When Is Your First Confirmation Statement Due? A UK Company Guide

If you have recently registered a UK limited company, one of your first compliance deadlines will be your confirmation statement. Every UK company must file this statement with Companies House at least once every 12 months, even if the business has not started trading. Your first confirmation statement is generally due within 14 days after the end of your company's first review period. The exact deadline depends on your incorporation date and the review period recorded for your company.

Understanding this deadline early helps you avoid late filing, keep your company's public record accurate, and establish good compliance habits from the beginning. For founders based outside the UK, the requirement is particularly important. You can manage a UK company remotely, but being overseas does not remove your Companies House filing obligations.

This guide explains when your first confirmation statement is due, how to calculate the deadline, what information you need to confirm, how much filing costs, and what happens if you miss the deadline.

What Is a Confirmation Statement?

A confirmation statement, known as form CS01, is an annual filing that confirms the information held about your company on the Companies House register is accurate and up to date. It replaced the annual return, form AR01, in June 2016. The purpose is to help Companies House maintain an accurate public record of UK companies, including information about ownership, directors and company structure. A confirmation statement is not the same as annual accounts or a Company Tax Return.

• Confirmation statement: Confirms company information and certain statutory details.
• Annual accounts: Report the company's financial position and performance, including where applicable accounts for a dormant company.
• Company Tax Return: Reports taxable profits and corporation tax calculations to HMRC when the company is required to file one.

These obligations have different deadlines. Filing one does not automatically satisfy the others.

When Is Your First Confirmation Statement Due?

Your first confirmation statement is due within 14 days after the end of your company's first 12-month review period. The review period begins on the date your company is incorporated. The basic calculation is:

Incorporation date + first 12-month review period + 14 days to file

Your exact deadline should be checked against the company's record on Companies House. For example, if your company is incorporated on 10 March 2026, its first review period runs for 12 months from incorporation, ending on 9 March 2027. The filing deadline is 23 March 2027. You do not have to wait until the final day to submit the statement. You can file earlier, provided you confirm the appropriate information and use a valid confirmation date.

Example: Working Out Your First Filing Deadline

The following examples illustrate the calculation for companies incorporated on different dates.

These dates assume the standard first review period and no earlier confirmation statement that changes the cycle. The safest approach is to verify your actual deadline on the Companies House company register. Search for your company, open its details and check the confirmation statement filing information. Companies House also allows you to sign up for email reminders.

Does Every New UK Company Need to File a Confirmation Statement?

Yes. Every UK company registered at Companies House must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months, including companies that have not started trading. Your obligation does not depend on whether your business has generated revenue, opened a bank account or made its first sale. The requirement applies to several common situations.

1. Companies that have started trading

If your company is already selling products, providing services or earning income, you must file the confirmation statement by the relevant deadline.

2. Companies that have not started trading

Perhaps you incorporated your company to prepare for a future launch, but you are still developing your website, sourcing suppliers or arranging payment processing. You still need to submit the statement. Incorporation creates ongoing administrative responsibilities even before commercial activity begins.

3. Dormant companies

A dormant company must also file a confirmation statement. Dormancy does not remove the requirement to keep Companies House information current. Remember that dormant companies may also have separate accounts and tax obligations, depending on their circumstances.

4. Companies owned by non-UK residents

There is no general exemption from confirmation statement filing simply because the director or shareholder lives outside the UK. International founders should plan for the same annual compliance obligations as other UK company owners. Keeping track of deadlines remotely is particularly important if official correspondence is being sent to a UK registered office.

What Information Must You Check Before Filing?

Your first confirmation statement is an opportunity to check that Companies House holds the correct information about your business. Before submitting it, review the following areas. Registered office address Confirm that your company's registered office address is correct. This is the official address used for Companies House correspondence.

Directors and people with significant control, Check the company's officer details and the information recorded for people with significant control (PSCs). Your first statement may require you to provide relevant PSC information that has not already been supplied. Shareholders and share capital, Review shareholder details, the statement of capital and information about the company's shares. Business activity Check the company's Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code, which describes its principal business activity.

Make sure the company has provided a suitable email address to Companies House if it has not already done so. This address is not displayed on the public register. These checks matter because a confirmation statement is not simply a formality. It is a formal confirmation that the company's required information has been delivered and that the public record is up to date.

What if some information is incorrect?

Do not assume that filing the confirmation statement will correct every error automatically. Some details, such as certain shareholder information, the SIC code and share capital information, can be updated through the confirmation statement process. Other changes must be reported separately using the appropriate Companies House filing. For example, a change of director normally needs to be notified through the relevant officer filing rather than relying on the confirmation statement alone. Review the official Companies House confirmation statement guidance to identify the correct filing for each change.

How Do You File Your First Confirmation Statement?

You can file your confirmation statement online through Companies House. The process is relatively straightforward if your company details are accurate and you have the required login credentials.

Follow these steps.

1. Find your company record. Search for your company using its name or company registration number on the Companies House register.
2. Check your filing deadline. Confirm the relevant review period and deadline before preparing the statement.
3. Review your company information. Check the registered office, shareholders, share capital, SIC code, PSC information and other relevant details.
4. Update information where necessary. Submit any separate notifications required for changes that cannot be made through the confirmation statement itself.
5. Complete the confirmation statement. Use the appropriate Companies House online filing service or WebFiling, depending on your company's circumstances.
6. Pay the filing fee and submit. Keep the acknowledgement and check that Companies House accepts the filing.

