Confirmation Statement Deadline: When to File Your CS01
Missing your confirmation statement deadline can lead to your company being struck off the register — yet many directors aren't sure when theirs is due. This guide explains how to find your CS01 deadline, what happens if you're late, and how to make sure you never miss it.
When Is Your Confirmation Statement Due?
Your confirmation statement must be filed within 14 days of your company's statement date. This gives you a filing window — not a single day, but a two-week period after the statement date.
How Your Statement Date Is Set
Your statement date is determined by one of two things:
- First confirmation statement: Your statement date is the anniversary of your company's incorporation. If your company was incorporated on 5 April 2024, your first statement date is 5 April 2025.
- Subsequent statements: Your next statement date is 12 months from the date you last filed a confirmation statement (the "made-up date" on your previous CS01).
Example Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Company incorporated | 5 April 2024 |
| First statement date | 5 April 2025 |
| Filing deadline (14 days later) | 19 April 2025 |
| CS01 filed | 12 April 2025 |
| Next statement date | 5 April 2026 |
| Next filing deadline | 19 April 2026 |
How to Find Your Deadline
You can check your confirmation statement due date in several ways:
- Companies House website: Search for your company at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk and look under "Filing history" or "Next accounts and confirmation statement due"
- Filing software: Most company filing tools show your CS01 deadline on your dashboard
- Companies House email reminders: If you've registered for the Companies House email reminder service, you'll receive a notification before your deadline
What Happens If You File Late?
The consequences of missing your confirmation statement deadline are serious — potentially more severe than missing your company tax return deadline, because they can result in your company being removed from the register entirely.
Strike-Off Action
If Companies House doesn't receive your confirmation statement, they can:
- Issue a warning letter — Companies House writes to your registered office address warning that your company will be struck off if you don't file
- Publish a notice in the Gazette — A formal notice is published giving two months for objections
- Dissolve the company — If no objection is received, your company is struck off the register and dissolved
Criminal Prosecution
In persistent cases, directors can face criminal prosecution for failing to file. While prosecution is rare, it's a real risk — Companies House does prosecute, and convictions carry fines.
No Financial Penalty (Unlike HMRC)
Unlike late CT600 filing, there's no automatic financial penalty for a late confirmation statement. The sanction is the threat of strike-off and potential prosecution — which many directors consider worse than a fine.
The Confirmation Statement vs Other Deadlines
Directors often confuse the CS01 deadline with their other filing obligations. Here's how they compare:
| Filing | Deadline | Filed With | Penalty for Late Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirmation statement (CS01) | 14 days after statement date | Companies House | Strike-off risk |
| Annual accounts | 9 months after year end | Companies House | Automatic financial penalties |
| Corporation tax return (CT600) | 12 months after period end | HMRC | £100+ escalating penalties |
| Corporation tax payment | 9 months + 1 day after period end | HMRC | Interest charges |
Can You File Early?
You can only file your confirmation statement on or after your statement date — not before. This is different from annual accounts, which can be filed early.
The logic is that you're confirming your company details are correct as of the statement date. You can't confirm something that hasn't happened yet.
However, you can file additional confirmation statements during the year if your company details change and you want to formally confirm the update with Companies House. Only the first filing in each 12-month period incurs the £50 fee.
How to Avoid Missing Your Deadline
1. Know Your Statement Date
Check it now if you don't know it. Log in to Companies House or check your filing software dashboard.
2. Set Reminders
Don't rely on Companies House email reminders alone — they may go to your registered office address, which might not be where you check email. Set calendar reminders for:
- 14 days before your statement date (to start preparing)
- On your statement date (filing window opens)
- 7 days after (if you haven't filed yet)
3. Check Details in Advance
Review your company details well before your statement date. If anything needs updating (new director, address change), file the relevant change form early so everything is correct when you're ready to confirm.
4. Use Filing Software
Filing software can track your CS01 deadline alongside your other filing obligations, send you automated reminders, and make the filing process faster by pre-populating your company details. See our guide to filing your confirmation statement online for your options.
5. File Promptly
Don't wait until day 14. File as soon as your statement date arrives, while it's fresh in your mind. The process takes less than 10 minutes.
Common Questions
Can I change my statement date? Your statement date advances automatically each time you file. If you want to change it, you can file an early confirmation statement — this resets the 12-month clock from the date you filed.
My company is dormant — do I still have a CS01 deadline? Yes. All companies registered at Companies House must file a confirmation statement, whether trading or dormant. Dormant company obligations include both annual accounts and the CS01.
I've been struck off — can I restore my company? Yes, but it's expensive and slow. You'll need to apply to the court or to Companies House for administrative restoration. It's far easier to file on time.
What if my registered office has changed and I didn't get the warning letter? This is a common problem. Companies House sends strike-off warnings to your registered office address. If that address is out of date, you won't receive the warning. Keep your registered office address current at all times.
Summary
Your confirmation statement is due within 14 days of your statement date — the anniversary of incorporation or your last CS01 filing. Missing it risks your company being struck off the register. There's no automatic financial penalty, but the consequences are potentially worse: dissolution, loss of company assets, and possible prosecution. The best protection is knowing your deadline, setting reminders, and filing promptly when the window opens.