Audit1If you look at a UK company on the public register, you will often see a note about its confirmation statement: when the last one was filed and when the next is due. It is a small detail, but it says something useful about how a company keeps its public record up to date. It does not, on its own, say whether the company is sound.
What a confirmation statement is
According to GOV.UK, a confirmation statement confirms that the information Companies House holds about a company is up to date. The company must also state that its intended future activities are lawful. Every company, including dormant and non-trading companies, must file at least one confirmation statement every 12 months. This applies even if nothing has changed.
Timing
The review period ends 12 months after either the incorporation date (for the first statement) or the confirmation date of the previous statement. A company can file up to 14 days after the review period ends. It can also file early, but it will then need to choose a new confirmation date.
Fees and consequences
GOV.UK gives the filing fee as £50 online or £110 for a paper form CS01 sent by post, paid once per 12-month payment period. It also says a company that does not file can be fined up to £5,000 and may be struck off. Fees and rules change, so please check GOV.UK for the current position.
What the filing can help you notice
When you read a company's public record, the confirmation statement history can prompt sensible questions:
- Has the company filed on time, or are there gaps?
- Do the registered office and other details look consistent with what you were told?
- Has the company changed key details more than once in a short period?
These are prompts for questions, not verdicts. A late filing may have an ordinary explanation, and a punctual filing does not prove the business is financially healthy or well run.
What it does not tell you
A confirmation statement is a statement made by the company to the register. It is not an audit, not a credit assessment and not an independent check of the company's finances. Reading it alongside other information, such as filed accounts, officers and people with significant control, builds a fuller picture, but it still does not replace professional advice.
A simple habit for due diligence
Before you contract with a company, check, ask, document, then decide. Start with the public register, write down what you find and ask the company about anything that does not add up. For anything material, such as a large contract or a significant payment, take professional advice.
Important: Audit1 is an information tool built on public data. It is not a statutory audit, regulated assurance or a substitute for professional verification, and nothing in this article is financial or legal advice.
Source: GOV.UK, Filing your company's confirmation statement.