Confirmation Statement (CS01): UK 2026/27 Filing Guide

You must file a Confirmation Statement (CS01) every year to ensure the information Companies House holds about your company is accurate. This is a fundamental compliance task for every UK limited company, including dormant ones. A timely and accurate CS01 signals good corporate governance; failing to file can lead to your company being struck off the register.

This guide provides the essential details you need to manage this process effectively, incorporating recent legislative changes and updated fees for 2026.

What is The Confirmation Statement (CS01)?

The Confirmation Statement is a mandatory annual filing required under the Companies Act 2006. It serves as a snapshot to confirm that your company’s registered information is correct on a specific date. You use this filing to review the data held by Companies House and verify its accuracy. It is not used to report changes; you must update any information before you file the statement.

Since 2024, as part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, the statement also requires you to confirm that your company’s intended future activities are lawful and that you maintain a registered email address.

Key Information to Verify on Your CS01

Before submitting your Confirmation Statement, you must review and confirm the accuracy of several key details. If you find any discrepancies, you need to file the appropriate forms to update the public record first.

Core Details to Check:

• Registered Office Address: The official address for your company.
• Directors and Secretaries: The personal details of all appointed officers.
• Company Records Location (SAIL Address): The location of your company’s statutory registers, if not at the registered office.
• Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code: The code describing your company’s primary business activities.
• Statement of Capital: Details of issued shares, including class and nominal value.
• Shareholder Information: A list of shareholders.
• People with Significant Control (PSC) Register: Details of individuals or legal entities that own or control your company.

How to File Your Confirmation Statement in 2026

Companies House strongly recommends filing online. The online process is faster, more secure, and significantly cheaper than submitting a paper form.

A Step-by-Step Filing Guide:

1. Gather Your Details: You will need your company number and the authentication code issued by Companies House.
2. Review Your Information: Log in to the Companies House online service and carefully check all the company information held on record.
3. Update Records First: If any details are incorrect (e.g., a director’s address has changed), file the necessary updates before you proceed with the CS01.
4. Complete the Statement: Once all information is correct, you can ‘check and confirm’ the details online to complete the statement.
5. Submit and Pay: Submit the form and pay the statutory filing fee. You will receive an email confirmation once Companies House accepts your filing.

Deadlines and Consequences

Failing to file your Confirmation Statement is a serious compliance breach with significant consequences.

• Filing Deadline: You must file your Confirmation Statement within 14 days of the end of your ‘review period’. This period is typically the 12 months following your company’s incorporation or the date you filed your last statement.
• Consequences of Non-Filing: While there are no automatic financial penalties for a late CS01, persistent failure to file is a criminal offence. Companies House can take steps to strike the company off the register, and its directors may face prosecution.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the Confirmation Statement the same as Annual Accounts?

No. They are two separate filings. The Confirmation Statement verifies your company’s non-financial registered details. Annual accounts report on your company’s financial performance. Both are mandatory but have different deadlines and content.

2. What if nothing has changed in the last 12 months?

You must still file a Confirmation Statement. The purpose is to actively confirm that the existing information remains accurate.

3. Can I file my Confirmation Statement early?

Yes, you can file at any point during your 12-month review period. Filing early will set a new review period start date, beginning from the date of your submission.

References

• Companies Act 2006: The primary legislation governing UK company law, which mandates the filing of a confirmation statement.
• Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023: Introduced new requirements for the confirmation statement, including the lawful purpose declaration.
• Companies House Guidance: Official information on fees and filing procedures. (Source: gov.uk)

Disclaimer: Please note that this content is for informational purposes only. For specific legal or tax matters, you should use the appropriate Practice Area AI within Lawcyborg or set the mode to Auto for a specialised response.

2026 identity verification requirement

Mandatory Companies House identity verification began on 18 November 2025. Existing directors enter their unique personal code through the company’s next confirmation statement during the transition period. In 2026, collect the personal code for every current director before starting the filing.

Each person verifies only once and receives one personal code to use for all company roles. The code is personal—not the same as the company authentication code—and should be stored securely. A director can verify directly using GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.

Companies with more than one director need each director’s personal code. The streamlined confirmation-statement service is only available where its eligibility conditions are met and all director codes have already been provided; other companies use WebFiling or compatible software.

Identity verification for PSCs

People with significant control also have identity-verification obligations. A PSC who is also a director may satisfy the relevant steps using the same personal code, but must provide it through the required service and within the applicable period. A PSC who is not a director follows the PSC-specific notification window. Do not assume filing CS01 alone completes every PSC requirement.

Lawful-purpose statement

Every confirmation statement must confirm that the company’s intended future activities are lawful. This statement is required even where no company information changed. Directors should not treat it as a box-ticking exercise if there are concerns about the company’s operations or control.

Registered email address

Companies must provide a registered email address to Companies House. It is not displayed on the public register, but Companies House uses it for official communication. If the company has not already supplied one, include it with the confirmation statement. Changes to an existing registered email use the separate Companies House process.

2026 filing fees

The fee is payable with the first confirmation statement in each 12-month payment period. Filing additional statements in the same payment period does not normally trigger another annual fee. The payment period is separate from the review period and cannot be changed by filing early.

Pre-filing 2026 checklist

• check the confirmation date and 14-day filing deadline;
• verify registered office and registered email;
• review directors, secretary and PSC information;
• obtain every director’s Companies House personal code;
• confirm share capital and shareholder data;
• check SIC codes and trading status;
• make the lawful-purpose statement;
• use the correct company authentication code;
• pay the current fee and retain the acceptance receipt.

Official 2026 sources

• Companies House: filing a confirmation statement
• GOV.UK: file CS01 and verify identity
• Companies House personal codes
• Current Companies House fees