Confirmation Statement Filing in Kent

What the confirmation statement is for

Every company, including dormant and non-trading companies, must file a confirmation statement with Companies House at least once a year. It confirms that the information on the register is correct, such as the registered office, directors, shareholders, people with significant control and SIC code. You have 14 days after the end of your review period to file it.

Your review period end date is shown on the Companies House register, and you can choose to file earlier in the period if that suits you, for example alongside your accounts. It is easy to treat the statement as a box-ticking exercise, but the information it confirms is public and is used by banks, suppliers and customers checking who they are dealing with. Failing to file is an offence and can ultimately lead to the company being struck off.

Newer requirements to be aware of

• Registered email address. Companies must provide one if they have not already done so. It is not shown publicly, but Companies House uses it to contact you.
• Lawful purpose statement. Each time you file, you confirm that the company's intended future activities are lawful.
• Identity verification. Directors and people with significant control now need to verify their identity, and the confirmation statement is closely linked to checking this has been done.

Companies House explains these points in its confirmation statement guidance.

How we handle your filing

1. We note your review period end date and contact you before it falls due.
2. We compare the public register with what you tell us about directors, shareholdings, addresses and control.
3. Any changes that should have been filed separately, such as a new director or a change of registered office, are filed first.
4. We prepare the statement, including any share capital or shareholder updates.
5. Once you approve it, we file and send you confirmation.

When there is more to update

The confirmation statement is an annual check, not the place to make every change. Appointments, resignations and share issues have their own filings and time limits. If your company has regular changes, or its statutory registers have not been kept, our company secretarial services cover that ongoing work. If shares have changed hands, it is also worth checking that dividends and records line up, which our dividend planning service can help with.

What we'll need from you

Your company number, confirmation that directors and people with significant control have verified their identity, details of any changes in the past year, and a registered email address if one has not been provided. Many clients have us file alongside their annual accounts so everything is reviewed together.

For companies across Kent

We file confirmation statements for companies throughout Kent, from small family companies to groups with several subsidiaries. Send us a message with your company number and we will check when your next statement is due.