Make the Confirmation Statement a Readiness Check

Make the Confirmation Statement a Readiness Check

A confirmation statement is not a last-minute admin task. It depends on accurate records, clear responsibility and directors being ready to verify their identity.

Companies House identity verification requirements are now in force. Official guidance says directors must have verified their identity before a company files its confirmation statement, and the filing process requires the relevant personal code details for current directors. Do not rely on a blanket date copied from a secondary article. Check the company’s filing timetable and current guidance. GOV.UK, Filing your company’s confirmation statement and GOV.UK, Verify your identity for Companies House

Build a controlled director checklist

For every current director, record verification status, whether the personal code has been received through the approved process, who owns the filing and where evidence is retained. Restrict access to personal codes. They are sensitive identifiers, not general-purpose notes for a shared spreadsheet.

Compare the director list against current company records before filing. New appointments, resignations or changed details can make a prepared pack inaccurate. Give one person responsibility for reconciliation and require a second check before submission.

Treat PSC obligations separately

A person may be both a director and a person with significant control, or may have a PSC obligation without being a director. Those roles can have different timing and filing steps. Do not assume that completing one process automatically fulfils the other. Use the official guidance for each role and maintain a separate status in the governance record. GOV.UK, When you need to verify your identity for Companies House

Put the process on the board calendar

Work backwards from the confirmation statement date. Set checkpoints for checking the register, contacting directors, collecting relevant codes securely, resolving discrepancies and approving the submission. Escalate missing information early. A calendar reminder without an owner does not create readiness.

Keep an audit trail of who checked each item, when it was checked and how exceptions were resolved. This supports handovers and gives the company secretary a reliable basis for reporting status to the chair or board.

Make compliance routine, not a scramble

A compact dashboard should show the next filing date, directors with outstanding actions, PSC items needing separate attention and unresolved register discrepancies. Avoid collecting more personal information than the process requires, and limit access to those who need it.

The practical outcome is fewer surprises before filing, cleaner records and better board visibility. Review official guidance when processes change. Assign an owner, reconcile the director list and put the next internal checkpoint in the calendar.