A confirmation statement checks information about a company. Annual accounts report its financial position and performance for an accounting period. Filing one does not complete the other, even when both appear on the same Companies House record.
In this article
- Identify the information each filing covers
- Check the company's separate due dates
- Prepare ownership details and accounts
- Confirm both filings are completed
Keeping these two filings separate helps directors see which annual tasks are complete and which still need attention. There is also a separate Company Tax Return and a tax payment timetable to consider.
What each task actually does
| Task | Main purpose | Main preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation statement | Confirm relevant company information held by Companies House | Review company details, ownership and required declarations |
| Annual accounts | Report financial information for the accounting period | Complete bookkeeping, reconcile balances and prepare accounts |
| Company Tax Return | Report the company's tax calculation to HMRC | Adjust accounting results for tax and prepare the required return |
| Corporation Tax payment | Pay the liability when due | Confirm the amount and arrange funds and payment |
The GOV.UK accounts and tax returns overview separates these obligations. Each needs an owner, a preparation date and evidence that the submission or payment was completed.
Preparing a confirmation statement
Start with the public company record, then compare it with the documents held by the business. Check the registered office, directors, secretary if appointed, inspection location, share capital, shareholder information, SIC codes and PSC information.
Do not simply click through last year's details. Ask whether shares changed hands, new shares were issued, a director moved or the business activity changed. Some updates need separate filings; a confirmation statement is not a universal change form. The official confirmation statement guidance lists the changes that can be reported through it.
The company must review its records and file at least one statement every twelve months. The filing window extends fourteen days after the review period ends. Use the actual due date shown on Companies House rather than assuming it matches the financial year end.
Include identity verification in the preparation
Directors now need to provide their Companies House personal codes through the relevant confirmation statement process. Existing directors' requirements are linked to the company's next statement during the transition. A person who is also a PSC has a separate code submission for that role, with its own timing. For an existing PSC who is also a director of the same company, the 14-day PSC window begins the day after the confirmation statement date. Filing the statement early does not move that window. Check the individual due dates on the Companies House register.
Check the current role-specific verification rules. Gather the information securely before filing; an otherwise straightforward statement can be delayed if one director has not completed the necessary verification.
Preparing annual accounts
Accounts need financial evidence, not just confirmation that names and addresses are correct. Before preparation, reconcile bank and payment accounts, check outstanding customer invoices, identify unpaid supplier bills and review loans, stock, fixed assets and director transactions.
Discuss unusual events early. A new lease, asset disposal, disputed debt or change in ownership may need more work than a routine bookkeeping entry. Explain what happened and supply the contract, correspondence or other supporting evidence.
The annual accounts guidance describes the statements and reporting requirements. The appropriate format, exemptions and disclosures depend on the company. Do not assume that a small turnover automatically settles every accounts or audit question.
For a private company, the usual annual accounts filing deadline is nine months after the financial year end. First accounts normally have a deadline twenty-one months after incorporation. Changes to the accounting reference date and unusual periods need a specific check against the official filing timetable.
A practical annual calendar
Record five dates separately: the accounting year end, accounts filing deadline, confirmation statement deadline, Corporation Tax payment deadline and Company Tax Return deadline. Put preparation milestones several weeks or months before the official dates, depending on the complexity of the work.
For each task, record:
- who supplies the information;
- who prepares the document;
- who reviews and authorises it;
- who submits it;
- where the acceptance evidence is saved.
A reminder is useful only if it leads to a named person's action. Check that official emails go to a monitored address and that a deputy can access the calendar during holidays.
An illustrative difference in timing
A company incorporates in spring and chooses a later financial year end. Its confirmation statement review cycle follows incorporation, while its accounts preparation follows the financial period. The director files the statement after checking ownership information, but the accounts are still being prepared.
The director saves the statement acceptance in a filing folder and leaves the accounts task open. The business avoids the mistaken conclusion that a successful Companies House submission has covered every annual obligation.
What about dormant companies?
A company being inactive does not automatically remove its Companies House filing obligations. Dormant accounts and confirmation statements may still be needed. HMRC and Companies House use different criteria for dormancy, so confirm the position with each body instead of applying one label to everything.
Arrange support around both tasks
When requesting help, supply the company number, latest accounts, current filing dates and details of any changes since the previous statement. Ask whether the engagement covers accounts, confirmation statements, tax returns and deadline monitoring separately.
EPOS Accountancy company secretarial support can be discussed alongside the accounting work, subject to agreed scope. Visit pricing and agree a timetable that makes the separate responsibilities visible.