What Is a Confirmation Statement? (UK Companies)

A confirmation statement is a filing that every UK company must make at least once a year to confirm that the key information on the public register is accurate and up to date. It replaced the old "annual return" in 2016. It doesn't contain financial figures — it's a check that Companies House holds the right details about the company. Here's what it covers and why it's useful to know about.

What it confirms

When a company files a confirmation statement, it confirms (or updates) the core register information, including:

• The registered office address and, where used, the SAIL address for records.
• The directors and secretary.
• The persons with significant control — who owns or controls the company.
• The SIC codes describing the company's activities.
• The statement of capital and shareholders for companies with shares.

If any of these changed during the year and weren't already updated, the statement is the moment to bring the register into line.

Who files it and when

Every active company — and every LLP — must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months, even a dormant company. There's a review period and a filing deadline set by Companies House, and a filing fee applies; the current fee and deadlines are on GOV.UK. Failing to file is a serious matter and can ultimately lead to the company being struck off.

Why it matters for research

The confirmation statement is quietly useful when you're researching or monitoring a company:

• It dates the register's accuracy. A recent statement means the people and control data have recently been confirmed.
• It can reveal changes. Updates to PSCs, SIC codes or capital filed with the statement can mark ownership changes, a shift in what the company does, or new investment.
• A missing one is a signal. A company overdue on its confirmation statement, like one overdue on accounts, is worth a second look.

Where it fits

The confirmation statement sits alongside annual accounts as one of the two filings almost every company makes each year — see how Companies House works for the full picture, and how to read a filing history to place it in a company's timeline. To watch for these filings as they happen across companies you care about, see company monitoring, or search the live register to view a real company's statements.