What a dormant company has to file
GOV.UK says every company, including dormant and non-trading companies, must file a confirmation statement at least once a year. It also says a dormant company must still file annual accounts. A company that is both small and dormant can file simpler dormant accounts.
The confirmation statement costs £50 online or £110 on paper. You pay the fee only with the first statement in each 12 month payment period, and can then file more statements in that period without paying again. You must file it no later than 14 days after your review period ends. The Companies House fees list does not show a fee for filing a UK company's annual accounts.
The yearly cost, in short
The government cost of keeping a company dormant is usually £50 a year, the confirmation statement fee. Everything else on this page is the price of a service or software.
Filing both yourself costs £50. SimpleFilings costs £59.98. Of the other providers we checked, the lowest published yearly total was £68.98, from the separate File Confirmation Statements and File Dormant Accounts services. Formation agent prices for the same two filings ran from £118.00 + VAT to £208.00 + VAT.
What each option includes
SimpleFilings charges a £4.99 service fee per filing. There is no subscription. For dormant accounts, we prepare qualifying dormant accounts and file them once a director approves them. For the confirmation statement, we check the company details with you and file once you approve. The total price includes the £50 Companies House fee when due. We check whether it is due before filing.
File Confirmation Statements charges £9.99 plus the £50 Companies House fee, and File Dormant Accounts charges £8.99. Both say they submit the same day and have no subscriptions. The confirmation statement service pre-fills the details Companies House already holds; changes to directors, shareholders, PSCs, address or SIC codes have to be made separately.
Inform Direct is software you file through yourself. Its pay as you go prices are £15 + VAT for a confirmation statement, plus the Companies House fee, and £25 + VAT for dormant accounts.
Easy Dormant Accounts sells a yearly package covering both filings for £99, including the £50 Companies House fee. Its page shows this reduced from £105.
Formationswise's bundle prepares and files both filings for a company that has never traded, for £118.00 + VAT including the Companies House fee. Companies Made Simple sells a similar bundle for £149.99 + VAT, also including the Companies House fee.
1st Formations, Quality Company Formations and Rapid Formations each charge £75.99 + VAT for a standard confirmation statement, including the £50 fee, and £49.99 + VAT for standard dormant accounts. Each says these services renew annually. Your Company Formations charges £90 + VAT for a confirmation statement, including the £50 fee, and £118 + VAT for dormant accounts.
Worked example: one year's filings
- Do it yourself: £50 Companies House fee, and nothing for the dormant accounts filing.
- SimpleFilings: £4.99 for the confirmation statement + £4.99 for the dormant accounts + £50 Companies House fee = £59.98.
- File Confirmation Statements + File Dormant Accounts: £9.99 + £50 + £8.99 = £68.98, as published.
- Inform Direct pay as you go: £15 + £25 = £40, plus £8 VAT, plus the £50 fee = £98.00.
- Easy Dormant Accounts package: £99, including the £50 fee, as published.
- Formationswise bundle: £118.00 + VAT, including the £50 fee. That leaves £68.00 plus VAT for the agent's service.
- 1st Formations, Quality Company Formations or Rapid Formations: £75.99 + £49.99 = £125.98 + VAT, including the £50 fee.
- If you have already paid the £50 fee in the current 12 month payment period, the Companies House part is £0. Ask any provider whose price includes the fee how they treat that case.
Who each option suits
A bundle or annual renewal suits owners who want one yearly price, reminders, and someone else to handle both filings each year without thinking about it. It can also suit someone who values ongoing customer support and a stated turnaround.
Paying per filing suits owners who are happy to confirm their own details and approve each filing, and want to keep the yearly spend close to the government fee. You pay £4.99 only when you file.
Software suits owners who want to file themselves but have the forms laid out for them.
Filing yourself suits owners who are comfortable with Companies House's online services and already know their dates.
Before you choose
- Check the company really was dormant for the whole financial year.
- Check whether you have already paid the £50 confirmation statement fee for this payment period.
- Have your company number and authentication code ready.
- Make sure all directors have completed Companies House identity verification and have their personal codes.
- Compare prices on the same basis: with or without VAT, and with or without the £50 fee.
When another option may suit you better
- An agent bundle or annual renewal is better if you want the filings to happen each year without you starting them.
- An agent is better if you want lifetime customer support, a stated turnaround and express options for single filings.
- Easy Dormant Accounts, Formationswise and Companies Made Simple each sell one price that covers both filings and the £50 fee.
- File Confirmation Statements and File Dormant Accounts say they will resolve the issue or refund you if Companies House rejects a filing.
- Filing yourself is cheaper if you are confident using Companies House's online services, as you pay only the £50 fee.