What is a CS01 confirmation statement?
A CS01 confirmation statement is a filing that every UK limited company must submit to Companies House at least once every 12 months. It replaced the old annual return (form AR01) in June 2016. The purpose is to confirm that the information Companies House holds about your company is accurate and up to date.
Filing a confirmation statement does not mean nothing has changed. It means you are confirming that either the information on record is correct, or that you have already filed the necessary updates. If your registered office address changed six months ago and you already notified Companies House, the confirmation statement simply confirms that the current record is accurate.
What information does the CS01 cover?
The confirmation statement asks you to review and confirm the following details:
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Registered office address | The official address on the public register |
| Directors and secretaries | Names, dates of birth, nationalities, addresses |
| Share capital | Number and class of shares, nominal value |
| Shareholders | Names, addresses, and shareholdings |
| SIC codes | Standard Industrial Classification codes describing your business activity |
| PSC register | People with Significant Control (anyone with >25% shares or voting rights) |
| Trading status of shares | Whether shares are traded on a regulated market |
You do not need to re-enter all of this information each time. Companies House pre-populates the form with what they already hold. You review it, confirm it is correct, and submit.
When is the CS01 due?
Your first confirmation statement is due no later than 12 months after your company was incorporated. After that, it is due every 12 months from the date you last filed one. The key date is called your "confirmation date" or "review period end date."
For example, if your company was incorporated on 1 March 2026, your first confirmation statement must be filed by 1 March 2027. You can file it early, but you cannot skip it.
Companies House sends email reminders before the deadline, but relying solely on these is risky. Many directors miss deadlines because reminders go to outdated email addresses or get lost in spam folders.
How to file a CS01
You can file a confirmation statement through several routes:
- Companies House WebFiling: The free online service at Companies House. You need a WebFiling account and your company authentication code.
- Software filing: Through approved third-party software that integrates with the Companies House API.
- Platforms like Incorra: Incorra tracks your confirmation statement deadline automatically and can guide you through the filing process, ensuring your details are up to date before you submit.
The filing fee is currently £34 when submitted online.
What happens if you file late?
There is no automatic financial penalty for filing a late confirmation statement, unlike late annual accounts which trigger escalating fines. However, there are serious consequences:
- Striking off: If your confirmation statement is overdue, Companies House may begin proceedings to strike your company off the register. They send warning letters first, but if you do not respond, your company can be dissolved and its assets pass to the Crown.
- Director disqualification: Persistent failure to file can lead to director disqualification proceedings.
- Reputational damage: Credit reference agencies, banks, and potential clients check Companies House filings. An overdue confirmation statement signals poor governance and can affect your ability to open bank accounts, secure contracts, or raise investment.
Common mistakes
- Assuming nothing needs to be done: Even if nothing has changed, you still need to file the confirmation statement to confirm that fact.
- Not updating details first: If your details have changed (new director, address move, share transfer), file those changes separately before submitting the confirmation statement. The CS01 confirms what is already on record, it does not update it.
- Forgetting the PSC register: Since 2016, the confirmation statement includes a requirement to confirm your PSC register is up to date. Many companies overlook this section.
How Incorra helps
Incorra tracks your confirmation statement deadline alongside all your other filing obligations. The compliance dashboard shows when your CS01 is due, sends you alerts before the deadline, and walks you through the review process. If any of your company details have changed, Incorra flags what needs updating before you file.
[Get started with Incorra](https://incorra.com/auth/register) to automate your compliance tracking and never miss a filing deadline.