This Is How to File a Confirmation Statement

Whether your business is the pride of a remote UK postcode, or you’ve registered your company at a more established business address, you must file a confirmation statement at Companies House.

A Confirmation Statement Defined

Before learning how to file a confirmation statement, it’s wise to understand exactly what a confirmation statement is and what it means for your business.Confirmation statements outline and confirm the details of company members. Limited company confirmation statements detail the important information of their directors and shareholders. Confirmation statements of LLPs document the details of their members.A confirmation statement acts to confirm that the company details registered at Companies House (and displayed on the public register) are not outdated or false. All outdated details and misinformation must be updated swiftly.

The Process to File a Confirmation Statement

Just as you would with an annual return, you can report any company information changes via the confirmation statement. Such as:

• SIC codes
• Shareholder details
• Paid up share capital

Any other details regarding your company officers or the registered office address must be reported separately through the relevant Companies House form. Updating this information can be done at the same time as, or prior to, filing your confirmation statement.

How to File a Confirmation Statement at Companies House

There are essentially three ways you can file a confirmation statement at Companies House:By post: simply use the paper form CS01 (or LLCS01 for LLPs) which you can access at GOV.UK

• Online: Sign in to the Companies House WebFiling platform for a swift online process.
• Through a company formations business: Use a reputable formations company that will take all the administrative stress out of your hands, letting your focus on your business matters.

When to File a Confirmation Statement at Companies House

Processing a confirmation statement at Companies House is an annual requirement for both dormant and trading entities.A reminder will be sent to companies a couple of weeks before they have to file a confirmation statement at Companies House. The statement has to be returned within 14 days of its due date.Since this is an annual return, there is a 12-month review period that starts on either the date of your company’s incorporation or it starts on the date at which your last confirmation statement was filed. So, if your new company is incorporated on 1st January 2021, your review period will begin on this date and end on 31st December 2022.

How to File a Confirmation Statement at Companies House Early

A confirmation statement can be filed at Companies House at any time during your review period. If it is filed earlier in the year, then a new 12-month review period will begin.For example, if your new company is incorporated on 1st January 2021, and your company files a confirmation statement on 30th September 2021, your following review period will begin on 1st October 2021 and end on 30th September 2022.

Filing a Confirmation Statement

The question of how to file a confirmation statement cannot be answered without understanding the consequences of the failure of filing a confirmation statement.Although you may not necessarily receive a financial penalty if you do not file a confirmation statement within 14 days of the end of your review period, it is a criminal offence. In the worst-case scenario, your company may be crossed off the register!Additionally, late filing of your confirmation statement may have an adverse effect on your company’s credibility since corporate filing history is a matter of public record. If you’re finding it difficult to sustain your company filing, especially when you’re just launching your business, you should seek the help of an accountant or a reputable company formations team.

What Details Are Needed on a Confirmation Statement?

And this is how to file a confirmation statement successfully: with the correct details submitted to Companies House in a timely manner. This information includes:

• Company’s shareholder names
• Details of the shares of each shareholder
• Address of the company’s statutory registers (registered office address)
• Main business activities (Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes)
• Statement of capital
• Total number of the company shares (including the share’s aggregate nominal value)
• If applicable, the aggregate amount unpaid on the total number of your company’s shares
• Trading status of shares
• Details of Persons of Significant Control

NOTE: If no changes occurred during the review period, you still have to file a confirmation statement at Companies House.

The Cost of Filing a Confirmation Statement

It costs £40.00 to send a paper confirmation statement to Companies House. However, the annual fee for filing an online confirmation statement is £13. It’s beneficial to file your confirmation statement to Companies House online as the form displays pre-populated data, making it far easier process.And remember, the payment period is 12 months from the date of your company’s incorporation (for new companies) and the date of your previous annual fee payment (older companies).Even though the annual fee must be paid with your initial confirmation statement in the 12-month payment period, you’re allowed to file as many confirmation statements as you desire during this payment period.

How to File Confirmation Statements for a Dormant Company

The filing process for dormant companies is the same as above.All private limited companies, whether they are dormant or active, must deliver an annual confirmation statement to Companies House every 12 months. It’s worth noting that although your company may be dormant, specific details about your company may have changed that relates to personnel structure etc. Therefore, you must update your confirmation statement and ensure all information is correctly displayed on the public register.

Remember...

The confirmation statement and annual accounts are different documents. The annual confirmation statement (introduced in 2016), is a new filing document (CS01) replacing the Companies House annual return form (AR01). However, the confirmation statement for Companies House serves the same needs as its predecessor, albeit in a far more accessible and simple form.It’s important that you know how to file a confirmation statement at Companies House before the due date. This way you will avoid the consequences as outlined above. It’s always advisable to seek the help of a reputable company so that you know how to file a confirmation statement swiftly.If you’re a business owner looking for information on how to file a confirmation statement, or obtain a business address, contact our dedicated team now for expert assistance.

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