Keeping your company compliant with Companies House is important. And it’s not optional.

One of the most commonly missed statutory filings is the Companies House Confirmation Statement (CS01). Each year, every UK company must confirm that the information held on the public register is accurate. Failing to do so can have serious consequences for both the company and its directors.

This guide explains what a Confirmation Statement is, when it must be filed, and what happens if you don’t.

What Is a Confirmation Statement?

A Confirmation Statement, also known as a CS01, is a statutory filing required by Companies House. It confirms that the company’s information on the public register is correct as at a specific date.

The Confirmation Statement covers:

• Registered office address
• Directors and company secretaries
• Shareholders and share structure
• People with Significant Control (PSC)
• Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes

Even if no details have changed, the Confirmation Statement must still be filed to confirm this. This applies equally to dormant companies, non-trading companies and small owner-managed businesses.

When Does a Confirmation Statement Need to Be Filed?

A company’s first Confirmation Statement is due 12 months after incorporation. After that, it must be filed at least once every 12 months.

This 12-month timeframe is known as the review period — the period during which a company reviews its statutory information to ensure the details held at Companies House are accurate and up to date.

Once the review period ends, you have 14 days to submit the Confirmation Statement (CS01).

You can file earlier than the deadline if you wish. Doing so simply resets the next review period.

Missing the 14-day filing window immediately puts the company in default.

How Do You File a CS01?

Most companies file their Confirmation Statement online using their Companies House authentication code.

Although a Confirmation Statement is normally filed once every 12 months, a new CS01 must be submitted earlier if certain changes occur during the review period, including:

• Changes to company officers (directors or secretaries)
• A change to the registered office address
• Changes to the company’s principal business activities (SIC codes)
• Changes to share capital or shareholders
• Changes to People with Significant Control (PSC) details

Companies House charges a fee each time a CS01 is filed:

• £34 for online filings
• £62 for paper submissions

Filing early to update information outside the normal review period can, therefore, result in multiple charges.

Before submitting, directors should ensure that:

• All company details are fully up to date
• Any required change notifications have already been filed
• PSC information is accurate and complete

Submitting incorrect information can be just as problematic as failing to file at all.

What Happens If You Don’t File a Confirmation Statement?

Unlike late accounts, there is no automatic fixed penalty — but the consequences can be serious if the missed filing is not put right.

1. Company Marked as Overdue

Companies House will flag the Confirmation Statement as overdue and issue reminder notices. This overdue status is publicly visible and can affect credit checks and commercial confidence.

2. Criminal Offence for Directors

Failure to file a Confirmation Statement is a criminal offence under the Companies Act 2006. Directors may face prosecution and personal fines if the failure continues.

3. Enforcement Action and Financial Penalties

Companies House now has enhanced enforcement powers and may issue financial penalties where compliance failures persist.

4. Company Strike-Off

If a Confirmation Statement remains outstanding, Companies House may assume the company is no longer trading and begin strike-off proceedings.

Once struck off:

• The company ceases to exist
• Bank accounts are frozen
• Company assets may pass to the Crown
• Restoring the company becomes time-consuming and costly

This is one of the most serious — yet entirely avoidable — outcomes of non-compliance.

 

Why Filing Your Confirmation Statement Matters

Filing a Companies House Confirmation Statement is not just an administrative exercise. It:

• Protects directors from legal and personal risk
• Ensures the company remains in good standing
• Maintains credibility with banks, suppliers and customers
• Prevents escalation into enforcement action or strike-off

In our experience, missed filings are rarely deliberate — but they are easily avoidable.

We Can Help

Keeping on top of your CS01 filings is one of the many things we can manage on your behalf as part of our company secretarial service.

We monitor deadlines, review Companies House records and file your Confirmation Statement accurately and on time — reducing risk and removing an ongoing compliance burden from your plate.

At de Jong Phillips, we work exclusively with agencies to run their finance functions.