Can You Correct an Incorrect Confirmation Statement?

Yes, you can correct an incorrect confirmation statement filed with Companies House, but the right procedure depends on what was wrong and whether the mistake affected the company's official record. A confirmation statement, filed using form CS01, confirms that a UK company's information is accurate as of a particular date. It can include details about the company's registered office, shareholders, share capital, people with significant control (PSCs), registered email address and business activities.

If you discover that you submitted incorrect shareholder information, selected the wrong SIC code, or made an error in the statement of capital, you should investigate the mistake and establish how to correct it. Filing another confirmation statement is not always the appropriate solution. Companies House has a specific process for replacing certain documents that contain incorrect information, while other errors may require a separate notification or correction to the company's statutory records.

This distinction is important for directors, founders and international business owners. An inaccurate filing can create inconsistencies between the public register and the company's internal records, potentially delaying investment, banking reviews or a business sale. This guide explains how to correct an incorrect confirmation statement, which mistakes can be addressed through a replacement filing, what to do if the error involves shareholders or PSCs, and how to reduce the risk of making the same mistake again.

What Is an Incorrect Confirmation Statement?

A confirmation statement is an annual Companies House filing used to confirm that the information held about certain aspects of a company is up to date. Most UK limited companies must file one at least once every 12 months, even if they are dormant or have not changed their details. An incorrect confirmation statement is one that contains inaccurate information or fails to reflect the company's position correctly at the relevant confirmation date. Common examples include:

• Incorrect shareholder information: A shareholder's details or shareholding figures were entered incorrectly.
• Wrong statement of capital: The number or type of shares, nominal values or other capital information was reported inaccurately.
• Incorrect SIC code: The filing lists a business activity that does not accurately describe the company's operations.
• Incorrect PSC information: Information about a person with significant control is wrong or inconsistent with the company's actual ownership or control position.
• Other inaccurate company details: The statement contains information that does not match the company's records.

Not every mistake has the same legal or administrative consequence. A spelling error in a document may require a different response from an incorrect statement of capital or shareholder record. The first step is therefore to identify exactly what was wrong, rather than submitting a new filing immediately.

How to Replace an Incorrect Confirmation Statement

Companies House provides a process for replacing certain documents that were filed incorrectly. For a confirmation statement, the available route depends on the type of error and the information affected. The official guidance on replacing a document on the Companies House register specifically identifies confirmation statements with incorrect statement-of-capital or shareholder information as documents that can be replaced through the relevant online filing process.

Step 1: Identify the original filing

Go to the Companies House register and search for your company by name or company number. Open its filing history and locate the incorrect confirmation statement. Check the filing date and review the document to establish exactly what information was submitted. Keep a copy of the original statement and make a note of the relevant errors. This helps you identify the correct replacement process and avoid repeating the mistake.

Step 2: Establish whether a replacement is appropriate

A replacement filing is not a universal way to edit any information already submitted to Companies House. The replacement procedure is intended for documents that meet the relevant conditions, including documents that were not properly delivered or contained unnecessary material. Companies House also provides a specific online replacement route for confirmation statements with incorrect statement-of-capital or shareholder information.

If the problem concerns another type of information, check the guidance for that particular filing before proceeding. For example, an incorrect director appointment, a change to a registered office address and an error in a confirmation statement may each require different action.

Step 3: Use the appropriate Companies House replacement service

For eligible confirmation statement errors, sign in to Companies House WebFiling and look for the option to replace a previously filed document. Follow the instructions for the type of confirmation statement you need to correct. If the filing concerns statement-of-capital or shareholder information, use the designated replacement route and provide the corrected information as requested.

If the available online process does not cover your particular error, do not submit a different form simply because it appears similar. Check the current Companies House guidance or contact Companies House to establish the correct procedure.

Step 4: Check the replacement carefully

Before submitting, compare the corrected document against the company's actual records. Depending on the error, this may mean checking the register of members, share transfer documentation, statement of capital, SIC classification or relevant PSC records. Make sure the company name, company number, filing dates and replacement information are consistent with the original filing and the requirements of the replacement process.

