From 1 February 2026, several core Companies House fees will change. The digital cost of registering a company will double, the confirmation statement fee will rise, and the voluntary strike-off fee will fall.
If you’re planning to set up a company, file a confirmation statement or close a dormant entity in early 2026, it’s worth knowing how these changes work – and whether it makes sense to act before the new fees take effect.
Key takeaways
- Forming a company will cost twice as much digitally, rising from £50 to £100 from 1 February 2026.
- Digital (online) strike-off fees fall 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
From 1 February 2026, Companies House will update a number of its core fees. 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 will cost a little more, while closing one will become cheaper.
Digital company incorporation fee
If you’re forming a new limited company or LLP digitally, the registration fee will increase from £50 to £100. The same-day digital service will increase from £78 to £156, and paper incorporation will rise 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 every active company must submit each year) will also become more expensive. The digital fee will increase from £34 to £50, while the paper fee will move from £62 to £110.
Voluntary strike-off filing fee
The main reduction within the 2026 update applies to voluntary strike-off applications. If you’re closing a company using Form DS01, the digital fee will fall from £33 to £13, and the paper fee from £44 to £18.
This means that dissolving a company will be substantially cheaper from February onwards.
A summary of the key price changes
Below, we’ve outlined the key digital changes you can expect in 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, beyond the three filings we’ve already looked at, 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 |
Changes to Quality Company Formations pricing
Following the Companies House fee increases taking effect on 1 February 2026, our formation package prices will be updated to reflect these statutory changes. Our packages still include everything you need to form your company quickly and stay compliant.
| Service | Current price | New price as of 1 February 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Package | £51.99 | £101.99 |
| Privacy Package | £53.99 | £103.99 |
| Fully Inclusive Package | £59.99 | £109.99 |
| Non-Residents Package | £69.99 | £119.99 |
| Multiple Share Class Package | £69.99 | £119.99 |
| Limited by Guarantee Package | £89.99 | £139.99 |
| Limited Liability Partnership | £69.99 | £119.99 |
| Wholesale Package | £74.99 | £124.99 |
Other services
| Service | Current price | New price as of 1 February 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 are increasing 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 are rising from 2026.
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 will cost more; maintaining an existing one becomes slightly pricier each year due to the higher confirmation statement fee. Closing a dormant or unused entity becomes 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.
Should you file or incorporate before the fee change takes effect?
Because the new fees take effect on 1 February 2026, the weeks leading up to the change are a useful planning window.
When filing early saves money
Filing in January 2026 may be beneficial if:
- You’re ready to incorporate and want to avoid the higher £100 fee
- Your confirmation statement is due soon, and you can submit it early at the current £34 rate
These savings are modest individually, but they add up for multiple companies.
When waiting makes sense
Waiting until February may be preferable when:
- You’re planning to close a dormant or unused company, and want the cheaper £13 digital DS01 rate
- Your business isn’t ready to operate, and premature incorporation would create unnecessary admin
- You need time to finalise shareholdings, directors or structure before forming
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.
If you’re preparing to form a new company – or want support handling confirmation statements, address services, or fulfilling other Companies House requirements – Quality Company Formations can guide you through each step. Our formation packages and compliance services are designed to keep your business organised, up to date, and ready for the changes ahead.
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