Companies House guide

What is a confirmation statement?

A confirmation statement is the Companies House filing that confirms key company register information is correct or has been updated.

Last reviewed: 18 July 2026
Sources checked: 18 July 2026
Reading time: 5 minutes

Written by Business Sorted editorial team

Business Sorted provides general educational information and organisation tools. It is not Companies House, HMRC, a solicitor, an accountant, a tax adviser or a regulated professional adviser. Check official sources and get professional advice where your circumstances need it.

Direct answer

A confirmation statement is a Companies House filing used to confirm that important information about a limited company is up to date. It is separate from annual accounts and Corporation Tax, and it can still be required even if nothing changed during the review period.

Key facts

A confirmation statement confirms key company register information with Companies House.
It is separate from annual accounts, Corporation Tax and the Company Tax Return.
Companies House says dormant and non-trading companies must still file confirmation statements.
Some company changes must be made before the statement is filed.

What the confirmation statement confirms

The confirmation statement confirms that the information Companies House holds about the company is correct or has been updated. It can cover company officers, people with significant control, shareholder information, SIC code and other register details.

Companies House guidance says every company, including dormant and non-trading companies, must file at least one confirmation statement every year. The filing also includes a statement that the intended future activities of the company are lawful.

What it does not do

A confirmation statement is not annual accounts and it is not a Company Tax Return. It does not report company profit or calculate tax.

Why directors should treat it as a separate task

Directors often group Companies House tasks together, but the confirmation statement has its own review period and filing window. Filing accounts does not file the confirmation statement.

If nothing changed, the filing still matters because it confirms the register position. If something is wrong, some updates must be made before the confirmation statement is sent.

Simple example

A company has the same directors, shareholders and registered office as last year. The director still checks the company register and files a confirmation statement to confirm the information is correct.

If the registered office or director details are wrong, the director should use the correct Companies House process to update them instead of assuming the confirmation statement alone fixes every record.

Frequently asked questions

Is a confirmation statement the same as an annual return?

The confirmation statement replaced the annual return. Companies House still describes it as the filing used to confirm that company details are up to date.

Do I file a confirmation statement if nothing has changed?

Usually yes. Companies House says you must file even if there have not been changes during the review period.

Useful next steps

Keep confirmation statement tasks visible

Keep your confirmation statement deadline visible alongside your other company obligations. BusinessSorted helps you organise what is due and when.

Relevant feature: Confirmation statement task tracking.

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