What Information Must Be Included in a Confirmation Statement? A UK Company Guide

Every UK limited company must file a confirmation statement with Companies House at least once every 12 months. The statement confirms that the information held on the public register is accurate and that the company has reviewed the details it is required to report. For directors and business owners, knowing what information must be included in a confirmation statement helps prevent filing errors, avoid unnecessary delays and keep company records compliant.

The information required depends on the company's structure and circumstances. A straightforward company with one director and one shareholder may have a relatively simple filing, while a business with multiple shareholders, corporate shareholders or people with significant control may need to review more details.

A confirmation statement generally covers your company's registered office, registered email address, directors and other officers where applicable, shareholders, share capital, people with significant control (PSCs), and business activity classification. Some information can be updated through the confirmation statement itself, while other changes must be reported separately to Companies House. This guide explains what to check, what to include, which details are handled through separate filings, and how to prepare an accurate confirmation statement.

What Is a Confirmation Statement?

A confirmation statement, filed using form CS01, is a statutory filing that confirms the required information about a company held by Companies House. It replaced the annual return in June 2016. Unlike annual accounts, which report financial information, a confirmation statement focuses on company details, ownership and other information maintained on the Companies House register.

The filing is required whether your company is actively trading, dormant or has not yet started operating. It is not a tax return and does not replace your company's annual accounts or other statutory obligations. For most companies, the confirmation statement is filed at least once every 12 months. The filing deadline is generally 14 days after the end of the relevant review period.

What Information Must Be Included in a Confirmation Statement?

The following are the main details to review when preparing a confirmation statement for a UK limited company.

1. Registered Office Address

Your registered office is the official address where Companies House correspondence and formal notices can be sent to the company. Before filing, check that the address recorded on the register is correct and continues to meet Companies House requirements. This is particularly important for founders who operate remotely or live outside the UK. A registered office address is not simply a mailing convenience; it must satisfy the applicable rules for the company's registered jurisdiction.

If your registered office has changed, you should use the appropriate Companies House process to notify the change rather than assuming the confirmation statement will update it automatically. A registered office address is also different from a director's service address and the company's trading address. Each serves a different purpose.

2. Registered Email Address

UK companies are required to provide Companies House with an appropriate registered email address for official communications. The address must be monitored and suitable for receiving correspondence from Companies House. It is not displayed on the public register. When reviewing your company's filing information, make sure the registered email address has been provided and remains accessible to the people responsible for company administration.

For an international founder, using an email account that is regularly monitored can help prevent important compliance messages from being missed while managing a business from overseas. The registered email address is not the same as the registered office address, and one cannot replace the other.

3. Directors and Company Secretary Details

Companies House maintains information about the company's directors and, where applicable, its company secretary. Before filing, check that the details held on the register are correct. Depending on the company, this may include:

• The names of current directors.
• The details recorded for each director.
• Company secretary information, if the company has appointed one.
• The relevant director identity verification details and declarations.

Important: Changes to directors and company secretaries must be reported through the appropriate Companies House filing before you submit your confirmation statement. The statement is not a substitute for notifying Companies House when someone is appointed or leaves office.

Director identity verification requirements

Identity verification is now an important part of confirmation statement filing. Under the Companies House identity verification regime, directors must verify their identity and provide their Companies House personal code as required. The confirmation statement process requires the relevant identity verification details for current directors, unless the information has already been provided. Companies House will not accept the statement until the applicable director verification requirements have been met.

If you are a director living outside the UK, do not assume that your overseas residence exempts you from these requirements. Check the official Companies House identity verification guidance and allow enough time to complete the process.

4. People With Significant Control (PSCs)

A person with significant control is an individual or relevant legal entity that meets one or more of the statutory conditions for significant control over a company. For example, an individual may qualify because they:

• Hold more than 25% of the company's shares.
• Hold more than 25% of its voting rights.
• Have the right to appoint or remove a majority of its directors.
• Otherwise exercise significant influence or control over the company.

A company's PSC position is not always obvious from its list of shareholders. Someone may exercise control through voting arrangements or other rights even if the shareholding structure does not tell the full story. Before filing, check that the PSC information recorded at Companies House is accurate and that any changes have been reported through the relevant process.

