Companies House has confirmed a substantial increase to many of its statutory filing fees, with the most striking change being the doubling of the cost of digital incorporation from £50 to £100. These revised charges take effect from 1 February 2026 and will apply to companies and LLPs using both digital and paper filing routes. The only notable reduction is the fee for submitting a voluntary strike-off application.
These changes form part of a wider programme to modernise the register, improve the accuracy of corporate information, and strengthen the fight against fraudulent activity. The updates will apply to all entities on the register, including private companies, LLPs, charitable companies and overseas entities.
The new fee table published by Companies House shows sharp increases across most categories, both digital and paper. Although fees were last adjusted in May 2024, that was the first rise in almost ten years, and UK incorporation charges still remain low compared with many other jurisdictions.
Headline fee changes
- Digital incorporation: rising from £50 to £100
- Digital confirmation statement: rising from £34 to £50
- Digital voluntary strike-off: reduced from £33 to £13
The additional funding will support improvements to technology platforms, as well as expanded investigation and enforcement efforts by the Insolvency Service.
One major policy change arriving alongside the fee rises is the introduction of mandatory identity verification for directors. From 18 November 2025, new company directors must verify their ID to demonstrate that individuals setting up or running a company are genuinely who they claim to be.
Companies House Fee Changes – Effective February 2026
| Filing Transaction | Format | From 1 February 2026 | Current Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incorporation | Digital | £100 | £50 |
| Incorporation | Paper | £124 | £71 |
| Incorporation – same day | Digital | £156 | £78 |
| Confirmation statement | Digital | £50 | £34 |
| Confirmation statement | Paper | £110 | £62 |
| Voluntary strike-off | Digital | £13 | £33 |
| Voluntary strike-off | Paper | £18 | £44 |
| ACSP registration fees | Digital | £63 | £55 |
| Registration of UK establishment of overseas company | Paper | £124 | £71 |
Source: Companies House – changes to fees
What Companies House has said
Announcing the update, Companies House stated:
‘We’re focusing on modernising and improving our services, and we’re boosting our enforcement approach with more people, more sophisticated tools, and more approaches to quickly identify and take action against fraudulent companies.
‘We’re also introducing compulsory identity verification from 18 November 2025 to confirm that people setting up or running a company are who they claim to be.’
The organisation also emphasised its expanded authority under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act:
‘Our new and enhanced powers under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Act enable us to query and remove false and misleading information from our registers.
‘We’re building a more trustworthy environment for consumers and legitimate businesses and reducing the harm they face from those who do not meet their obligations.’
What this means for businesses
Registering with Companies House continues to offer advantages such as limited liability, increased credibility, and greater flexibility in securing finance. However, businesses planning incorporations, restructures or strike-offs should be aware of the significant cost changes coming in February 2026 and prepare accordingly.
