Companies House to raise filing and incorporation fees in Feb 2026

Companies House is raising its filing and incorporation fees again, marking the second increase since 2016. The cost of forming a new company will rise from £50 to £100, while the confirmation statement fee increases from £34 to £50. Notably, some fees, such as the voluntary strike-off fee, will decrease from £33 to £13 for digital filings.

Companies House states that it operates on a cost-recovery basis and that its filing fees are intended to fund its statutory functions rather than generate a surplus.

According to the registrar, the latest fee increases are linked to additional responsibilities introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Act, as well as contributions towards the Insolvency Service’s investigation and enforcement activity.

Companies House has said the revised fees will support expanded powers to challenge and remove inaccurate information from the register, increased compliance and enforcement activity, service modernisation, and the introduction of compulsory identity verification from 18 November 2025.

The ECCT Act has been described by government and industry commentators as the most significant reform of Companies House since the nineteenth century.

In practice, the legislation shifts the registrar away from a largely passive filing role towards a more active regulatory function, with corresponding increases in staffing, systems, and operational costs.

You can read about how these changes affect company directors here.

As a result, from 1 February 2026, incorporation and filing fees will change to cover these operational costs

New Companies House fees from 1 February 2026

Changes to the cost of company formation

• The cost of forming a new company is currently £50 (digital formation). The fee will rise to £100.
• Same-day formation will cost £156 (software filing).
• All companies must submit a confirmation statement at least once per year. The fee will rise from £34 to £50.

Changes to filing fees

• If you want to change your company’s name, the filing fee will be £85 (same-day digital).
• Voluntary strike-off fees will be £13 (digital) or £18 (paper).
• Registration of a charge will cost £14 (digital).
• Administrative restoration will cost £341 (paper).
• Reduction of share capital under s644 or s649 CA06 will be £20 (digital upload or paper), or £89 (same-day digital upload).

Changes for other types of business structure

As well as changes to limited company fees, there are also changes to the costs of incorporating, or making certain changes to the following types of business structure:

• Limited liability partnerships (e.g., registration £100 digital, confirmation statement £50 digital)
• Overseas companies (e.g., registration of UK establishment £124 paper, annual accounts £50 digital)
• Limited partnerships (e.g., registration £124 paper, annual fee £110)
• Scottish qualifying partnerships (e.g., registration £124 paper, annual fee £110)
• Overseas entities (e.g., registration £250 digital, update £134 digital, removal £301 digital)
• Community Interest Companies (incorporation £115 digital, £139 paper)
• UK Economic Interest Groupings and UK Societas (e.g., registration £124 paper)
• Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) registration £63 digital

You can read the full list of updated fees here.

How have company formation fees changed over time?

Companies House was created as a result of the Joint Stock Companies Registration and Regulation Act.

Beforehand, the formation of a new company was only possible by Royal Charter or a private act of Parliament.

In 1844, to form a new company involved paying £5 in each of two stages – just over £1,000 in today’s prices.

Incorporation cost £50 in 1975 – equivalent to around £400 today.

Electronic incorporation cost £15 in 2006 – around £25 today.

Fees remained stable until 2016, then held at £12 until the 2024 increase to £50 due to the ECCT Act. Now, in 2026, they will rise further to £100.

Most directors would agree that the new fees still remain reasonable. All companies will benefit from enhanced security measures that increase the integrity of the data held by Companies House and reduce fraud.

How does the UK compare to other countries?

UK company formation fees remain low compared to other countries, even after the increase to £100.

Recent data shows the cheapest EU countries include Bulgaria at €28–€56 and Estonia at €265. Other nations like Portugal cost around €360, Ireland €150 (though subject to change), and typical EU registration costs range from €700 to €2,500, depending on the services.

The EU aims for incorporation costs below €100, but many exceed this. Higher-cost countries include Italy and Luxembourg, historically around €2,000 and €1,100 respectively (2018 data, likely similar today).

The UK’s low fees, combined with its business environment, continue to make it one of the most attractive places in the world to start and grow a business.