Step 5: Confirm the correction has been recorded

After submitting the replacement, review the company's filing history to check whether Companies House has registered it. Keep the replacement filing confirmation with the company's compliance records. If the error affected a transaction, such as a share transfer or investment, also retain the underlying documents that establish what actually happened.

A replacement filing corrects the relevant Companies House document where the procedure applies. It does not automatically complete a legal transaction that was never properly carried out.

How to Correct Different Types of Confirmation Statement Errors

The best correction route depends on the information that was wrong. The following examples explain what to consider in common situations.

Companies House distinguishes between information that can be updated through a confirmation statement and information that must be reported separately. Its guidance says changes to directors, PSCs, registered office addresses and registered email addresses must be dealt with through the relevant procedures before submitting a confirmation statement.

What if the error involves a person with significant control?

PSC errors deserve particular attention because they concern who owns or controls a company. Suppose a company filed a confirmation statement that incorrectly identified an individual as a PSC, or reported incorrect details about a person who should have been recorded.

The correction process depends on how the PSC information was originally submitted. Companies House guidance explains that where a PSC was added as part of a confirmation statement, correcting the filing can require the replacement-document form RP01 together with the relevant PSC notification form, such as PSC01 for an individual PSC. Do not assume that correcting the shareholder list automatically corrects the PSC record. Share ownership and significant control are related, but they are not identical concepts.

Can You Submit Another Confirmation Statement Instead?

Sometimes an additional filing is appropriate, but it is important to distinguish a new confirmation statement from a replacement. A new confirmation statement confirms the company's information at a new confirmation date. A replacement addresses a problem with an earlier document where the applicable procedure permits it.

For example, imagine a company submitted its confirmation statement in March and later discovered that its SIC code was wrong. The directors should establish the correct filing route rather than assume that filing another annual statement will erase the earlier error.

Similarly, if a company has genuinely changed its business activity since the original filing, that is different from discovering that the original statement was inaccurate when submitted. A replacement is intended to correct a defective filing, not to rewrite the company's history simply because circumstances have changed.

The Companies House registrar's guidance also distinguishes between material inaccuracies and trivial errors. A minor spelling mistake that does not affect the meaning of the information may not justify replacing the document, while a materially incorrect address or other substantive information may require further action.

What If the Incorrect Statement Has Already Been Accepted?

Companies House accepting a confirmation statement does not necessarily mean that every detail in it is correct. If you discover an error after acceptance, take these steps:

1. Identify the mistake. Determine precisely which information was incorrect and whether the problem relates to the original filing or a later change.
2. Check the underlying records. Review the company's statutory registers, transaction documents and other relevant evidence.
3. Choose the appropriate correction route. Use the relevant replacement procedure or separate notification, depending on the error.
4. Keep supporting evidence. Retain copies of the original filing, corrected document and any transaction records.
5. Review related information. Check whether the mistake also affected PSC information, share capital or another Companies House record.

If the mistake concerns a share transfer, for example, first establish whether the transfer was properly completed and entered in the register of members. Correcting the public filing cannot, by itself, resolve an underlying dispute about ownership. For complex ownership errors, disputed share transfers or significant discrepancies between company records and the public register, consider obtaining legal advice before filing a correction.

Will You Have to Pay to Correct an Incorrect Confirmation Statement?

The cost depends on the filing route and the applicable Companies House fee rules. As of October 2026, the standard confirmation statement fee is £50 for online filing and £110 for filing by post. These are the standard filing fees, not a guarantee that every replacement or correction will be charged in the same way.

Before submitting a replacement, check the current Companies House instructions for the particular correction. Do not assume that a replacement document automatically requires a second standard confirmation statement fee, or that every correction is free. There may also be professional fees if an accountant, solicitor or company formation agent helps investigate the mistake or prepare the correction.

