Starting a business in the UK? Or managing multiple company filings? As of 1 February 2026, several core Companies House fees have changed. The digital cost of registering a company has doubled, the confirmation statement fee has risen, and the voluntary strike-off fee has dropped.
If you’re trying to understand the recent Companies House fee changes, here’s what they mean for incorporations, confirmation statements, dissolutions and more in 2026.
Key takeaways
- Managing a company is now more expensive due to the updated Companies House incorporation and confirmation statement fees.
- Forming a company now costs twice as much digitally, rising from £50 to £100 as of 1 February 2026.
- Digital (online) strike-off fees have fallen to £13, making it cheaper to close dormant companies after the fee change.
- The fee hike funds sweeping reforms, including identity checks and stricter oversight to combat fraud.
What’s changing – February 2026 Companies House fee increases
Companies House has updated a number of its core fees as of 1 February 2026. The most significant changes affect three filings that almost every company encounters at some stage: incorporation, the annual confirmation statement and voluntary strike-off. Together, these updates mean that starting and maintaining a company now costs more, while closing one is slightly cheaper.
Digital company incorporation fee
If you’re forming a new limited company or LLP digitally now, the registration fee has increased from £50 to £100. The same-day digital service has risen from £78 to £156, and paper incorporation has gone from £71 to £124. This continues the trend towards digital-first filing, with paper quickly becoming the premium option.
Confirmation statement filing fee
The annual confirmation statement (the filing that every active company must submit each year) has also become more expensive. The digital fee has increased from £34 to £50, while the paper fee is now £110, up from £62.
Voluntary strike-off filing fee
The main reduction within the 2026 fee changes applies to voluntary strike-off applications. If you’re closing a company using Form DS01, the digital fee has decreased from £33 to £13, and the paper fee from £44 to £18.
This means that dissolving a company is cheaper as of February 2026.
A summary of the key price changes
Below, we’ve outlined the most important fee changes that took effect on 1 February 2026.
| Filing | Method of delivery | Current fee | New fee from 1 Feb 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incorporation | Digital | £50 | £100 |
| Incorporation (same day) | Digital | £78 | £156 |
| Incorporation | Paper | £71 | £124 |
| Confirmation statement | Digital | £34 | £50 |
| Confirmation statement | Paper | £62 | £110 |
| Strike off (Form DS01) | Digital | £33 | £13 |
| Strike off (Form DS01) | Paper | £44 | £18 |
Other important changes to look out for include:
| Filing | Method of delivery | Current fee | New fee from 1 Feb 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Good Standing | Paper | £15 | £22 |
| Certificate of Good Standing (same day) | Paper | £50 | £65 |
| Application to remove personal details (such as your home address) from the public register | Paper | £30 | £34 |
| Reduction of capital supported by a solvency statement | Digital | £33 | £20 |
| Reduction of capital supported by a solvency statement (same day) | Digital | £136 | £89 |
| Reduction of capital supported by a solvency statement | Paper | £33 | £20 |
| Administrative restoration | Paper | £468 | £341 |
1st Formations price changes
In response to the Companies House fee changes implemented on 1 February 2026, our company formation packages have also been updated. These changes reflect the higher cost of digital company incorporation and reporting, as well as new compliance requirements introduced under the ECCT Act. Below is a summary of the revised prices. Please note that our prices exclude the £100 Companies House fee.
| Service | Current price | New price from 1 Feb 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Package | £52.99 | £2.99 |
| Privacy Package | £67.99 | £17.99 |
| All Inclusive Package | £89.99 | £39.99 |
| Non-Residents Package | £149.99 | £99.99 |
| Limited by Guarantee Package | £69.99 | £19.99 |
| Limited Liability Partnership | £74.99 | £24.99 |
Other services
| Service | Current price | New price from 1 Feb 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Month Cancellation Protection | £34.99 | £14.99 |
| Confirmation Statement – Standard | £59.99 | £75.99 |
| Confirmation Statement – Express | £69.99 | £85.99 |
| Confirmation Statement – When purchased with a Transfer/Issue of Shares | £55.99 | £71.99 |
| Company Dissolution Service | £89.99 | Unchanged |
Why are Companies House fees increasing in 2026?
Companies House works on a cost-recovery basis, meaning its fees must cover the cost of providing services and implementing new responsibilities. The 2026 increases support the most significant reform of the register in decades, driven by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Act.
A more active Companies House
Companies House has historically served primarily as a record keeper. Under the reforms, its role is expanding significantly, gaining more proactive powers to:
- Query suspicious or inaccurate information
- Reject filings that don’t meet legal requirements
- Remove false or misleading data more quickly
- Share information with enforcement bodies
These activities require specialist staff and ongoing oversight, which the updated fees help fund.
Modern digital systems and security
The reforms depend on new digital infrastructure. Fees have increased to support:
- More secure online services
- Better data checks and analysis
- Improved submission tools for businesses and agents
These updates are crucial for reducing fraud and keeping the register accurate.
The role of the ECCT Act
The ECCT Act 2023 is the legislation behind the changes. It has brought in a lot of changes, including:
- Mandatory identity verification for directors, people with significant control (PSCs) and certain filers
- Stricter rules around addresses and company names
- Stronger powers to correct or remove inaccurate filings
Running identity verification and maintaining higher scrutiny levels requires long-term investment – a key reason why Companies House fees have risen.
Will these changes affect my business?
Most companies will feel the 2026 fee changes in some way, but the impact depends on what you plan to do. Forming a new company now costs more; maintaining an existing one has become slightly pricier each year due to the higher confirmation statement fee. Closing a dormant or unused entity is now cheaper thanks to the reduced strike-off charge.
If you’re managing several companies, or planning new incorporations or dissolutions around early 2026, it’s worth checking your timelines to see whether filing just before – or just after – the fee change is more cost-effective.
How the Companies House fee changes affect your filings
If you manage multiple companies or recently filed documents around the 1 February 2026 deadline, it’s important to understand how the new Companies House fees apply. Whether you filed just before or just after the change could affect what you were charged and how to plan your filings moving forward.
Already filed in January 2026?
If you filed your incorporation or confirmation statement before 1 February 2026, you’ll have paid the former fees:
- Digital incorporation: £50
- Confirmation statement: £34
- Digital strike-off (Form DS01): £33
That was a good move if you were ready in time – especially if you managed several entities and wanted to reduce admin costs all in one go.
Filing under the new fees?
If you’re filing now or in the future, these new fees apply:
- Digital incorporation: £100
- Confirmation statement: £50
- Digital strike-off (Form DS01): £13
The cost of starting and running a company has increased slightly, but closing a dormant one is now considerably cheaper. If your confirmation statement is due soon, be sure to factor the new fee into your annual compliance budget.
Staying compliant in 2026
The February 2026 Companies House fee changes sit alongside broader changes coming into force, including identity verification, stricter address rules and more active checks on filings. It’s all part of a shift towards a more secure, more transparent register.
With the fee changes now in effect, staying compliant also means budgeting for the higher incorporation and confirmation statement costs – and filing on time to avoid penalties.
If you’re planning to start a new company or need assistance with confirmation statements, address services, or other Companies House requirements, 1st Formations can help you every step of the way. Our formation packages and compliance services are designed to keep your business organised and in good standing.
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