Can my accountant do my confirmation statement?
If you run a limited company in the UK, one of your legal obligations is to file an annual Confirmation Statement with Companies House. But what exactly is it, and can your accountant handle it for you?
The short answer is yes — in most cases, your accountant can submit your Confirmation Statement on your behalf. However, it’s useful to understand what the Confirmation Statement actually is, what’s involved, and where the responsibilities lie.
What Is a Confirmation Statement?
The Confirmation Statement is a compulsory filing for UK limited companies and LLPs. It’s a snapshot of the company’s key information on the date the statement is made, confirming that the details held by Companies House are correct and up to date.
It replaced the old Annual Return (AR01) back in 2016 but serves a similar purpose.
What Does the Confirmation Statement Include?
The Confirmation Statement checks that key company information is correct, including:
Registered office address
Company directors and secretary (if any)
People with Significant Control (PSC) – the individuals or entities who own or control the company
Shareholders and share structure (for companies with shares)
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes — which describe the nature of your business activities
If any of this information has changed during the year, it must be updated before or at the time of submitting the Confirmation Statement.
Is Filing a Confirmation Statement Mandatory?
Yes. All UK limited companies and LLPs must file a Confirmation Statement at least once every 12 months, even if the business isn’t trading. Failing to do so can result in penalties and the company being struck off the Companies House register.
When Is It Due?
Your Confirmation Statement is due 12 months after the date of your last Confirmation Statement (or the date of incorporation if it’s your first one).
You then have 14 days from that date to file it.
For example:
If your company was incorporated on 1 June 2023, your first Confirmation Statement date is 1 June 2024, with a deadline of 15 June 2024.
Can My Accountant File the Confirmation Statement for Me?
Yes, most accountants offer this service. As part of company secretarial services or as an add-on, accountants can:
Prepare the Confirmation Statement.
Check whether any information needs updating.
Submit it online to Companies House on your behalf.
While the legal responsibility remains with the company directors, accountants frequently handle this administrative task as part of their ongoing services.
Who Is Legally Responsible?
Even if your accountant files it for you, the legal responsibility remains with the company directors (or designated members in the case of an LLP).
It is the directors’ duty to ensure the information is accurate and submitted on time, regardless of whether they’ve delegated the job to someone else.
Does It Happen Automatically?
No. Unlike some HMRC filings, Companies House doesn’t automatically process it. The company must submit it each year — manually or through an agent (like an accountant or company secretary).
That said, Companies House does send reminders via email or post ahead of the due date.
What Happens If It’s Not Filed?
Failing to file a Confirmation Statement can lead to:
The company being marked as “Proposal to Strike Off” on the Companies House register.
Loss of the company’s legal status.
Potential fines or penalties.
Problems when trying to open bank accounts, apply for loans, or deal with HMRC.
It’s a simple task, but a highly important one.
How Much Does It Cost?
Filing the Confirmation Statement directly with Companies House costs £13 if done online or £40 by post.
If handled by an accountant, they may charge an additional service fee for preparing and submitting it on your behalf.
What If Company Details Have Changed?
If there have been changes to things like:
Registered office address
Director details
Shareholders or shares
PSC information
These changes must be reported either:
Before filing the Confirmation Statement, or
At the same time, depending on the nature of the change.
Some updates (like changing directors or the registered office) are done through separate Companies House forms, not directly through the Confirmation Statement itself. The Confirmation Statement then confirms that the register reflects these updates.
Does the Confirmation Statement Replace Annual Accounts?
No. The Confirmation Statement is completely separate from your annual accounts and Corporation Tax return.
Confirmation Statement: Confirms the accuracy of company details on the public register.
Annual Accounts: A summary of financial activity for the year, submitted to Companies House and HMRC.
Both are annual obligations but serve different purposes.
Typical Process When an Accountant Files It
If your accountant manages this for you, the process generally looks like this:
They review the current details held by Companies House.
Check with you whether anything has changed (e.g. new directors, shareholder updates, address changes).
Make any necessary updates either ahead of or alongside the Confirmation Statement.
Submit the statement electronically to Companies House.
Notify you when it’s done.
It’s a fairly straightforward task but crucial for maintaining the company’s active status.
Are There Any Common Mistakes?
Yes — the most common issues with Confirmation Statements are:
Forgetting the deadline.
Failing to update the People with Significant Control (PSC) register.
Not updating SIC codes if the business activity has changed.
Missing changes to shareholders or share allocations.
An accountant can help avoid these pitfalls by keeping everything up to date.
Conclusion
In summary, your accountant can absolutely take care of filing your Confirmation Statement. While the directors are legally responsible for ensuring it’s accurate and submitted on time, most accountants are well-versed in handling this routine but essential task.
It’s a simple process but a crucial one — helping ensure your company stays compliant, active, and in good standing with Companies Ho
