Understanding the Companies House Fee Increase Effective 1 February 2026
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
The Companies House fee increase set to take effect on 1 February 2026 will impact many businesses across the UK. This change affects the costs associated with registering and maintaining company information. Understanding these new fees and how they apply can help businesses prepare and avoid unexpected expenses.
What Is Changing in Companies House Fees?
Companies House charges fees for various services, including company registration, filing annual returns, and updating company details. The upcoming increase will raise these fees across multiple categories. For example:
Company incorporation fees will rise from £12 to £15 for online applications.
Paper filings will increase from £40 to £50.
Late filing penalties will also see adjustments to encourage timely submissions.
These changes reflect the government’s need to cover the rising costs of maintaining the company registry and improving digital services.
Why Are Fees Increasing?
The fee increase is primarily driven by the need to maintain and improve the quality and security of company data. Companies House handles millions of filings each year, and the costs of processing, verifying, and storing this information continue to grow.
Additionally, the fee adjustment supports investments in technology upgrades. These upgrades aim to make the filing process faster and more secure, reducing errors and fraud risks.
Who Will Be Affected?
The fee increase affects all companies registered in the UK, including:
Limited companies
Limited liability partnerships (LLPs)
Community interest companies (CICs)
Small businesses and startups that frequently file documents with Companies House will notice the impact most. For example, a startup incorporating online will pay £3 more than before, which can add up when combined with other fees.
How to Prepare for the Fee Increase
Businesses can take several steps to manage the impact of the fee increase:
Plan filings ahead of time to avoid late penalties, which will also increase.
Use online filing services where possible, as paper filings are more expensive.
Review filing schedules to ensure all required documents are submitted promptly.
Budget for higher fees in financial planning for 2026 and beyond.
Examples of Fee Changes
Here are some specific examples to illustrate the changes:
| Service | Current Fee | New Fee (from 1 Feb 2026) |
|-----------------------------|-------------|---------------------------|
| Online company incorporation | £12 | £15 |
| Paper company incorporation | £40 | £50 |
| Annual confirmation statement | £13 | £15 |
| Late filing penalty | £150 | £200 |
These examples show a clear increase but also highlight the cost difference between online and paper filings.
What This Means for Business Owners
Business owners should view the fee increase as a prompt to review their compliance processes. Staying on top of filings will avoid costly penalties and delays. Using online services not only saves money but also speeds up processing times.
For companies with multiple filings each year, the cumulative increase can be significant. For example, a company filing annual returns, changes to directors, and share allotments may see fees rise by several hundred pounds annually.
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