What is a confirmation statement (and why it matters)
A confirmation statement (form CS01) is your company's annual "yes, this information is still correct" declaration to Companies House. Think of it as your company's annual check-in, confirming:
- Your company's registered office address
- Details of all directors and company secretaries
- Shareholders and share capital information
- People with significant control (PSC) register details
- Your Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes
Since 2016, confirmation statements replaced the old annual return (form AR01)[1], making the process simpler but no less critical to get right.
The Critical Deadline Rule
Your confirmation statement must be filed within 14 days of your "confirmation date" – which is either the anniversary of your company's incorporation, or the anniversary of your last confirmation statement. Miss this 14-day window and penalties start immediately.
The penalties explained: Criminal offense, not just a fine
Unlike accounts penalties which are automatic and escalating, failing to file your confirmation statement is treated as a criminal offence[2]. According to Companies House guidance, "Not filing your accounts or confirmation statements is a criminal offence. Directors or LLP designated members could be personally fined for this in the criminal courts."
Confirmation Statement Penalties
Criminal fine: Up to £5,000
Directors can be personally prosecuted in criminal courts for failing to file confirmation statements. According to GOV.UK, "You can be fined up to £5,000 and your company may be struck off if you do not send your confirmation statement"[3].
Company strike-off
The registrar can take steps to strike your company off the register for non-filing. Once struck off, your company ceases to exist and all assets vest in the Crown.
Personal director liability
As a director, you are personally responsible for ensuring the confirmation statement is filed. The criminal prosecution targets you individually, not just the company.
This is separate from and in addition to any penalties for late accounts. The criminal nature of the offense makes it potentially more serious than late filing penalties for accounts.
The mistake that costs companies their existence
Here's where it gets serious: many directors treat confirmation statements as "just admin" and let them slide. Unlike accounts penalties which are financial (though expensive), confirmation statement failures can result in criminal prosecution and company dissolution.
Real Example: The Dissolved Company
A small consulting firm with two directors stopped filing confirmation statements during a period of low trading. After missing two consecutive years, Companies House initiated strike-off proceedings.
The directors had to go through court restoration procedures, costing over £1,200 in fees and taking 3 months - all because they missed a £34 filing.
Common confirmation statement mistakes
1. Confusing it with accounts filing
These are two separate requirements with different deadlines. Your accounts are due 9 months after your financial year-end. Your confirmation statement is due within 14 days of your confirmation date (typically your incorporation anniversary). Getting one right doesn't cover the other.
2. Forgetting about dormant companies
Even if your company is dormant and you're filing dormant accounts, you still need to file a confirmation statement every year. Being dormant doesn't exempt you from this requirement.
3. How early filing works
Your confirmation date moves forward by 12 months each time you file a statement. You can file your confirmation statement early - from the day after your last statement was filed. If you file early, your next confirmation date becomes 12 months from the date you filed, not your previous confirmation date. This can be strategically useful for managing multiple company deadlines.
4. Incorrect PSC information
Your confirmation statement must include up-to-date PSC details[4]. Many filings get rejected because the PSC register hasn't been properly maintained, leading to delays and potential additional penalties.
Confirmation Statement Filing Timeline
12 months before deadline
Previous confirmation statement filed or company incorporated
2-4 weeks before confirmation date
Ideal time to prepare and file your statement
Confirmation date
Your 14-day filing window begins
Day 15+ after confirmation date
Late filing - criminal offense begins
How to file your confirmation statement
Filing is straightforward, but you need to be prepared:
Before you file, gather:
You can file online through the Companies House WebFiling service or use commercial software. The online filing fee is £34 – a small price to avoid criminal prosecution and strike-off.
Filing vs. Confirmation Dates: The Confusion
You can file your confirmation statement early – from the day after your previous confirmation statement. When you file early, your next confirmation date becomes 12 months from the date you filed. For example, if you file on January 1st when your confirmation date was January 31st, your next confirmation date will be approximately January 1st the following year, not January 31st.
What happens if you're already late
If you've missed your deadline, don't panic – but do act quickly:
- File immediately – Every day you delay increases the risk of prosecution and strike-off proceedings
- Accept that you've committed a criminal offense – Late filing is not a civil penalty; it's a criminal matter that can result in prosecution
- Update your systems – Set up reliable reminders for next year's statement to avoid repeating the mistake
- Check for other missed filings – If you've missed one confirmation statement, double-check you haven't missed others or your accounts
Unlike late filing penalties for accounts which are automatic and fixed, confirmation statement penalties are discretionary and decided by criminal courts. There is no automatic penalty notice - instead, you could face prosecution.
Prevention strategies that actually work
1. Set multiple reminders
- Calendar reminder 60 days before your confirmation date
- Follow-up reminder 30 days before
- Final reminder 7 days before
- Emergency reminder on your confirmation date
2. File early when possible
Consider filing 2-4 weeks before your confirmation date. This gives you buffer time if there are any issues with your filing or if information needs updating.
3. Maintain accurate records year-round
Don't wait until filing time to update director details, share information, or PSC records. Keep these current throughout the year so filing is a quick administrative task, not a research project.
4. Use automated monitoring
Services like CH Watch automatically track your confirmation statement deadlines and send you reminders well in advance. For £12/month, you avoid the stress and the expensive penalties.
Multiple companies: Managing multiple confirmation dates
If you're a director of multiple companies, each one has its own confirmation date based on its incorporation date. This means potentially juggling several different deadlines throughout the year.
Multi-Company Director Challenge
A director with 5 companies could have confirmation dates in January, March, June, August, and November. That's 5 separate deadlines to track, 5 sets of information to prepare, and 5 opportunities for costly mistakes.
Solution: Centralized deadline monitoring that tracks all your companies in one place, with reminders sent for each upcoming deadline.
The £34 vs £5,000 Math
Annual confirmation statement filing: £34
CH Watch monitoring (catches missed deadlines before prosecution): £12/month
Criminal fine for missing confirmation statement: Up to £5,000
Company strike-off and restoration: £1,000-£3,000+
The choice seems obvious, doesn't it?
Key takeaways
- 14-day deadline is non-negotiable – Unlike accounts which give you 9 months, you only get 14 days after your confirmation date
- Criminal offense, not just a fine – You can be personally prosecuted with fines up to £5,000
- Strike-off risk is real – Companies House can dissolve your company for non-filing
- Dormant companies aren't exempt – You still need to file even if trading has ceased
- Filing is cheap, consequences are expensive – £34 to file vs. up to £5,000 in criminal fines plus strike-off costs
- Prevention is simple – Calendar reminders and automated monitoring eliminate the risk
Your Confirmation Statement Action Plan
References
- [1]Confirmation Statement Guidance - Companies House Available at:www.gov.uk/government/publications/confirmation-statement-guidance [Accessed November 2025]
- [2]Late Filing Penalties: Consequences of not filing - Companies House Available at:www.gov.uk/government/publications/late-filing-penalties/late-filing-penalties#consequences-of-not-filing [Accessed November 2025]
- [3]Running a Limited Company: Confirmation Statement - GOV.UK Available at:www.gov.uk/running-a-limited-company/confirmation-statement [Accessed November 2025]
- [4]Confirmation Statement Guidance: People with Significant Control Available at:www.gov.uk/government/publications/confirmation-statement-guidance/confirmation-statement-guidance#people-with-significant-control-psc [Accessed November 2025]