Running a limited company comes with plenty of responsibilities, and some are easy to overlook when business gets busy. Confirmation statement filing is one of them. It might look like another form to fill out but it helps make sure a company’s public details are correct and current.
For directors in the UK submitting a confirmation statement is more than hitting a deadline. It is also a chance to look at the information stored at Companies House and make sure it shows how the business is run now.
Get help with Confirmation Statement filing and other routine UK company administration making it easier to stay on top of your Companies House responsibilities.
A change in shareholders, an updated registered office address or a director’s details can easily be missed. If these details stay wrong they can cause work later on.
The good news is that a little preparation can make the process much easier. This guide explains what directors should review before filing, which details deserve attention and how to avoid common mistakes.
1. Check Your Company’s Filing Deadline
Before looking at any company details make sure you know when your next confirmation statement is due.
Every company in the UK has to submit a confirmation statement at one time during each review period even if nothing about the company has changed. The review period usually takes 12 months. The statement needs to be submitted within 14 days after that period ends.
You can look at your company’s filing history and the dates for the confirmation statement using the Companies House service. By waiting until the very last day, put the deadline in your business calendar. A reminder a week before the due date helps you have enough time to look at the records, get any needed information and fix any problems.
2. Review Your Registered Office Address and Company Details
The address where your company is officially registered is the place where Companies House sends letters about your business. This address is also shown to the public in the company’s records.
Before you file anything make sure the address is correct and that your company can get letters there. If your company has moved to a place remember that changing your internal records does not automatically tell Companies House. You must let Companies House know about the address using the right procedure.
You should also look at the information needed for the confirmation statement. Make sure all the details are right and check for any mistakes before you send the filing.
Keeping these details correct helps your company get messages and makes it less likely that you miss any letters about your legal responsibilities.
3. Confirm Director and Secretary Information
Director information is another area that deserves attention. Even though a confirmation statement does not replace the need to inform Companies House about changes in company officers, looking at the record can help you spot mistakes or missing updates. For example a director might have changed their name, resigned or joined the company during the review period.
These changes should be reported through the Companies House process instead of depending only on the confirmation statement. If your company has a secretary, review the information too.
It is also helpful to compare the record with the company’s internal records to find inconsistencies. Taking a few minutes to check these details can help avoid confusion when dealing with banks, suppliers, professional advisers or other organisations that rely on company information.
4. Check Shareholders and Share Capital
Shareholder information deserves attention because mistakes can impact a company’s ownership records and lead to confusion during future transactions.
Before submitting the confirmation statement carefully review the shareholder information and share capital details. Think about whether shares have been transferred and new shares have been. If the company has changed its share structure.
For companies that have share capital the statement of capital should also be checked when it applies. This document holds details about the company’s shares and the rights tied to them.
Keep in mind that the confirmation statement does not replace all the filings needed when a company changes its share capital or ownership. Depending on what has happened additional notices or filings might be required.
If the company’s ownership arrangements are complex, getting advice before submitting the statement can help avoid unnecessary errors. Accurate records are especially important when the business plans to bring in investors transfer shares or restructure its ownership.
5. Review People with Significant Control (PSCs)
People with Significant Control often called PSCs are people or legal organizations that meet conditions to have real power over a company.
For companies this means people who own more than 25 percent of the shares or the right to vote or who have a major say in how the company is run. The rules also include rights that let someone choose or remove directors.
Check the company’s PSC information to make sure it is still correct. A change in who owns shares or in voting rights or in how control’s managed could change who is considered a PSC.
For example if a person buys shares or if a new person gains major control the company might need to change its PSC information using the right process.
Like with director details some changes need to be reported on their own. Not just added to the next confirmation statement. Keeping the records and the notifications up to date helps make sure that the information at Companies House shows who really controls the business.
6. Check Your Company’s SIC Code
A Standard Industrial Classification code explains what kind of business a company is involved in. Companies House uses these codes to sort businesses based on the work they do.
When you are getting ready to file your confirmation statement, think about whether the current code shows what the company does best.
For example a company that started with marketing services might now do software development. Offer advice. If the work the company does has changed a lot the old code might not fit anymore.
Check the Companies House SIC code list to find the best match. If the company does things it might need more than one code depending on the rules, for filing.
This step can be missed, especially if the business changed slowly over time.. A correct SIC code helps make sure the company’s public information matches what it actually does.
7. Understand Identity Verification Requirements
Identity verification is a part of staying compliant with Companies House rules. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 brought changes adding identity checks for directors and people with significant control. These checks are being rolled out in steps, not all once.
Starting from 18 November 2025 anyone who becomes a director must complete identity verification as part of their appointment or when a company is being set up. That’s not just for people. Current directors and people with significant control also have to meet the rules and they need to do it by their own deadlines.
Before you file anything with Companies House make sure the relevant people have done their verification. If needed they should have gotten a code. You also need to check if you’re required to include that code or other verification details when you submit your filing.
The rules can be different depending on who the person’s what role they have. So don’t guess. Always check the recent guidance from Companies House to be sure.
8. Confirm the Filing Fee and Submission Process
After you have looked over the details, check the current filing fee. Decide how the confirmation statement will be filed.
Companies usually file online through the Companies House service.. They can choose an authorised filing method if it is available. Some businesses also hire an accountant or a company formation agent to manage compliance work.
Check the fee before you submit because Companies House fees can change. The charge that applies depends on the filing method and the circumstances. The confirmation statement is separate from the company’s accounts. Filing the confirmation statement does not remove the obligation to prepare and submit accounts. It also does not remove the obligation to meet statutory requirements.
After submitting the statement, retain the acknowledgement and payment record with the company’s compliance documents. You can then check the Companies House public record to make sure the filing has been processed and the information appears as expected.
A Director’s Final Checklist Before Filing
Before you submit your confirmation statement use this combined checklist to ensure you have taken care of all the things.
- Check the review period and the date when you need to file.
- Look at the registered office address and other company details that matter.
- Go over the information about the directors and the company secretary.
- Make sure the shareholder details, share capital and the statement of capital are correct if they apply.
- Check the company’s PSC information.
- Ensure the SIC code shows what the company is doing now.
- Review the identity verification rules and personal codes that are needed.
- Check if there are any notifications or filings, with Companies House that have not been done.
- Look at the filing fee and how you will submit the document.
- Save the confirmation that you filed and then check the record later.
Going through this check before you send everything in can help you find any missing details and fix any problems without having to rush to meet the deadline.
What Happens if You Miss the Confirmation Statement Deadline?
Missing a confirmation statement deadline can cause problems with following the rules. Companies House might get in touch with the company about a filing and not meeting the needed rules can lead to more serious actions, including possible removal from the register in certain cases.
Directors should take the deadline seriously instead of thinking that filing late won’t matter. If you find out that the statement is late, look at the company’s situation and file the missing statement as quickly as possible. If other papers are also late, find them. Handle each one on its own.
If the company has gotten a message from Companies House or is dealing with a difficult compliance problem, getting help from a professional can make it easier to know what to do next. You can consider this Confirmation Statement Filing Guide to get complete information.
Make Confirmation Statement Filing Part of Your Routine
Directors do not have to wait until the confirmation statement deadline to look at their company’s records. A simple internal review every month can help you spot changes that need to be reported.
This is especially useful when the company is growing, when the company appoints directors, when the company issues shares or when the company changes its business activities. Regular checks can highlight notifications before they become a problem.
However remember that certain changes must be reported within timeframes. Do not wait for the confirmation statement if Companies House rules require an earlier notification.
