From 1 February 2026, Companies House doubled its online incorporation fee from £50 to £100 and raised the annual confirmation statement fee from £34 to £50. If you are forming a UK company — or advising someone who is — here is exactly what changed, why, and what it costs you.
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
Ready to Form Your Company?
Our partner 1st Formations processes companies from £2.99 + the £100 Companies House fee. Same-day formation, fully online.
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