CS01: Filing a confirmation statement with Companies House

CS01: Filing a confirmation statement with Companies House

Author: Lucy Hoyle
|
Read time:  5 minutes
Published date:  31 October 2024
UK companies must file a confirmation statement (CS01) with Companies House every year. Learn how to complete and file a CS01 form, and how Carta simplifies the process.

What is a confirmation statement?

A confirmation statement (CS01) is a form that UK businesses must file with Companies House every 12 months to confirm their details are accurate and up to date. Formerly known as an annual return, this filing is a requirement for all companies registered in the UK – whether they are actively trading or not.

Confirmation statement deadline

You need to submit a CS01 to Companies House at least once a year, even if nothing has changed since your previous filing. The 12-month review period (sometimes called the confirmation period) is counted from the date of the last confirmation statement (or the date of incorporation for new companies). 

You must deliver the CS01 within 14 days of the end of this period. If you fail to meet the deadline, your company may be removed from the public register and could face prosecution, along with its officers.

Updating company details

Before filing a confirmation statement, it’s important to check your details on the Companies House register. If any of the information is incorrect or outdated, you’ll need to update your company records and notify Companies House of the changes.

However, the following information can be updated as part of your CS01 form:

How to file a confirmation statement

This article explains how to fill in a CS01 manually and submit it to Companies House. We’ll also show you how Carta saves time by automating the process.

You can download a CS01 form and additional information pages from the UK government website. Note that you only need to complete the pages that are relevant to your company and file them along with your confirmation statement. If you don’t have any changes to report and you’ve already registered an email address, skip parts 1-5 and just submit the confirmation statement.

CS01 Part 1: Business activities and SIC code

The first part is used to notify Companies House if your SIC has changed. For new business activities, add the relevant SIC code to section A1 of your CS01 form. Enter any SIC codes that no longer apply to your company in section A2. 

CS01-screenshot-1
Portion of CS01 form as of October 2024

CS01 Part 2: Statement of capital

Changes to your company’s share capital or prescribed particulars of rights (e.g. following an allotment of shares) can be reported using this part of the form. However, if you’ve already filed an SH01 (return of allotment of shares) to notify Companies House of these updates, you don’t need to repeat the information in a CS01 form.

Essentially, if nothing has changed since you last submitted a statement of capital, you can skip this part.

CS01-screenshot-2
Portion of CS01 form as of October 2024

CS01 Part 3: Trading status of shares and PSC register exemption 

Companies House also needs to know about any changes to your trading situation during the confirmation period (i.e. the time since your last CS01 filing). This part of the form asks you to declare whether:

  • Any company shares were traded on a regulated market or investment exchange

  • Your company was a traded company and exempt from providing shareholder information (according to the FCA’s Disclosure and Transparency Rules) 

  • Your company has ever been exempt from keeping a register of people with significant control (PSC)

CS01-screenshot-3
Portion of CS01 form as of October 2024

CS01 Part 4: Shareholder information

If any of your shareholders’ details have changed since your previous filing, you’ll need to enter their name and the class and number of shares they hold on the date of this confirmation statement. Additional information is required if you’re reporting a share transfer.

Every time you make changes to your shareholder register (e.g. shareholders’ names, addresses or holdings), you’ll need to update your Register of Members. It’s also best practice to update your Register of Transfers or Register of Allotments – depending on the transaction in question. To notify Companies House of these updates, you must file a CS01 once a year (or more often, if you prefer). 

CS01-screenshot-4
Portion of CS01 form as of October 2024

CS01 Part 5: Registered email address

Confirmation statements filed on or after 5 March 2024 must include an email address – unless you’ve already provided one – that Companies House can use to contact your company. This information won’t appear on the public register.

If you need to update a registered email address, submit an EM01 form instead.

CS01-screenshot-5
Portion of CS01 form as of October 2024

Complete and file your confirmation statement

The final step of the CS01 process (or the only step, if you don’t have any changes to report) is to fill out and submit your confirmation statement. 

Enter your company number, company name and the confirmation date. From 5 March 2024, you must also confirm that your company intends to carry out lawful activities in the future.

The form needs to be authenticated by a company director or officer, charity officer, Judicial Factor or person authorised under section 270 or 274 of the Companies Act 2006. You have the option to include contact information in case of any issues with the form, but note that it will be visible on the public record.

When you’ve completed and reviewed all the relevant parts of the CS01, it’s ready to be filed with Companies House. There is an annual cost of £62 to post a paper form; alternatively, you can submit it online via the WebFiling service for a reduced fee of £34.

CS01-screenshot-6
Portion of CS01 form as of October 2024

How to generate your CS01 on Carta

Filing your CS01 may be a business-critical task, but it doesn’t need to be a drain on your time and energy. With Carta, it only takes a few minutes to generate a CS01, automatically populated with your company’s data. Once you’ve reviewed the form and completed any outstanding information, you can file it directly with Companies House via the platform.

To get started, log in to your account and select ‘Companies House’ from ‘Filings’ in the left-hand navigation bar. On this page, click ‘Generate filing’ and select ‘CS01’ from the drop-down menu.

CS01-screenshot-7

The first step in the filing flow asks you to check the dates of your previous and next CS01s, before adding a registered email address. You’ll need to read and accept the two declarations at the bottom of the page before clicking ‘Continue’.

CS01-screenshot-8

Next, you’ll be asked to review the pre-populated information:

  • Company details and SIC codes

  • Statement of capital change

  • Shareholder information

  • ​​Company PSCs, directors and secretaries

CS01-screenshot-9

Once you’ve completed these steps, the platform will generate your CS01 and you’ll have the option to download the filing or submit it directly to Companies House. If you haven’t set up the integration yet, follow the instructions to link your Carta account with Companies House.

CS01-screenshot-10

If you choose to file your CS01 via the platform, you’ll receive an email to confirm that Companies House has received it. You should receive another email within two working days, informing you whether Companies House has accepted or rejected your CS01. The status of your filing will be automatically updated in your Carta account.

Streamline your HMRC and Companies House filings with Carta.
Learn more

Lucy Hoyle
Author: Lucy Hoyle
Lucy Hoyle is a Content Marketing Manager based in the UK, leading Carta’s content and SEO strategies for international markets. She was previously a content curator for ebook subscription platform Perlego, where she collaborated with authors, publishers and universities to improve global access to education.

DISCLOSURE: This communication is on behalf of eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. ("Carta"). This communication is for informational purposes only, and contains general information only. Carta is not, by means of this communication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business or interests. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business or interests, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. This communication is not intended as a recommendation, offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Carta does not assume any liability for reliance on the information provided herein. This post contains links to articles or other information that may be contained on third-party websites. The inclusion of any hyperlink is not and does not imply any endorsement, approval, investigation, or verification by Carta, and Carta does not endorse or accept responsibility for the content, or the use, of such third-party websites. Carta assumes no liability for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions in or from any data or other information provided on such third-party websites. Carta is not affiliated with or endorsed by Companies House, and questions regarding use of the Companies House WebFiling service should be directed to your professional advisors and/or Companies House. © 2024 eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited.