What Is a Confirmation Statement?
A Confirmation Statement (form CS01) is a mandatory filing that every limited company and limited liability partnership (LLP) registered in the United Kingdom must submit to Companies House at least once every twelve months. The purpose of this filing is to confirm that the information held on the public register about your company remains accurate, complete, and up to date.
In practical terms, the Confirmation Statement acts as an annual “check-in” between your company and Companies House. It ensures that all statutory details including your registered office address, company directors, shareholders, and persons with significant control (PSCs) are still correct. If any changes have occurred since your last statement, these must be reported before or when you submit your next Confirmation Statement.
The Confirmation Statement replaced the former Annual Return on 30 June 2016 under section 853A of the Companies Act 2006. Although the updated process is simpler, the legal obligation remains equally significant which ensures continued transparency, accuracy, and public trust in the UK’s corporate register.
What Does a Confirmation Statement Include?
The Confirmation Statement summarises key statutory information about your business. When you file, you are either confirming that the information on record is still correct or updating the register where necessary. This includes:
- Directors and Secretaries: Full legal names, service addresses, and appointment status of all company officers.
- Registered Office Address: The official address where government correspondence is delivered.
- Principal Business Activities (SIC Codes): The codes that describe the company’s trading nature and sector.
- Share Capital and Shareholdings: Details of issued shares, classes of shares, and each shareholder’s ownership.
- Persons with Significant Control (PSCs): Individuals or entities that own or control more than 25% of the company’s shares or voting rights.
- Trading Status of Shares: Whether your shares are traded on a regulated market or privately held.
Why Your Confirmation Statement Matters
Submitting your Confirmation Statement on time is a legal requirement under the Companies Act 2006. It is not optional every limited company and LLP must confirm its details with Companies House at least once every twelve months. Failure to do so can lead to financial penalties, loss of good standing, and even the company being struck off the public register. In cases of repeated or deliberate non-compliance, company directors may also face personal prosecution.
Filing your Confirmation Statement accurately and on time demonstrates transparency and good corporate governance – principles valued by regulators, investors, and clients. It reassures third parties that your company’s information is current, reliable, and legally compliant.
Maintaining up-to-date records also helps protect your company’s identity by ensuring that Companies House and HMRC both hold consistent information about your business. This reduces the risk of administrative errors, compliance issues, or potential misuse of your company’s details.