What if your company has no PSC?

Do not invent a PSC simply to complete the filing. Companies House has procedures for recording circumstances in which a company has no registrable PSC or cannot identify one, where the applicable rules permit those statements.

The correct approach depends on the company's ownership and control arrangements. If the position is unclear, obtain appropriate professional guidance rather than selecting an inaccurate declaration. PSCs also have identity verification obligations under the current Companies House regime. The applicable deadline and reporting process can depend on the person's circumstances.

5. Shareholder Information

For a company limited by shares, shareholder information is an important part of the confirmation statement. Review the shareholder details shown in the company's Companies House record and ensure the statement accurately reflects the information required for the relevant filing. This is especially important if your company has issued shares to a new investor, transferred shares or changed its ownership structure during the year.

For example, imagine a UK ecommerce company originally owned entirely by its founder. During the year, the founder transfers 30% of the shares to an investor. The company should not simply wait until the next confirmation statement to assume the public record will be corrected. It must follow the applicable reporting requirements, including any separate filings or register updates required. The confirmation statement can be used to update eligible shareholder information. However, it does not replace the company's own obligation to maintain appropriate statutory records or complete other required filings.

6. Statement of Capital

A statement of capital describes the company's issued share capital. It provides information about the shares the company has issued and the rights attached to them. For a company limited by shares, check the recorded statement of capital, including relevant details such as:

• The total number of issued shares.
• The classes of shares, where applicable.
• The nominal value of shares.
• The currency in which the share capital is denominated.
• The rights attached to each class of shares, where required.
• The amount paid and unpaid on shares, as applicable.

Consider a startup that initially issues 100 ordinary shares with a nominal value of £1 each. If it later issues a different class of shares to an investor, the company's share capital information may need to reflect that change. The exact information required depends on the company's share structure. Companies with multiple share classes or more complicated investment arrangements should check the underlying records carefully before confirming the statement of capital.

The confirmation statement can be used to update eligible statement of capital information, but it does not replace any separate filing required for a share allotment or other corporate event.

7. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code

A Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code identifies the nature of a company's business activity. Companies House uses SIC codes to classify businesses by their stated activities. The code should reflect what the company does, rather than simply the founder's occupation or a future business idea that has not become relevant. For example:

• An online retailer should select a code appropriate to its retail activity.
• A software development business should select a code relevant to its software work.
• A consultancy should select a code that reflects the type of consultancy it provides.

Some businesses undertake several activities and may need more than one SIC code, subject to the applicable limits and filing guidance. If the company has changed its main business activities, review the code before filing. The confirmation statement process allows eligible SIC code updates. Use the official Companies House SIC code guidance and condensed list to select an appropriate classification.

A mismatch between the company's actual activities and its registered SIC code can create confusion for people reviewing the public record, including lenders, investors and potential commercial partners.

8. Trading Status of Shares and Applicable PSC Exemptions

Some confirmation statement filings include declarations about the company's shares and its status under rules relating to people with significant control. For example, certain companies may be subject to exemptions from providing PSC information in the usual way, depending on their legal status and circumstances.

These declarations are not relevant in the same way to every company. Do not select an exemption merely because the company has a simple ownership structure or because its shares are not publicly traded. Review the options available in the official confirmation statement form and make sure any declaration accurately reflects the company's circumstances. The CS01 form includes sections for changes to share trading status and applicable PSC information exemptions.

9. Confirmation That the Company's Intended Activities Are Lawful

A confirmation statement is not limited to checking existing company details. You must also confirm that the company's intended future activities are lawful. This requirement is easy to overlook if you think of the statement purely as an administrative update. Companies House expressly includes the lawful-purpose declaration in its confirmation statement guidance.

The declaration is relevant whether the company is actively trading or has yet to begin operations. It does not mean that every business activity is automatically authorised: activities that require a licence, regulatory approval or other permission may still be subject to separate legal requirements.

What Information Does Not Need to Be Included in the Confirmation Statement?

Understanding what belongs in other filings is just as important as knowing what to include in the confirmation statement.