Some companies can use the simplified online confirmation statement service, while others must use WebFiling. You may need your company number, authentication details and a Companies House account. The simplified service has eligibility restrictions.

What about Companies House identity verification?

Companies House identity verification requirements have been introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Depending on your company's circumstances and the relevant transition arrangements, directors and people with significant control may need to verify their identity and provide a personal code.

Check the current requirements before filing, particularly if you are a non-UK resident or are managing the company from overseas. Identity verification is a separate compliance requirement; it does not replace the confirmation statement.

How Much Does a Confirmation Statement Cost?

As of October 2026, the standard Companies House confirmation statement fees are:

These fees took effect on 1 February 2026. The fee is generally payable with the first confirmation statement in each 12-month payment period. If you submit additional confirmation statements within that same payment period, you generally do not pay the annual fee again.

It is important to distinguish the review period from the payment period. The review period determines the information being confirmed and the filing deadline. The payment period determines when the annual fee is payable. They are related but serve different purposes. For a newly incorporated company, budget for the confirmation statement fee as part of your first-year compliance costs, alongside accounting, tax and other company administration expenses.

What Happens If You Miss Your First Confirmation Statement Deadline?

Missing the deadline is not something to ignore, even if your company has not started trading. Companies House warns that failure to file a confirmation statement can result in a financial penalty of up to £5,000 and may lead to the company being struck off the register. If your deadline has passed, take the following steps:

1. Check the company's current status. Look at the Companies House register to establish whether the statement is overdue and whether any strike-off action has begun.
2. Prepare the outstanding statement. Review the company details and make any necessary updates.
3. File as soon as possible. Do not wait for another reminder before addressing the missed deadline.
4. Check for other outstanding filings. Review annual accounts and other statutory obligations separately.
5. Seek professional assistance if necessary. If the company is facing strike-off action or has other serious compliance issues, consider speaking to a qualified accountant or company law professional.

Filing late does not automatically resolve every other compliance problem. If the company has already been dissolved, the situation is different: you may need to explore restoration rather than simply filing an ordinary overdue statement.

How to Avoid Missing Your First Confirmation Statement

The easiest way to manage the deadline is to build it into your company's administrative routine from the date of incorporation. Here is a practical checklist for new founders.

First confirmation statement checklist

0 of 7 Record your incorporation date and company number Check your first confirmation statement deadline on Companies House Set calendar reminders at least 30 days and 7 days before the deadline Keep shareholder, director and PSC information up to date Monitor official correspondence and Companies House email reminders Budget for the £50 online filing fee Confirm that the statement has been accepted after submission

For founders managing several companies, a central compliance calendar can make a significant difference. Each company should have its own record of confirmation statement deadlines, accounts filing dates and other statutory obligations.

Platforms such as IncorpUK can help founders manage their UK company administration remotely through company management resources, compliance guidance and official mail support. These tools can make it easier to organise obligations, but the company remains responsible for ensuring that filings are completed correctly and on time.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the first confirmation statement due for a new UK company?

It is due within 14 days after the end of the company's first 12-month review period, which begins on the incorporation date. Check the Companies House register to confirm the exact deadline.

2. Is the first confirmation statement due exactly one year after incorporation?

Not usually. The first review period runs for 12 months from incorporation, and the company then has up to 14 days after that period ends to file its statement. The filing deadline is therefore generally later than the first incorporation anniversary.

3. Can I file my first confirmation statement before the deadline?

Yes. You do not have to wait until the end of the review period. However, filing early can change the timing of your next review period, so check the implications before submitting early.

4. Do I need to file a confirmation statement if my company has never traded?

Yes. The filing requirement applies to dormant and non-trading companies as well as active businesses.

5. How much does the first confirmation statement cost?

As of October 2026, online filing costs £50 and paper filing costs £110. The fee is generally payable with the first statement in the relevant 12-month payment period.

6. Is a confirmation statement the same as annual accounts?

No. A confirmation statement confirms company information held by Companies House. Annual accounts report financial information. Both may be required, and each has its own filing deadline.

7. What happens if I do not file my confirmation statement?

Companies House may impose a financial penalty of up to £5,000, and your company may be struck off the register. You should address an overdue filing promptly.

8. Can a non-UK resident file a confirmation statement?

Yes. Living outside the UK does not exempt a company from its filing obligations. International founders can file online if they meet the relevant service requirements and have the necessary account and authentication details.

9. Can I change my company details when filing the confirmation statement?

Some information can be updated through the confirmation statement process, including certain shareholder details, the SIC code and share capital information. Other changes must be reported separately using the appropriate Companies House filing.

10. How can I find my first confirmation statement deadline?

Search for your company on the Companies House register and check its confirmation statement details. You can also use the official filing service and sign up for email reminders.

Conclusion

Your first confirmation statement is an important early milestone in running a UK limited company. It is generally due within 14 days after the end of your first 12-month review period, which starts on your incorporation date. The key is to distinguish the review period from the filing deadline, check your company's actual due date, verify your company information and submit the statement on time. Remember that the filing is required even if your business is dormant or has not yet started trading.

With the online filing fee currently set at £50, the statement is a manageable part of your company's annual administration. Add the deadline to your calendar as soon as your company is incorporated, keep your records accurate and monitor your Companies House correspondence. For founders building a business from overseas, a reliable compliance routine is especially valuable. Managing your confirmation statement alongside your accounts, tax obligations and other statutory filings helps keep your UK company in good standing while you focus on growing the business.