Received a notice that your confirmation statement is late?
If Companies House has contacted you about an overdue confirmation statement, here is exactly what it means and what you need to do next.
✅ Don't panic. There is no automatic financial penalty for a late confirmation statement. However, you do need to act quickly — ignoring the notice will make things significantly worse.
Why have I received this notice?
Your confirmation statement is an annual legal requirement for every UK limited company and LLP, including dormant companies. It must be filed with Companies House within 14 days of your 12-month review period ending.
If that deadline has passed without a filing, Companies House will issue a reminder notice to your registered email address or by post. This notice is a formal prompt to file immediately — it is not a fine in itself.
What happens if I ignore it?
The consequences escalate the longer the filing is left outstanding:
1. Reminder notice issued
Companies House contacts you asking you to file as soon as possible. No fine at this stage.
2. Financial penalty may be issued
Under powers introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, Companies House can now issue financial penalties for continued non-compliance.
3. Strike-off proceedings begin
Companies House may begin the process of removing your company from the register. A notice of proposed strike-off is published in The Gazette.
4. Company struck off and dissolved
Your company ceases to exist legally. Its assets can become Crown property. Directors may also face criminal prosecution under the Companies Act 2006.
⚠ Important: Filing your overdue confirmation statement promptly will usually stop strike-off proceedings — but only if you act before the company is formally dissolved.
What you need to do — step by step
Step 1: Check your company details are up to date
Before filing, make sure the information held at Companies House is accurate. Log in to your Companies House WebFiling account or search the register at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
Check the following are correct:
• Registered office address
• Director names and details
• Shareholders and share capital
• People with significant control (PSC)
• SIC codes (business activity)
• Registered email address
Step 2: Update anything that has changed
Any changes to directors, shareholders, your registered office, or PSC details must be filed separately using the appropriate Companies House forms before you submit your confirmation statement.
Step 3: Make sure all directors have verified their identity
As of 2024, all company directors and PSCs must verify their identity with Companies House before a confirmation statement can be accepted. If this has not been done, your filing may be rejected. Each verified person receives a Companies House personal code, which must be included in the statement.
Step 4: File the confirmation statement
Use the same process as a normal, on-time filing — there is no separate late form. You can file online via Companies House WebFiling, or use our Confirmation Statement Service and we will handle it for you. The Companies House filing fee is £50 online or £110 by post.
Want us to file it for you?
Our Confirmation Statement Service will take care of the filing on your behalf, quickly and correctly. Our Express Service can have your statement filed within 24 hours of receiving the required information.
👉 View our Confirmation Statement Service
[Replace with your URL]
💡 Note: Filing a late confirmation statement does not reset your review period. Your next statement will still be due 12 months from the original statement date, not from the date you filed late.
What if my company is already showing as struck off?
If your company has already been struck off the register, filing a confirmation statement will not automatically restore it. You would need to apply to have the company restored — either through an administrative restoration or a court order. This is a more complex and costly process, so it is far better to act on the notice before reaching that stage.
⛔ If your company appears as 'dissolved' on the Companies House register, do not delay. Contact a company formation agent or solicitor immediately to explore your restoration options.
How to avoid this happening again
• Make sure your registered email address with Companies House is current and actively monitored — this is where all reminder notices are sent.
• Sign up for free filing reminders via your Companies House account — up to four people can receive alerts.
• Use our annual Confirmation Statement Service so we file on your behalf each year and you never have to worry about the deadline.