The distinction matters because submitting a confirmation statement does not automatically correct every part of the company's record. For example, if a director resigns in April and the company files its confirmation statement in September, the company should not wait until September to notify Companies House of the resignation. The same principle applies to a change of registered office or registered email address. These have separate reporting processes.

How to Prepare and File an Accurate Confirmation Statement

Once you understand the information involved, the filing process becomes easier to manage.

1. Check your company's public record. Find your company on the Companies House register and review the details currently recorded.
2. Gather your internal records. Check the register of members, share records, director information and PSC records, as relevant to your company.
3. Identify changes requiring separate filings. Update directors, PSCs, registered office details and other information through the correct process before submitting the statement.
4. Review the confirmation statement fields. Check the shareholder information, statement of capital, SIC code, registered email address and identity verification requirements that apply to your company.
5. Make the required declarations. Confirm the information is accurate and complete the lawful-purpose declaration.
6. Submit the statement and check acceptance. Use the appropriate Companies House online service or paper form, pay the applicable fee and retain the filing acknowledgement.

Companies House offers different online filing routes depending on the company's circumstances. The simplified confirmation statement service is not available to every company; some businesses need to use WebFiling instead. Check the eligibility criteria before starting.

How much does filing cost?

As of October 2026, the standard confirmation statement fee is £50 online or £110 by post. The annual fee is generally payable with the first statement in the relevant 12-month payment period, rather than every time a statement is filed during that period. Check the latest official Companies House filing guidance before submitting.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is a confirmation statement mandatory for every UK limited company?

Yes. Every UK company, including dormant and non-trading companies, must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months.

2. Do I need to list all my company's directors in the confirmation statement?

You must ensure that the director information held by Companies House is accurate and complete the applicable identity verification requirements. Changes to directors must be reported through the relevant filing process rather than relying on the confirmation statement alone.

3. Does a confirmation statement include shareholder information?

Yes. Companies limited by shares must review the relevant shareholder information and statement of capital. Eligible shareholder information can be updated through the confirmation statement process.

4. Do I need to include my company's registered email address?

Yes. You must provide a registered email address through the confirmation statement if one has not already been provided. The email address is used by Companies House for official communications and is not published on the public register.

5. Must I include my company's bank balance or turnover?

No. A confirmation statement is not a financial report. Bank balances, turnover, profits and other financial information are dealt with through accounting and tax records, and relevant financial information is included in annual accounts or tax filings where required.

6. Do I need to update my SIC code every year?

Not if the existing code accurately reflects your company's business activities. You should review the code and update it if the company's activities have changed. The confirmation statement process allows eligible SIC code updates.

7. What happens if the information in my confirmation statement is wrong?

Incorrect or outdated information should be addressed promptly. Depending on the type of information, you may need to correct it through a separate Companies House filing or the relevant confirmation statement process. Filing inaccurate information can create compliance and record-keeping problems.

8. Can I file a confirmation statement if my company has not started trading?

Yes. A company does not need to have started trading to be required to file a confirmation statement. The obligation applies to dormant and non-trading companies too.

9. What happens if I forget to file my confirmation statement?

Companies House may impose a financial penalty of up to £5,000, and the company may be struck off the register. Check your deadline, set reminders and address overdue filings promptly.

10. Can a company formation service help me prepare a confirmation statement?

A company formation and management platform such as IncorpUK can provide company management resources, compliance guidance and administrative support for founders operating from the UK or overseas. The support available depends on the service selected. Directors remain responsible for ensuring that required information is accurate and that filings are completed on time.

Conclusion

A UK company's confirmation statement must cover the information required to keep its Companies House record accurate, including relevant shareholder details, statement of capital, SIC code, registered email address, director identity verification details and applicable declarations.

The key is to distinguish information that can be updated through the confirmation statement from changes that must be reported separately. Directors, PSCs, registered office details and registered email address changes have their own reporting requirements, while eligible shareholder, share capital and business activity updates can be handled through the statement.

Before filing, review the company's public record against its internal records, check the applicable identity verification requirements, make any necessary separate filings and confirm that the statement is submitted by the deadline. For founders building a UK company from overseas, keeping these records organised from the beginning makes annual compliance more manageable. A consistent filing routine helps protect the accuracy of the company's public record and allows you to focus on running and growing the business.