Companies House has changed significantly in recent times and the next set of reforms are outlined in the Companies House 2025-2030 strategy.
We will be sure to expand upon the full depth of the changes that are coming over the next five years so that you can prepare accordingly.
In the meantime, there are smaller changes that still seem to be coming through that are worth keeping pace with.
Along with the 18 November deadline for identity verification, it has now been announced that the filing fees will be increasing.
When are the filing fees for Companies House increasing?
Both the costs of the annual Confirmation Statement filing and the cost to incorporate a company or LLP are set to increase from 1 February 2026, as will the fees for other matters such as reductions of share capital and administration restorations.
Currently, the cost of filing a Confirmation Statement is £34 if done digitally, though this is set to increase to £50.
Paper filing costs more and sees a more substantive increase, going from £62 to £110.
Alongside the costs for annual filings, newly incorporated companies will also see higher upfront costs.
The standard incorporation digital filing fee will increase from £50 to £100, while the incorporation paper filing fee will rise from £71 to £124.
The fee for same-day incorporations will rise from £78 to £156.
The only price that is not increasing is the cost of voluntary strike off, as this will drop to £13 for digital submissions and £18 for paper filing.
What do the changing fees mean for businesses?
While the costs themselves are unlikely to trouble very many businesses, the way in which they are changing reveals more about how Companies House are changing going forward.
There is no secret that digital is set to dominate and the sharper increase in costs for paper filings are a way of pushing forward with this agenda.
It would not be overly surprising to see the cost of paper filing increase steadily until it is no longer economically viable to utilise the service.
While it might seem odd to not simply remove the service entirely if they are opposed to it, maintaining the paper filing for the next few years can give the appearance of accommodating the technologically averse, even while discouraging the practice.
If you are able to do so, now may be the time to make the change to digital filings.
You need to make sure that you observe the new costs of filing when the time comes to complete your Confirmation Statement, as underpaying will breach compliance.
What other changes are coming with Companies House?
As mentioned, the most pressing change at the moment is regarding identity verification.
From 18 November 2025, new directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) must verify their identity at appointment and existing officeholders have a 12-month transition window and face enforcement from 18 November 2026 for non-compliance.
We are now an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) and are able to make filings and verify identities on your behalf.
Alongside this, we are also keeping a close eye on how things are changing with Companies House so that it does not come as a surprise to you when changes take effect.
