirements, never from the confirmation statement. It's precisely how Companies House knows a dormant company still exists on purpose.

Updated: 2026-07-09

Source: https://pickmyaccountant.co.uk/answers/what-is-a-confirmation-statement/