Companies House fee changes 2026 

Companies House fee changes 2026 will affect every UK limited company that incorporates, files confirmation statements or applies for voluntary strike off, so it is important to understand what is changing and what you need to do before the new rules take effect.

At Agile Accountants we work with owner managed businesses and fast growth start-ups across the UK, and we are already helping clients plan around these new government charges in a practical, straightforward way.

What is changing from 1 February 2026

From 1 February 2026, several key Companies House fees are changing for digital filings. For most small and medium limited companies, the main ones to be aware of are:

Core digital filing fees for most companies

From 1 February 2026 the digital fees will be:

• Incorporation (setting up a new company): £100
• Confirmation statement (the annual Companies House filing): £50
• Voluntary strike off (closing a company): £13

Paper filing fees are also increasing and are higher than the digital fees, which is another strong reason to keep all submissions online where possible.

Where to see the full list of fee changes

If your company uses less common filings, or you are involved with LLPs or other entity types, you can view the complete schedule of new fees on the official Companies House website and the government campaign site on changes to UK company law.

These pages are updated directly by Companies House, so they are the safest source for up to date amounts.

Identity verification and other changes to expect

Alongside Companies House fee changes 2026, there is another important reform that directors and people with significant control need to be ready for: mandatory identity verification. 

From 18 November 2025, Companies House is rolling out a new identity verification regime under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. There will be a 12 month transition window, so existing directors and people with significant control must verify their identity by the time of their next confirmation statement within that period.

In practice, this means:

• New directors and people with significant control will need to verify when they are appointed.
• Existing directors and people with significant control will have to complete verification between November 2025 and November 2026, usually linked to their Confirmation Statement date.

The aim is to create a cleaner, more reliable register, but for business owners it simply adds another task that needs to be organised alongside your usual filings.

What Companies House fee changes 2026 mean for your business

The individual fees are not huge on their own, but they can add up across a group of companies or over time. Here is how the changes are likely to show up in real life.

If you are planning to incorporate a new company

If you are thinking about:

• Spinning out a new trading company
• Creating a separate company for a new product or location
• Setting up a special purpose vehicle for property

the cost of incorporating digitally will be £100 per company from 1 February 2026. That is double the current digital fee.

If you already run one or more limited companies

Every trading or holding company must file a confirmation statement at least once a year, even if nothing has changed. From February 2026, the digital fee will be £50 per confirmation statement.

This has a few practical implications:

• If you have a single company, the extra cost is small but still worth noting.
• If you have multiple companies, for example a group structure or several property companies, the total annual cost will rise more noticeably.
• If you have dormant companies that serve no real purpose, the new fee structure is a good prompt to review whether they are still needed.

If you have dormant or redundant companies

The voluntary strike off digital fee is falling to £13, making it cheaper to close companies you no longer need.

This could be a helpful opportunity to:

• Tidy up old project companies that are no longer used
• Close dormant entities that add admin but no value
• Simplify your structure before identity verification goes live

A simpler, cleaner group structure usually means fewer filings, fewer fees and a lower risk of missing important deadlines.

Practical steps business owners should take now

So what do you actually need to do, and when? Here is a clear, practical checklist you can follow.

1. Make a list of all your companies and key dates

Create or update a simple schedule that lists for each company:

• Company name and number
• Next confirmation statement due date
• Whether it is trading, holding or dormant
• Any planned future changes, such as closure or reorganisation

This gives you a single view of where Companies House fee changes 2026 and identity verification will affect you.

2. Decide on timing for incorporations and closures

If you are planning to:

• Incorporate new companies, or
• Close dormant or redundant companies

talk to your accountant about whether it is better to act before or after 1 February 2026.

Examples:

• Bringing forward an incorporation into late 2025 or January 2026 could save £50 per company.
• Waiting until after February 2026 to strike off a dormant company could mean you pay the lower £13 fee, as long as that timing works with your wider tax and commercial plans.

The right answer will depend on your situation, but thinking about it now avoids last minute decisions.

3. Check that you are filing everything digitally

Because paper fees are higher and the whole regime is designed around digital filing, it makes sense to ensure:

• Your companies are set up for digital filing with Companies House, and
• Your accountant is submitting all forms online, either via Companies House or compliant software.

If you are still using paper for any reason, this is a good time to move fully online.

4. Keep identity verification up to date

Identity verification sits alongside the Companies House fee changes 2026, but it is already live. The focus now is on making sure everyone who needs to be verified has done it, and that your company details stay accurate and up to date. To keep things running smoothly:

• Make sure your list of directors and people with significant control is accurate and current.
• Check that personal email addresses and postal addresses are up to date, so Companies House notices reach the right people.

If anyone connected with your company has not yet completed identity verification, treat that as a priority. After that, build these checks into your normal annual routine, alongside your confirmation statement and accounts, so they become a simple recurring step rather than a one off project.

How Agile Accountants can help you navigate the changes

At Agile Accountants, we support limited companies across the UK with joined up compliance and advisory services, so these changes simply become part of a smooth, managed process for you.

We can help you to:

• Map out your Companies House exposure
  Review all your entities, identify which fees will apply, and highlight where the cost increases are most significant.
• Plan incorporations, restructures and strike offs sensibly
  Align the timing of company changes with fee changes, tax planning and commercial goals, not just Companies House deadlines.
• Handle digital filings and identity verification
  File your documents digitally, keep statutory records aligned with your accounting system, and guide directors through the identity verification process.
• Keep everything simple and stress free
  Incorporate these changes into your regular monthly or quarterly work with us, so you are not juggling surprise admin and unfamiliar rules.

If you would like to understand exactly how Companies House fee changes 2026 will affect your business or want a clear action plan for your companies before the new fees begin, get in touch with the Agile Accountants team. We will walk you through the options in plain English and help you make confident, informed decisions.