It ensures that all information about a company available on Companies House is accurate and up to date and prevents false information from being accessible.
At Pineapple Accounts, we understand how overwhelming it can be to keep on top of your filing requirements while also running your business. This article aims to explain what the Confirmation Statement is, the information you must include and how you can file the document.
What is a Confirmation Statement?
The Confirmation Statement is a form that every business in the UK must submit at least once a year to Companies House that confirms your business information is accurate. It has replaced the annual return.
What is the purpose of a Confirmation Statement?
The annual Confirmation Statement has the purpose of confirming the company details filed and available publicly online are accurate and up to date. You must submit an annual Confirmation Statement whether there is information to update about your business or not, whereby if there is no information to update you can submit your Statement with all the same information as the previous.
What does a Confirmation Statement include?
A Confirmation Statement includes:
Company Information
- Details of your registered office
- Directors
- Secretary
- Service address where you keep your records
Shareholder Information
The majority of companies are limited by shares and in other words are owned by shareholders who have their own individual rights depending on their share class. If this is the case for your company, you must include shareholder information in the Confirmation Statement.
Statement of Capital
A statement of capital provides a snapshot of your company’s share capital on a certain date. It includes information on:
- Number of shares in the company
- Aggregate nominal value (number of shares issued multiplied by nominal value)
- The total aggregate amount unpaid, if there is any (including nominal value and any share premium)
- Names of share classes and the total number of shares in that class
- The prescribed particulars of the rights attached to shares, such as voting rights and number of votes on company matters, the share of dividends, and any right to redeem shares for money
Business Description and SIC Code
SIC code stands for Standard Industrial Classification and is a four-digit number that is used as a short description of a business type. There are 1000 possible SIC codes and all companies will have a relevant SIC code that they must include in their Confirmation Statement.
Some examples of SIC codes include 69202 for bookkeeping, 71111 for architecture, 73110 for advertising, and more. If you are a new company and aren’t sure of your company’s SIC code, you can browse Companies House’s full list of SIC codes to identify the code that most closely aligns with your business offering.
The SIC code is used by those reviewing company filings to easily identify the business type and activities.
People with Significant Control (PSC)
If a company is submitting their first Confirmation Statement, you must also include details of people with significant control (PSC) at your company. These people include owners and/or those with control over or a large degree of influence over the company running, decisions and economic activities.
According to Companies House, PSCs generally meet one or more ‘nature of control’ conditions including:
- Own more than 25% of shares in the company
- Own more than 25% of voting rights in the company
- Have the right to appoint or remove the majority of the board of directors
You will need to determine who is being named as a PSC, inform them a minimum of 14 days prior to the submission of your Confirmation Statement, and provide various details about them as part of your statement including:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Nationality and country of residence
- Correspondence address - known as the ‘service address’
- Home address (this is not available to the public unless it is the same as the service address)
- The date they became a PSC of the company
- The date you entered them into your PSC register
- All natures of control which apply
You must also include the level of their shares and voting rights, within the following categories:
- Over 25% up to (and including) 50%
- More than 50% and less than 75%
- 75% or more
If details change, you must update any of the above information within 14 days in your company’s PSC register and send these to Companies House.
How to File a Confirmation Statement
Check Your Company Details
Before you file a new annual Confirmation Statement, you should check all your company details and the individual details of all individuals mentioned. If any information is no longer accurate or outdated, you will need to update this either before you file your statement or in the additional information section of the Confirmation Statement when filing it.
The information you will need to update prior to filing a Confirmation Statement includes:
- Directors and secretaries
- People with significant control (PSC)
- Company’s registered office address
Information that you can update when filing your statement includes:
- Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code
- Statement of capital
- Trading status of shares
- Exemption from keeping a PSC register
- Shareholder information
Online Filing Process
The recommended way to file a Confirmation Statement is online for a fee of £13. If your company meets the below requirements, you can file a Confirmation Statement here with a Companies House account:
- Private company limited by shares
- Only one shareholder
- Between 1 and 5 officers
- 5 people with significant control (PSCs) or less
If you don’t meet the above requirements, you will need to create or log in to a WebFiling account with Companies House to be able to do so.
Alternatively, you can file a Confirmation Statement by post by completing form CS01 or LL CS01 if you are an LLP, however, this will cost you £40 which is significantly more.
