How to File Your Confirmation Statement Online
Every UK limited company must file a confirmation statement with Companies House at least once a year. Formerly known as the annual return, this filing confirms that the information Companies House holds about your company — directors, registered office, SIC codes, and shareholders — is correct and up to date.
Filing your confirmation statement online is straightforward, and there are several ways to do it. This guide walks you through your options, the costs involved, and what to check before you file.
What Is a Confirmation Statement?
A confirmation statement (form CS01) is a statutory filing that tells Companies House: "Yes, the information you hold about my company is still accurate." It's not about your accounts or your tax — it's purely about your company's registered details.
You must file at least one confirmation statement every 12 months from your company's statement date. This date is usually the anniversary of your incorporation, or the date of your last CS01.
Unlike your annual accounts or company tax return, the confirmation statement doesn't involve financial figures. It's a factual check of your company's basic information.
When Is Your CS01 Due?
Your confirmation statement must be filed within 14 days of your statement date.
| If your statement date is... | You must file by... |
|---|---|
| 15 March | 29 March |
| 1 July | 15 July |
| 22 November | 6 December |
You can check your statement date on your company's page at Companies House or on your filing software's dashboard.
How Much Does It Cost?
Companies House charges a £50 filing fee for every confirmation statement filed online (as of February 2026). Paper filing costs £110.
This fee is payable once per 12-month period. If you file multiple confirmation statements within that period (for example, to report a change partway through the year), only the first one incurs the fee.
Your Options for Filing Online
Option 1: Companies House WebFiling
Companies House provides a free online service called WebFiling. You log in with your Companies House credentials, review your company details, and confirm they're correct.
Pros: Free (beyond the £50 CH fee), direct from the source. Cons: Manual process, separate login from your tax filing, no reminders, no integration with your other filings.
Note that Companies House has announced changes to WebFiling that will affect how accounts are filed from 2027. WebFiling for confirmation statements is expected to remain available, but the long-term direction is towards software filing.
Option 2: Filing Software
Several software providers can file your CS01 electronically on your behalf. This is typically faster because the software pre-populates your company details from Companies House data, so you're reviewing rather than entering information from scratch.
Filing software is especially useful if you manage multiple companies, because you can see all your confirmation statement deadlines in one place and file them without switching between different logins.
Option 3: Through Your Accountant
If you use an accountant or company secretary, they may file your confirmation statement as part of their service. This is the most hands-off option, but typically the most expensive (£100–£200+ per year).
What You Need Before Filing
Before you submit your CS01, make sure you have:
- Your authentication code — a 6–8 character code from Companies House that proves you're authorised to file on behalf of the company. This is different from your WebFiling password. If you don't have one, request it from Companies House (arrives by post in about 5 working days).
- Up-to-date company details — check that your registered office address, directors, SIC codes, and persons with significant control (PSCs) are all correct at Companies House. If anything needs changing, you must file the relevant change form before submitting your confirmation statement.
- Your SIC codes — review whether your Standard Industrial Classification codes still accurately describe what your company does. SIC codes can be updated as part of the CS01 filing.
What Can and Can't Be Changed in a CS01
The confirmation statement is primarily about confirming existing information. There's a common misconception that you can update everything through the CS01, but that's not the case.
You CAN update via the CS01:
- SIC codes — change your industry classification
You MUST update separately (before filing):
- Directors and secretaries — use forms AP01 (appointment) or TM01 (termination)
- Registered office address — use form AD01
- Persons with significant control — use PSC forms
- Shareholders and share capital — use SH01/SH02
Step-by-Step: Filing Your Confirmation Statement
Regardless of which method you choose, the process follows the same basic steps:
Step 1: Review Your Company Details
Check that all information held by Companies House is correct:
- Registered office address
- Directors and their details
- Company secretary (if applicable)
- Persons with significant control
- SIC codes
- Statement of capital (for companies with shares)
Step 2: Make Any Necessary Changes
If anything is wrong, file the relevant change form with Companies House before proceeding. Don't confirm details you know are incorrect.
Step 3: Enter Your Authentication Code
Provide your Companies House authentication code to prove you're authorised to file.
Step 4: Confirm and Submit
Confirm that all information is correct as of the statement date, and submit. The £50 fee is charged at this point.
Step 5: Wait for Processing
Companies House typically processes confirmation statements within 24 hours. You'll receive confirmation once it's accepted.
Common Questions
Do dormant companies need to file a confirmation statement? Yes. Every company registered at Companies House must file a CS01, whether it's trading or dormant. This is separate from filing dormant accounts.
Can I file my confirmation statement early? You can only file on or after your statement date. You can't file before that date.
Is the confirmation statement the same as an annual return? Yes. The confirmation statement replaced the annual return in June 2016. The CS01 form does the same job — confirming your company's details are up to date.
What if I've already filed my accounts and CT600? The confirmation statement is a completely separate filing with its own deadline. Filing your company accounts and tax return does not satisfy the CS01 requirement.
My company was only incorporated recently — do I still need to file? Your first confirmation statement is due 12 months after your date of incorporation, plus 14 days. You'll see the date on your Companies House profile.
Summary
Filing your confirmation statement online is a legal requirement for every UK limited company. Whether you use Companies House WebFiling, filing software, or your accountant, the key steps are the same: review your company details, make any necessary changes via separate forms, then confirm and submit your CS01 within 14 days of your statement date. The £50 online filing fee is payable once per 12-month period.