Can a Formation Agent File Your Confirmation Statement?
Yes. A company formation agent can file a confirmation statement on behalf of your UK limited company, provided the agent uses an appropriate Companies House filing method and has the necessary information and authority. Many formation agents offer ongoing company management services beyond incorporation. Depending on the package, these may include confirmation statement filing, reminders about statutory deadlines and help maintaining company records.
This can be particularly useful if you are a first-time founder, manage several businesses or own a UK company while living overseas. Instead of managing every Companies House filing yourself, you can arrange for a suitable service provider to handle the administrative work.
However, appointing a formation agent does not automatically transfer all your company's legal responsibilities to that provider. You still need to ensure that the information supplied is accurate, the relevant identity verification requirements are met and the confirmation statement is filed on time. This guide explains how formation agents handle confirmation statements, what their services typically include, how to choose a provider and what company directors should check before delegating the task.
What Is a Confirmation Statement?
A confirmation statement is a Companies House filing used to confirm that the information held about a registered company is accurate as of a specified date. It is generally submitted online or using Form CS01. Every UK limited company must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months, including companies that have never traded or have no changes to report. Depending on the company, the information reviewed may include:
- The registered office address.
- Directors and company secretary, where applicable.
- Shareholders and share capital.
- People with Significant Control (PSCs).
- The registered email address.
- The company's Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code.
- Relevant details about shareholdings and shareholder rights.
If the company's information has changed, certain updates can be included in the confirmation statement, while other changes must be reported separately using the appropriate Companies House filing. A confirmation statement is not the same as annual accounts or a tax return. It confirms information held on the public company register rather than reporting the company's financial performance.
What Does a Company Formation Agent Do?
A company formation agent helps people establish a company and may offer additional services to support its administration after incorporation. Basic formation services usually focus on registering the company with Companies House. Ongoing company management services may include registered office facilities, handling official correspondence, filing reminders and assistance with statutory documents.
The exact services vary by provider and package. Do not assume that an agent who formed your company will automatically file every confirmation statement for you. Before relying on an agent, check whether ongoing filing support is included, whether it attracts a separate fee and whether you need to provide information or approval each year.
Formation agent vs accountant vs solicitor
All three may be able to help with confirmation statement filing, but their services can differ.
Provider | When it may be useful |
|---|---|
Company formation agent | Incorporation and routine company administration, including confirmation statement support where offered |
Accountant | Coordinating company filings with accounting records, annual accounts and tax compliance |
Solicitor | Corporate changes or ownership matters that require legal advice |
A straightforward confirmation statement may not require a solicitor. However, if your company has disputed ownership, a complicated share transfer or a restructuring, you may need specialist advice in addition to administrative filing support.
How Much Does It Cost to Use a Formation Agent?
The total cost normally consists of the Companies House filing fee plus any fee charged by the formation agent. As of October 2026, the statutory confirmation statement fees are:
Filing method | Companies House fee |
|---|---|
Online or software filing | £50 |
Paper filing | £110 |
The annual fee is generally payable with the first confirmation statement filed during the relevant 12-month payment period. A further statement submitted within the same payment period does not normally incur another fee. A formation agent may include the filing in a company management package or charge separately. Before agreeing to a service, ask:
- Is the Companies House fee included in the quoted price?
- Is filing included every year, or only during the first year after incorporation?
- Are deadline reminders included?
- Will the agent check the company's details before submission?
- Are corrections or additional filings charged separately?
A low headline price may cover only incorporation, so check the service description rather than assuming ongoing compliance is included.
How to Choose a Formation Agent
Choosing an agent should involve more than comparing prices. You are entrusting the provider with company information and an important statutory deadline.
Check the scope of the service
Ask exactly what the agent will do. A useful service should make clear whether it covers preparing the statement, submitting it, handling the filing fee and confirming completion.
Check the agent's experience and status
If the agent offers identity verification, ask whether it is registered with Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). ACSPs must meet applicable requirements, including anti-money laundering supervision, for their authorised services.
There is an important timing distinction: Companies House guidance states that filing on behalf of clients through its new authorised-agent service is expected to become available no earlier than November 2026. An agent may already use other permitted filing methods, so ask which route it will use rather than assuming ACSP registration alone means the new service is available.
Protect your information
Your agent may need company authentication details and directors' personal codes. Share these securely, confirm who can access them and avoid sending sensitive information through unprotected channels.
Keep control of your own records
Ask for the submission confirmation and retain your own copy. You can also check the company's filing history through the Companies House register. For founders managing a UK company remotely, a company management platform such as IncorpUK may help organise company records and compliance dates, depending on the services included in the selected package.
What Happens If the Formation Agent Misses the Deadline?
Using a formation agent does not guarantee that a confirmation statement will be filed on time. Delays can happen if the agent does not receive required information, encounters an access problem or fails to act on the deadline. If your confirmation statement is overdue:
- Contact the agent immediately and ask whether the filing was submitted or rejected.
- Check the company's filing history on Companies House.
- Provide any missing information or verification details promptly.
- Arrange for the statement to be filed using an appropriate method.
- Clarify responsibility for monitoring future deadlines.
Companies House warns that failure to file can lead to a financial penalty of up to £5,000 and the company being struck off the register. Your agreement with the agent should explain how deadlines are monitored and what happens if you fail to provide information on time. Keep your own reminders as a backup rather than relying entirely on the provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can a formation agent file my confirmation statement every year?
Yes, if the agent offers an ongoing filing service and has the necessary information and filing access. Check whether annual submissions are included in your package or charged separately.
2. Does the agent who incorporated my company automatically file the confirmation statement?
No. Incorporation and ongoing company administration are separate services. Confirm whether confirmation statement filing is included in your agreement.
3. Does a formation agent need to be an ACSP?
ACSP registration is relevant to specified authorised services, including identity verification. Existing permitted filing methods may differ from the new authorised-agent filing service expected no earlier than November 2026. Ask the provider which method it uses and whether any registration requirements apply.
4. Do I still need to provide information if the agent files for me?
Yes. The agent may need you to confirm company details, report changes and provide directors' personal codes. The filing cannot be completed correctly if important information is missing or inaccurate.
5. How much does a formation agent charge?
There is no single standard service fee. The Companies House fee is £50 for online or software filing and £110 for paper filing as of October 2026, with the agent's fee potentially charged in addition.
6. Can a formation agent file for a dormant company?
Yes. Dormant and non-trading companies must still file confirmation statements while registered. An agent can handle the filing if the service is available and the required information is provided.
7. Can I change formation agents after my company has been incorporated?
Yes. You can arrange for another suitable provider to handle future filings. Make sure the new agent has the necessary company information and access, and clarify who is responsible for any outstanding or upcoming filing deadlines.
8. How do I know whether my confirmation statement has been filed?
Ask the agent for a submission confirmation and check the company's filing history on Companies House. If the statement has not appeared or was rejected, contact the agent promptly.
Conclusion
A formation agent can file your UK company's confirmation statement, provided the agent offers the service and uses an appropriate filing method. For founders who want help managing routine administration, this can be a convenient way to keep company records and deadlines organised. Before appointing an agent, check what the service includes, whether the statutory fee is separate, how company information will be protected and how you will receive confirmation of submission.
Most importantly, remember that outsourcing the filing does not remove the need to provide accurate information or keep track of your company's compliance. A reliable agent can make the process easier, but checking that the statement has been filed correctly and on time remains a sensible part of responsible company management.