Deadlines and Late Filing Penalties
Your Confirmation Statement must be filed within 14 days of your review period ending. The review period lasts for 12 months and begins on the date of your company being formed or the state of your previous Confirmation Statement. The review period ends the day before the anniversary date of your company’s formation or the date of your previous Confirmation Statement. Companies House will always send a reminder via post in advance to your company’s registered office.
If you fail to file a Confirmation Statement, there are no financial consequences however it is a criminal offence. Failing to file a statement for long periods of time could result in serious consequences such as your company being taken off the register and dissolved as Companies House will assume you are no longer trading.
Let Pineapple Handle Your Confirmation Statement
The Confirmation Statement from Companies House is a vital tool in ensuring your UK business remains compliant with statutory requirements and that the information about your company is available to the public is up to date.
At Pineapple Accounts, we recognise the importance of staying up-to-date with company documentation, and our team are able to support you every step of the way. If you have any further questions or need assistance in preparing and filing your Confirmation Statement, don't hesitate to reach out to our team of experienced online accountants.
Let us help you navigate the complexities of business compliance, so you can focus on what truly matters – growing your company and achieving your goals. Contact us today or browse our monthly accounting packages to ensure your Confirmation Statement is handled with precision and care.
Bronze
From £25+ VAT per month
- Accounts & Taxes
- Registration of business with Companies House & HMRC
- Preparation of accounts
- Preparation of business taxes
- Pineapple support on Whatsapp with a chartered accountant
- Pineapple Portal to e-sign documents securely
- References for finance and mortgage applications
Silver
From £102.50+ VAT per month
- All included in the Bronze package
- VAT Returns
- Payroll
Gold
From £142.50+ VAT per month
- All included in both Bronze and Silver packages
- Expense Software
- Xero Accounting Software
- Debt Recovery
- Bookkeeping & Reconciliation
- Live Management Reporting accounts with KPI reporting
Black
Bespoke Price+ VAT per month
- If your company doesn’t fit with one of our monthly packages, we can offer a bespoke designed Black plan to suit your complex situation. Speak to one of our chartered accountants today to receive a bespoke quote for a tailored service.
FAQs
What happens if I don't file a Confirmation Statement?
If you fail to file a Confirmation Statement, there are no financial consequences however it is deemed as a criminal offence. Failing to file a statement for long periods of time could result in serious consequences such as your company being taken off the register and dissolved as Companies House will assume you are no longer trading. If your company is dissolved, your business assets will be transferred to the Crown and directors risk prosecution.
How often should I file a Confirmation Statement?
You must file a Confirmation Statement annually, to comply with Companies House’s requirements. You can, however, submit a Confirmation Statement more than once per year if you wish, for example, if there is information you need to update in your record throughout the year. Any additional filings are free of charge.
Can I update my company information outside of the annual filing?
Yes, you can submit a Confirmation Statement whenever you wish to, if there is information you need to update in your record throughout the year. Any additional filings are free of charge.
What are the costs associated with filing a Confirmation Statement?
There is an annual fee upon submitting your Confirmation Statement, this is £13 if you file your statement online or £40 if you are submitting by post using a paper form. The fee is collected when filing your statement, which is annually either on the anniversary of your previous statement or for new businesses the day prior to the anniversary of the date of incorporation.
The system will inform you when your next Confirmation Statement and annual fee are due. If you are to make any subsequent Confirmation Statements within the same year period, you won’t have to pay the fee again.
Can I file a Confirmation Statement for a dormant company?
Yes, you can and must file a Confirmation Statement for a dormant company. In the UK, even if your company is dormant and not actively trading, it still has a legal obligation to submit an annual Confirmation Statement to Companies House.
A dormant company is one that has had no significant financial transactions during a specific accounting period. This could be a new company that has not yet commenced trading, a company that has ceased trading, or a company that is temporarily inactive. Regardless of its dormant status, the company must submit the Confirmation Statement at least once every 12 months.
Who is responsible for filing Confirmation Statements?
The responsibility for filing Confirmation Statements lies with the company's officers, specifically the directors, or the person designated as the company's ‘authorised person’. In the UK, every company is required to have at least one director, and their primary responsibility is to ensure the company's compliance with legal obligations, including filing the Confirmation Statement with Companies House.