How to Avoid Confirmation Statement Errors in Future

Preventing errors is usually easier than correcting them after the filing has been accepted. A simple pre-submission review can help directors avoid unnecessary delays and inconsistencies.

Use a pre-filing checklist

Before submitting a confirmation statement, check the following:

• The company's registered office and registered email address are correct.
• The directors and relevant company officers are accurately recorded.
• The shareholder information matches the company's register of members.
• The statement of capital reflects the company's actual share structure.
• The SIC codes accurately describe the company's activities.
• The PSC information is consistent with the company's ownership and control position.
• Any required changes have been reported through the correct separate filing process.
• The director identity verification requirements have been met.

Companies House requires directors to verify their identities and provide their personal codes as part of the applicable confirmation statement process. Companies should check the current requirements before filing. For businesses with overseas founders or shareholders, keeping these records organised is especially useful. Shareholding changes may involve people in different countries, multiple advisers and documents prepared at different times. A clear internal record of who owns the shares, when transfers occurred and which filings were submitted makes it easier to complete the next confirmation statement accurately.

Platforms such as IncorpUK, which supports founders with UK company formation and management, may be relevant when organising ongoing company administration. Regardless of whether you manage filings yourself or use a service provider, the company should maintain reliable source records and check that submitted information reflects the company's actual position.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I correct a confirmation statement after Companies House has accepted it?

Yes, where the applicable correction or replacement procedure permits it. The correct route depends on what was wrong. Companies House specifically provides a replacement process for confirmation statements containing incorrect statement-of-capital or shareholder information.

2. Which form do I use to replace an incorrect confirmation statement?

For eligible confirmation statement replacements, Companies House provides a specific replacement filing route through WebFiling. Form RP01 is used for certain replacement-document cases, but it is not a general-purpose form for changing any information in a previously filed document. Check the official guidance for your error before proceeding.

3. Can I correct incorrect shareholder information on a confirmation statement?

Yes. Companies House provides a replacement process for confirmation statements with incorrect shareholder information. Before using it, check the company's register of members and the underlying share transfer documents to establish the correct position.

4. What if I entered the wrong SIC code?

Establish which SIC code accurately describes the company's activities, then follow the appropriate Companies House filing procedure. Do not assume that every SIC code error requires the same replacement process as an incorrect statement of capital or shareholder information.

5. Can I correct a PSC error using a confirmation statement replacement?

The process depends on how the PSC information was originally filed. If an individual PSC was added through a confirmation statement, Companies House guidance indicates that the correction may require RP01 together with PSC01. Other PSC errors may require different forms.

6. Will Companies House remove the original incorrect filing?

A replacement may result in the original document being marked as replaced or otherwise dealt with under the applicable process. The exact treatment depends on the filing and the registrar's procedure. Check the company's filing history after the correction has been processed.

7. Is there a deadline for correcting an incorrect confirmation statement?

The appropriate timing depends on the error and the correction procedure. Once you discover a material inaccuracy, investigate it promptly rather than waiting for the next annual confirmation statement. Separate statutory reporting deadlines may also apply to the underlying change.

8. Can an accountant or formation agent correct the filing for me?

An accountant or formation agent may be able to help identify the appropriate correction route and prepare or submit the relevant documents, depending on their services and filing access. You should confirm the scope of their support and ensure the correction is based on accurate company records.

Conclusion

You can correct an incorrect confirmation statement filed with Companies House, but the solution depends on the nature of the mistake. For incorrect statement-of-capital or shareholder information, Companies House provides a specific replacement process. Errors involving PSCs, directors, registered office details or other company information may require different procedures.

Start by reviewing the original filing, checking the company's underlying records and identifying the correct route before submitting anything else. Then verify that the correction has been recorded and keep the supporting documents with the company's compliance records. For UK company directors, founders and international business owners, dealing with inaccuracies promptly helps keep the public register reliable and reduces the risk of problems during investment, banking reviews or a future sale.