Annual Accounts vs Confirmation Statement: What's the Difference?

Every UK limited company has two core annual filing obligations: annual accounts and a confirmation statement. They're both compulsory, both filed with Companies House, and both easy to confuse. But they cover completely different things.

This guide explains what each one is, when it's due, what happens if you miss the deadline, and how they work alongside each other.

Key Takeaways

• Annual accounts report a company's financial activity for the year. The confirmation statement is a non-financial snapshot confirming the company's current details. Both are compulsory for every UK limited company, including dormant companies.
• Annual accounts for private companies must be filed within nine months of the accounting year end. The confirmation statement must be filed within 14 days of the end of the company's 12-month review period.
• Late annual accounts trigger automatic financial penalties starting at £150 and rising to £1,500. Penalties double if accounts are late two years in a row.
• There is no automatic financial penalty for a late confirmation statement, but failure to file can result in the company being struck off and directors facing prosecution and fines of up to £5,000.
• The current Companies House fee for filing a confirmation statement is £50 online or £110 by paper. Always verify the current fee before filing as it has changed several times in recent years.

What Are Annual Accounts?

Annual accounts are a financial record of what your company has done over its accounting year. They show income, expenditure, assets, liabilities, and overall financial position. This is the filing that tells the world, and HMRC, how the company is performing financially.

Every UK limited company must file annual accounts with Companies House each year. They must also be submitted to HMRC as part of the company's corporation tax return, though these are now separate processes since the joint HMRC and Companies House filing service closed in March 2026.

Dormant companies still have to file, but they can submit simplified dormant company accounts rather than a full set.

When Are Annual Accounts Due?

For most private limited companies, accounts must reach Companies House within nine months of the end of the accounting year. First accounts have a longer deadline of 21 months from the date of incorporation.

These deadlines are firm. Companies House does not extend them for weekends, bank holidays, or any other routine reason. If your accounts are received after the deadline, a penalty is applied automatically.

What Happens If Annual Accounts Are Filed Late?

Late filing penalties are automatic and escalate with time. For private limited companies, the current penalty schedule is:

If your accounts are late two years in a row, every penalty in the table above is automatically doubled. A one-month delay that cost £150 one year becomes £300 the next. It's one of the more overlooked aspects of the rules and one that catches directors out more often than it should.

If accounts are never filed, Companies House can begin the process of striking your company off the register. Directors can also face personal prosecution for failing to meet their legal obligations.

There is no Companies House fee for filing annual accounts.

What Is a Confirmation Statement?

A confirmation statement is an annual snapshot of your company's current, non-financial details. It's your way of telling Companies House that the information they hold about your company is accurate and up to date.

The confirmation statement replaced the old annual return in June 2016. If you've seen references to an "annual return" in older articles or correspondence, the confirmation statement is the current equivalent. It's the same basic concept, updated and renamed.

What Does a Confirmation Statement Include?

The confirmation statement covers:

• Registered office address
• Director and company secretary details
• Shareholder information and share capital
• People with Significant Control (PSCs)
• SIC code, which identifies the type of business the company operates

If any of this information has changed during the year, you update it as part of the confirmation statement process.

When Is the Confirmation Statement Due?

You must file within 14 days of the end of your review period. The review period runs for 12 months from either the date of incorporation or the date you last filed a confirmation statement.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?

There is no automatic financial penalty for filing a confirmation statement late. But that doesn't mean there are no consequences.

If the statement is overdue for too long, Companies House can begin striking your company off the register. Failing to file at all is a criminal offence. Directors can be prosecuted or personally fined up to £5,000.

The current Companies House fee for filing a confirmation statement is £50 for online filing and £110 by paper. This fee covers a 12-month period. You can file multiple times within that period at no extra cost, though most companies file once a year. Always check the current fee before filing as it has been updated several times recently.

Companies MadeSimple can help you file your confirmation statement if you'd prefer to have it handled for you.

How Annual Accounts and Confirmation Statements Differ

These two filings are often confused because they share several characteristics. Here's a clear comparison:

Both are required regardless of whether the company is trading. Both must be filed even if nothing has changed during the year.

FAQs

What is the difference between annual accounts and a confirmation statement?
Annual accounts report the company's financial activity for the year: income, spending, assets, and liabilities. The confirmation statement confirms non-financial details such as directors, shareholders, registered address, and SIC code. Both are filed with Companies House each year, but they serve different purposes and have different deadlines.

Is the confirmation statement the same as an annual return?
Yes, in practical terms. The annual return was replaced by the confirmation statement in June 2016. The name changed and the process was streamlined, but the underlying obligation is the same: confirming your company's details are accurate and up to date each year.

What are the penalties for filing annual accounts late?
Penalties are automatic and start at £150 for accounts filed up to one month late, rising to £1,500 for accounts more than six months late. If your accounts are late two years in a row, each penalty doubles. There is no warning from Companies House before the penalty is applied.

Is there a penalty for filing a confirmation statement late?
Not an automatic financial one, but the consequences are still serious. Companies House can begin proceedings to strike your company off the register, and failing to file at all is a criminal offence. Directors can face prosecution and personal fines of up to £5,000.

How much does it cost to file a confirmation statement?
The current fee is £50 online and £110 by paper. This covers a 12-month period and allows multiple filings within that period at no additional cost. The fee has changed several times in recent years, so it's worth checking the current rate on GOV.UK before you file.

Do dormant companies still need to file annual accounts and a confirmation statement?
Yes. A dormant company is exempt from trading activity but not from its filing obligations. Dormant company accounts are simpler than full accounts, but they must still be filed. The confirmation statement must also be submitted each year regardless of trading status.

Can Companies MadeSimple help with these filings?
Yes. Companies MadeSimple offers a confirmation statement filing service and a dormant company accounts service for companies that want the admin handled for them.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Companies House fees, filing deadlines, and penalty amounts can change. Always check current guidance on GOV.UK before filing or making compliance decisions.