Limited companies must file a Confirmation Statement (CS01 form) with Companies House annually; failure to do so can lead to prosecution. But what exactly is a Confirmation Statement, why is it needed, and how do you file one? This RJF Accounting blog will give you everything you need to know to avoid any penalties or possible prosecutions!

Blog Contents:
1. What Is a Confirmation Statement?
2. Confirmation Statement Filing Deadline
3. Who Is Responsible for Filing a Confirmation Statement?
4. How To File a Confirmation Statement
5. What Happens if the Confirmation Statement Isn’t Filed?

What Is a Confirmation Statement?

The Companies House Confirmation Statement, or CS01 for short, replaced the old annual return in 2016 and is a document that must be completed by all limited companies each year, even if they are dormant or are not trading. The confirmation statement aims to verify essential company data to keep legal records current on limited and limited liability partnerships. 

The document contains everything companies house needs to know about the company, including: 

  • Directors and secretary
  • People with significant control 
  • Current company officers
  • Company’s registered office address
  • Single Alternative Inspection Location (SAIL address)
  • Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code
  • Shareholder information
  • Statement of capital
  • Exemption from keeping a PSC register

Important note: It is essential to remember that the CS01 form or confirmation statement differs from the annual account information you also need to file with companies house. If in doubt, always speak to an accountant for advice. 

Confirmation Statement Filing Deadline

The company CS01 form needs to be filled out within 14 days of the anniversary of the formation of the company. For instance:

  • You formed your limited company on 1st January 2023.
  • The CS01 form becomes due on 31st December 2024.
  • It must be completed no later than the 14th January 2024.

For ease, it is easy to remember that it must be completed no later than a year and 14 days after the last one was completed. Companies House will remind you when it is due, providing they have the correct company details. 

A common misconception is that if there are no changes to report on the Confirmation Statement, it does not need to be completed. Some company directors have gotten into trouble with this mistake. The CS01 needs to be completed every year without fail! 

Who Is Responsible for Filing a Confirmation Statement?

All the company directors are responsible for ensuring that the CS01 form is completed and submitted to Companies House on time. Even if they ask an accountant or company secretary to do it on their behalf – they are still responsible for ensuring it is done on time. Failure to do so can have severe consequences, including the company being struck off and unable to trade or even leading to directors being prosecuted. 

How To File a Confirmation Statement

Filing the confirmation statement is relatively simple, especially if you are registered for WebFiling with Companies House. CS01 forms can be delivered to Companies House in one of four ways:

  • By post using form CS01 (or form LL CS01 for LLPs)
  • Online via WebFiling
  • Online through a company formation agent
  • Through your accountant

An annual fee is payable when filing the confirmation statement (currently £13 if paid online or more if using a paper format), and some companies will do it for you for an additional fee. However, most accountants will file this for you as part of their packages, so check with your accountant before hiring a third party. 

What Happens if the Confirmation Statement Isn’t Filed?

If you forget to file the confirmation statement, you should seek to file it as soon as possible. The consequences for not doing so is a criminal offence and can include the following:

  • The company being struck off the register and unable to trade
  • The company being forced to dissolve, and assets passed to the crown. 
  • Company officers/LLP members may also face prosecution.

The form only takes a few minutes if done online, and the fee of £13 per year is nothing when faced with the alternatives!

How Can RJF Accounting Help?

RJF Accounting has accounting teams based in Manchester and Macclesfield, ready to help you with all your accounting and tax advice needs. We offer advice and services on everything accounting, including:

If you want to know more about how we can help you speak to the team today about our services. You can call the team on 0161 5040629 or email us at hello@rjf.uk.com to see if we can help you get your plans off the ground! We are open Monday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm!