Accounting Outsourcing

Companies House Fees Rise from February 2026 – What Your Firm Needs to Know and How to Communicate it to Clients

November 10, 2025 Comments Off on Companies House Fees Rise from February 2026 – What Your Firm Needs to Know and How to Communicate it to Clients

On 1 February 2026, Companies House will implement a significant set of fee changes. As your trusted outsourcing partner at AIR, we want to outline what’s changing, why it matters for your practice, and how you can proactively advise your clients – turning a “cost increase” into an opportunity to reinforce your value.

What’s Changing?

Here are some of the key updates to note:

  • The fee for digital incorporation (Form IN01) will rise to £100 (from around £50).
  • The digital confirmation statement filing will rise to £50 (from £34).
  • Some fees are actually falling, such as the voluntary strike-off digital fee which reduces to £13.
  • These fee changes support the enhanced mandate under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and a stronger focus on enforcement, verification, and transparency by Companies House.

Why Have Fees Increased?

  • To ensure Companies House fees reflect the true cost of delivering their services amid increased compliance, verification, and security requirements.
  • To fund improvements to the public company register, strengthen identity verification of directors, and better police false or misleading information.
  • While it’s never pleasant for businesses to absorb cost increases, these changes support a more secure and trustworthy UK corporate environment.

Why It Matters for Your Clients – and Your Practice

  • For clients forming new companies, the higher incorporation fee increases their initial setup cost.
  • For active companies, the higher confirmation statement fee adds to their annual running cost.
  • As accountants and advisors, you can use this as an opportunity to demonstrate your value: ensuring timely, accurate filings and helping clients stay compliant while minimising risk.
  • For your practice, it’s also a good time to review your own engagement letters and fixed-fee models to ensure they remain sustainable and profitable.

How to Approach the Conversation with Your Clients

1. Proactive communication
Send a short client bulletin or newsletter explaining the changes, highlighting the date (1 February 2026) and the main fee updates.

2. Explain the rationale
Frame the increase as part of a wider regulatory shift aimed at improving transparency and protecting businesses – not as an arbitrary cost hike.

3. Reinforce your value
Remind clients that your team (and AIR, if you outsource filings) manage these compliance processes efficiently, protecting them from errors or penalties.

4. Review structure and timing
If a client is planning to incorporate, discuss whether it’s beneficial to complete the process before February 2026. For those due to file confirmation statements soon after, flag the new cost early.

5. Reassess your pricing
With mounting compliance and filing costs – from Companies House to MTD and ID verification requirements – it may be time to revisit your own fee structures to reflect the growing compliance burden.

6. Turn it into an advisory touchpoint
Use this as an opportunity to talk about wider governance, record-keeping, and risk-management improvements. Elevate your role from “filing agent” to “strategic advisor.”

7. Update your documentation
Ensure engagement letters, fee schedules, and onboarding materials reflect that you’re staying ahead of legislative and regulatory changes.

Practical Action Checklist for Your Firm

  • Mark 1 February 2026 in your internal compliance calendar.
  • Review current clients due to incorporate or file before that date.
  • Update your client-facing communication templates.
  • Check your service pricing and profitability.
  • Brief your team so they can confidently discuss these changes with clients.
  • Highlight the importance of avoiding late filings and maintaining correct information.
  • Consider including this topic in your next client webinar or update session.

Key Messages to Share with Clients

  • “We’re monitoring all compliance-related cost changes on your behalf and will continue to handle your filings seamlessly.”
  • “Although these fee increases are modest, they underline the growing importance of proactive compliance management.”
  • “This is a good time to review your company structure and governance to ensure everything remains efficient and compliant.”

Conclusion

Fee increases from statutory bodies like Companies House are never welcome, but they offer an opportunity to reinforce your role as a trusted advisor. By communicating proactively and positioning the change in context, your firm can strengthen client relationships and show leadership amid an evolving compliance landscape. At AIR Outsourcing, we’ll continue to support your practice in managing filings efficiently, maintaining compliance, and helping you turn regulatory updates into moments that build trust and long-term value.