Confirmation Statement vs Dormant Accounts – What’s the Difference?

Two filings, two purposes, here’s how Confirmation Statements differ from Dormant Accounts.

If you run a limited company in the UK, you’ll come across two common filing requirements at Companies House: the Confirmation Statement and Dormant Accounts. Although both are annual obligations, they serve very different purposes. Many new business owners confuse the two, but understanding the distinction is crucial to staying compliant and avoiding penalties.

What is a Confirmation Statement?

A Confirmation Statement (previously called the Annual Return) is essentially a snapshot of your company’s details at a given date. It confirms that the information Companies House holds about your company is up to date.

When you file a Confirmation Statement, you’re verifying:

• Company’s registered office address

• Details of directors and company secretary (if appointed)

• Shareholders and shareholding structure

• People with Significant Control (PSCs)

• Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code(s) for your business activities

It does not report your finances. Instead, it confirms your company’s key structural and ownership information.

👉 Deadline: You must file it once every 12 months. 👉 Need to file now? One click does it Click here

What are Dormant Accounts?

Dormant Accounts apply only to companies that have had no significant financial transactions during the year. In simple terms, if your company hasn’t traded, earned income, or spent money (except for certain small fees like Companies House filing fees), you can file dormant accounts instead of full accounts.

Filing dormant accounts involves submitting a simplified version of financial statements to show that the company hasn’t been active.

👉 Deadline: Accounts must be filed within 9 months of your company’s financial year-end. 👉 Penalty: Late filing penalties start at £150 and can escalate up to £1,500, depending on how late the accounts are submitted.

👉 Wanna get it filed now? Click here.

Key Differences at a Glance

Feature	Confirmation Statement	Dormant Accounts
Purpose	Confirms company details are correct	Reports financial inactivity
Covers	Directors, shareholders, registered office, SIC code, PSCs	Financial status (simplified balance sheet)
Who files?	Every UK company	Only dormant (non-trading) companies
Deadline	Annually (every 12 months)	Within 9 months of year-end
Penalty for late filing	Possible company strike-off	£150 – £1,500 escalating fines

Do You Need to File Both?

Yes, if your company is dormant, you usually need to file both:

1. Dormant Accounts – to show the company has not traded.

2. Confirmation Statement – to confirm the company’s structure and ownership details are still accurate.
   

Skipping either can lead to penalties or even the risk of Companies House striking your company off the register.

Final Thoughts

Think of it this way:

• The Confirmation Statement tells Companies House “who runs the company”.

• The Dormant Accounts tell them “whether the company has been financially active”.
  

Both are straightforward to file, but mixing them up or missing deadlines can become costly. Staying on top of these filings ensures your company remains compliant, even if it’s not actively trading.