The UK government introduced confirmation statements as a replacement for the rather clunky annual return AR01 form in June 2016. The confirmation statement is very similar, and essentially does the same thing, but it’s quicker and easier to file.

What is the purpose of a confirmation statement?

A confirmation statement is used to make sure Companies House have the correct information about a limited company. It’s not meant to be a way of reporting any changes in your company (which is a separate process). In essence, the confirmation statement is just that – it’s a statement which confirms the information is accurate.

What’s the difference between the old annual return and the new confirmation statement?

They are fairly similar and contain the same information, though the newer confirmation statement includes much more about ‘People with Significant Control’ (PSCs). This information identifies the people involved in the management and ownership of a company, and is publicly available.

Registering a Person with Significant Control

It’s essential that this information is reviewed regularly and always kept up to date, including:

• The person’s name
• Month and year of birth
• Nationality
• Country of residence
• Service and residential addresses
• The date they took a position of significant control with the company.

It is also important to explain their position and standing in the organisation, and outline why they should be included as a PSC.

What types of organisations must complete a confirmation statement?

All UK limited companies and limited liability partnerships must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months, even if the company or partnership is dormant.

What if I don’t have any changes to report?

If nothing has changed since your last confirmation statement, then you don’t need to submit anything new and can simply ‘check and confirm’ the existing information held on public record.

How do I go about filing a confirmation statement form?

Completing your confirmation statement online is by far the easiest way to submit your information to Companies House. Submitting online also means Companies House will pre-populate much of the form for you, so you only need to edit information rather than start from scratch.

If you would like to update any of the information Companies House holds for your company, you can do this in the ‘additional information’ section of the form online. It can be used for updating your:

• Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code
• Trading status of shares
• Shareholder information
• Statement of capital
• Exemption from having to keep a register of People with Significant Control

If you need to check the information that Companies House already has about your company, you can do so using the Companies House service.

Is there a fee for filing a confirmation statement?

It costs £13 to file a confirmation statement online in any 12-month period. You’ll only ever pay the £13 fee once in a year, so filing another one in the same period won’t result in an extra charge. If you do decide to file a paper submission, the charge jumps to £40. It’s also more laborious without any of it being pre-populated – plus the trip to the post box!

Who within the company or partnership is responsible for completing the confirmation statement?

Larger or publicly owned companies will have a company secretary who will file the confirmation statement on the company’s behalf. If your company doesn’t have a secretary then any of the directors or another designated company member can file it instead.

No matter who takes on the responsibility, the most important thing is that the statement is filed with Companies House on time every year. Our short video explains about the obligations you have as the director of a limited company.

Filing your confirmation statement is a legal obligation and is not optional. There are serious consequences for directors, including fines and prosecution, if it’s not done. Failure to submit the statement on time might also cause the registrar to remove it from the company register.

Remember, your accountant may file on your behalf – but it’s still ultimately your responsibility.

What are ‘review periods’ and how do they work?

Companies House require a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months. The filing can take place any time during your review period.

The ‘review period’ is a pretty straightforward concept. Basically, for new companies that haven’t filed a confirmation statement before, the review period begins at the company’s incorporation date and finishes 12 months later.

For more established companies that have already filed at least one confirmation statement before, the review period begins the day after your last confirmation statement was submitted. It then ends 12 months later. You can send your confirmation statement early if you want to, which resets the clock so the review period ends 12 months afterwards.

What if my confirmation statement is filed late?

You must file your confirmation statement within 14 days of your review period ending. Don’t risk prosecution or being stuck off the register – file on time!

Set a reminder…

If you’re worried about missing the deadline to file your confirmation statement, it’s worth registering online with Companies House and getting signed up for their email reminder service. It’s free to use and up to four people in your company can also receive a reminder. To make it even easier, you can also submit your statement using the link contained in the email. Sign up here.

If you need guidance on any aspect of your company’s confirmation statement, we’re here to help! Get in touch to find out more about our wide range of online accounting services. You can also call 020 3355 4047, or grab an instant quote online

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About The Author

Dean Salmon

I'm an AAT and ACA qualified Chartered Accountant with over 13 years experience working with businesses, contractors and sole traders. I also love watching live music, and quizzes! Learn more about Dean.

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