From 1 February 2026, the main Companies House online incorporation fee is £100, same-day incorporation is £156, and the online confirmation statement fee is £50. These are official government filing fees, separate from any formation agent service fee. The table below shows what changed, who is affected, and the lowest realistic cost to form and maintain a UK company in 2026.
Current Fees (from 1 February 2026)
Online incorporation: £100 (was £50) | Confirmation statement: £50/year (was £34)
What Changed on 1 February 2026
Companies House introduced a new fee schedule on 1 February 2026 as part of its expanded role under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA). The headline change: the standard online incorporation fee doubled from £50 to £100.
This was the second significant fee increase in recent years. The previous increase in May 2024 had already raised the online incorporation fee from £12 to £50. The 2026 increase pushed it to £100.
Fee History at a Glance
- Before May 2024: £12 (online incorporation)
- May 2024 to January 2026: £50
- From 1 February 2026: £100
Full Fee Table: Old vs New
| Service | Old Fee (before 1 Feb 2026) | New Fee (from 1 Feb 2026) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company incorporation (online) | £50 | £100 | +100% |
| Company incorporation (same-day online) | £78 | £156 | +100% |
| Company incorporation (paper) | £71 | £124 | +75% |
| Confirmation statement (online) | £34 | £50 | +47% |
| Confirmation statement (paper) | £62 | £110 | +77% |
| Change of company name (online) | £8 | £20 | +150% |
| Voluntary strike-off | £33 | £13 | −61% (reduced) |
| Company restoration | £225 | £500 | +122% |
| Annual accounts filing | Free | Free | — |
One bright spot: voluntary strike-off dropped from £33 to £13, making it cheaper to close a dormant company.
Why Did Fees Double?
Companies House is no longer just a filing registry. Under ECCTA it has become an active gatekeeper responsible for:
- Verifying the identity of every director and PSC
- Querying and rejecting suspicious filings
- Sharing intelligence with law enforcement
- Scrutinising company names for misleading or offensive terms
These new functions require significant investment in technology and staff. The fee increases fund that transformation directly — Companies House is required to be self-financing.
What It Costs to Form a Company Now
The total minimum cost to incorporate a UK limited company has increased significantly:
| Component | Before 1 Feb 2026 | From 1 Feb 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Formation agent fee (Digital package) | £2.99 | £2.99 |
| Companies House fee (online) | £50 | £100 |
| Minimum total | £52.99 | £102.99 |
The formation agent fee has not changed — it is the mandatory Companies House government fee that doubled. All formation agents pass this cost through at cost; no agent can absorb it.
Form Your Company from £2.99
The formation agent fee starts at £2.99. The £100 Companies House fee is the only mandatory government charge on top.
View Packages →Confirmation Statement Fee: £34 → £50
Every UK company must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months. The fee for filing online rose from £34 to £50 — an increase of £16 per year for every active company.
Key points about the confirmation statement:
- Must be filed within 14 days of your confirmation date
- Late or missed filing is a criminal offence and can result in strike-off
- From 2026 onwards, it must also include identity verification codes for directors and PSCs
- Paper filing costs £110 — always file online to save £60
Note on Formation Packages
Many formation packages include the filing service for your first confirmation statement, but the £50 Companies House fee is always charged separately at the time of filing — it is a government fee no agent can include.
How to Keep Costs Down
- Always file online — online incorporation costs £100 vs £124 for paper. Online confirmation statement costs £50 vs £110 for paper.
- Choose the right package — the Digital package at £2.99 covers the essentials. Only upgrade to Privacy or All Inclusive if you need a London registered office or compliance tools.
- Close dormant companies promptly — voluntary strike-off now only costs £13. An unused company still owes the £50 confirmation statement each year.
- Never miss a filing — late accounts carry penalties of £150–£1,500. Company restoration now costs £500 (up from £225).
International Comparison
Even at £100, UK incorporation remains among the cheapest in the world. US state filing fees range from $50–$500+. Hong Kong costs approximately £175. Germany exceeds £200. The UK remains highly competitive for business formation costs.
Key Takeaways
- Online incorporation fee doubled from £50 to £100 on 1 February 2026
- Annual confirmation statement (online) rose from £34 to £50
- Same-day incorporation now costs £156 (was £78)
- Voluntary strike-off dropped to £13 (was £33)
- Company restoration is now £500 (was £225) — don't let companies lapse
- Formation agent fees are unchanged — the increase is a government fee
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