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Posted: Mon 9th Feb 2026
5 min read
Most founders only notice Companies House when they have to file something, incorporate a new venture, update the public record or close an old company. That's why this latest change is important.
From 1 February 2026, several standard Companies House fees have increased. For micro businesses using a limited company or LLP, it raises the "keep the company alive" admin cost. It also makes paper filing an expensive habit.
If you only take one thing from this, make it these figures:
Digital incorporation: £100 (previously £50)
Digital confirmation statement: £50 (previously £34)
Paper confirmation statement: £110 (this is the paper premium)
Companies House publishes the full schedule of fees, including paper versus digital routes and same-day options.
There is one quieter change that will help some founders. Online voluntary strike-off is now £13 (down from £33). That matters if you have a dormant company you want to close properly.
Starting a business: Incorporating a company now costs more, so build it into your setting-up budget.
Running a micro company or LLP: You'll pay £50 for your annual confirmation statement if you file digitally.
Still filing by post: This is where you'll feel it most, because the paper confirmation statement is now £110.
Holding a dormant company you do not use: It's now cheaper to close it online than before.
Most micro businesses already pay for software, banking, insurance and often an accountant. Companies House fees are compulsory. They apply whether your trading is strong or weak.
The confirmation statement is a common trap because it's yearly and often doesn't change. It's easy to ignore when you're busy.
If you miss it, you can lose time chasing log-ins and codes, or end up paying someone else to fix it quickly.
Companies House makes clear you still need to file a confirmation statement even if nothing has changed.
The £110 paper confirmation statement fee is not subtle. It strongly nudges you towards digital filing.
If you still file by post out of habit, this is the moment to stop paying extra for it.
Companies House says it reviewed fees to reflect the cost of services.
It claims that the updated fees will support its work to improve the quality of the register and tackle misuse, as part of the wider reforms underway.
The reaction has been consistent.
ICAEW has described the changes as "significant hikes", highlighting the scale of the increases and the gap between paper and digital fees.
AccountingWEB framed it as a major fee revision, focusing on the founder-facing shifts, and linking it to Companies House's broader transformation programme.
In discussions between accountants and finance professionals, the tone is irritation rather than outrage.
The recurring message is that this is another fixed cost for small companies, and that paper filing is now priced at a level that will put people off.
Check your confirmation statement due date on your public company record and set a calendar reminder one month before it's due.
Switch to digital filing for routine submissions, especially the confirmation statement, to avoid the paper premium.
Budget for the basics. Assume £50 a year for your confirmation statement if you file digitally.
If you have a dormant company you no longer need, consider closing it properly. Online voluntary strike-off is £13.
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