Confirmation statement
From 30 June 2016 the confirmation statement replaces the annual return.
Every business needs to ensure that the information held at Companies House is correct and up to date. To achieve this, Companies House require every limited company, once a year, to check their records and amend their details. This was called the annual return, but is now known as the confirmation statement.
It is a legal requirement to complete the confirmation statements and therefore an actual criminal offence if you do not complete it within 14 days of the end of the review period. Companies House may prosecute the company and its officers. (the annual return used to be 28 days)
The information held on your company can be easily updated via the webfiling online account. You can also use the Webcheck facility to access the company information.
Before making a confirmation statement, you must check that you have informed Companies House of any:
· relevant events which have taken place during the confirmation period
· changes to the company’s:
· principal business activities or standard industrial classification (SIC) code
· information about people of significant control (PSC)
· statement of capital
· trading status of shares
· shareholder information
Even if there are no changes during the last review period you need to ensure the confirmation statement is completed.
Most changes to a company occur during the review period and are updated accordingly, Companies House need to be informed if there have been changes to the:
· company’s registered office
· company’s directors (appointments, terminations of appointments, and director’s details – eg service address, surname, etc.)
· company’s secretary (appointments, terminations of appointments, and secretary’s details – eg service address, surname, etc.)
· location of the company’s registers (ie whether they are kept at the company’s registered office or at a single alternative inspection location (SAIL).
If you haven’t informed Companies House, you must also complete the usual form at the same time as you send the confirmation statement.
Other changes Companies House must be notified of
If there’s been a change to the following you must notify Companies House by providing the updated information with your confirmation statement:
· the company’s SIC code
· a change to the matters included in the company’s last statement of capital
· a change in the shareholders’ information
· a change in the information in your company PSC register (a copy of this information must be provided in its entirety the first time you file a confirmation statement).
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