CS01 Confirmation Statement Pitfalls: Common Mistakes Companies Make

June 26, 2026

A confirmation statement (CS01) is a document that companies must file at least annually with Companies House, which reflects the position of a company at that specific point in time. It originally falls on the incorporation anniversary, but can be changed by filing prior to an anniversary date, which then becomes the new annual date for filing.

Filing a confirmation statement may seem like a straightforward task when you file a CS01, as you are simply confirming the status of the company, but many businesses risk missing the confirmation statement deadline. However, many problems can arise, as can be seen below.

Common CS01 Confirmation Statement Issues

Incorrect People with Significant Control (PSC) Information

The most common issue we see is that many companies show incorrect People with Significant Control (PSC) information on their PSC register, which can lead to inaccuracies in Companies House records. This is often because either the incorporator or whoever dealt with a later share transfer misunderstood the PSC criteria or selected the wrong control category. For those filing confirmation statements, this becomes a bottleneck: if the PSC details are incorrect, the CS01 cannot be submitted until the changes are made first, otherwise incorrect information will be reflected.

Occasionally, where an IN01 (incorporation form) and RP01 (replacement of document not meeting requirements) form are required to be sent via post, this can cause problems due to the length of time it takes for Companies House to review and respond. During this time, the confirmation statement could become overdue, and if, for any reason, Companies House rejects the application or requests additional information, this could delay the process even further.

Incorrect or Missing Shareholder Information

Another frequent issue arises where shares have been transferred, and then this information is not recorded on the following annual return. This is quite prominent in property management companies, as the share may have been “forgotten”. The issue with this is that only a property owner can hold a share, and therefore, when a property is sold, the share should also transfer

Director Identity Verification and Personal Codes Issues

From 18 November 2025, it was mandatory for directors to verify their identity at Companies House to help tackle economic crime. This can be done either through the GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Although this process provides more assurance on who is controlling companies, it is causing issues for those carrying out filings for companies.

A confirmation statement cannot be filed without providing the personal codes for the directors, and if a director is uncontactable or has passed away, there is a risk of the confirmation statement becoming overdue, and ultimately, there is a risk of Companies House proposing to use their powers to strike off the company.

Need Help Filing Your CS01 Confirmation Statement?

If you’d like somebody to handle your confirmation statements to ensure your confirmation statements are correct and filed on time, Herrington Carmichael can provide registered office services, which include Companies House filings and annual accounts reminders for an annual fee. Alternatively, if you need one-off assistance, we can assist on that basis too.

Herrington Carmichael is also an ACSP and can assist with any issues that you are having getting your personal identity code, contact us today to ensure your filings are not delayed.

Michelle Lamberth
Senior Paralegal, Corporate
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This reflects the law and market position at the date of publication and is written as a general guide. It does not contain definitive legal advice, which should be sought in relation to a specific matter.

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