Companies House filings - 47% increase in charges

[TUS373]

I have just endured that annual exercise that is filing a Confirmation Statement. This year, made all the more involved as director identities also have to be verified. I have lost track of the Government accounts, passwords and codes that I must have, in order to comply, complete and not go to prison.

I paid the £50 Confirmation Statement annual filing fee. Autocomplete in Quickbooks highlighted that last time I paid this, it was merely £34. That is a healthy 47% INCREASE.

I can assure HM Government / Companies House / HMRC that in the meantime that our business has not increased our hourly rate to customers more than 3%.

Just pulling my trousers back up after generous application of Vaseline. You don't have to look for a masked bandit outside of a jewelers to find a robber.

[Eric Mc]

And shortly before that it was £13

[Olivera]

If you can't afford the extra hang up your director's hat - it's chump change.

[TUS373]

Its not the amount, it is the level of increase. Big step up that cannot be justified by inflation. Its significant in economics.

[trickywoo]

Running a Ltd in the uk is a miserable experience.

My accountant is up 7% this year as well.

[Olivera]

TUS373 said:

Its not the amount, it is the level of increase. Big step up that cannot be justified by inflation. Its significant in economics.

Companies House charges were previously so unbelievably cheap, and hence the checks flimsy, that it encouraged every grifter, scammer and con-man to open a slew of companies. Sensible 21st century charges allows better identify and verification checks.

Edited by Olivera on Monday 16th March 17:25

[Eric Mc]

Companies House tried to increase the filing fee from £13 to £20 way back in 2000 or so. They were blocked by EU regulations which dictated that government entities were not allowed to generate profits from statutory fees.

As a result of that ruling, Companies House didn't try to increase their fees again for two decades.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

Companies House tried to increase the filing fee from £13 to £20 way back in 2000 or so. They were blocked by EU regulations which dictated that government entities were not allowed to generate profits from statutory fees.

Is DVLA a government entity? They certainly make a profit out of me, as does the Environment Agency. That's about £1,500 in tax before I've even gone anywhere!

47% sounds so much more than £16

[Mr Whippy]

trickywoo said:

Running a Ltd in the uk is a miserable experience.

My accountant is up 7% this year as well.

Double 9% here so nearly 20% in just a few years.

I’d have sacked them off but now MTD is creeping in I’ll be letting them deal with all that crap for a bit till it settles down I think.


It’s all great if you are also getting your 5, 6, 9% rises in charge out, but we’re not.

Something is gonna break sooner than later.

[Eric Mc]

Simpo Two said:

Eric Mc said:

Companies House tried to increase the filing fee from £13 to £20 way back in 2000 or so. They were blocked by EU regulations which dictated that government entities were not allowed to generate profits from statutory fees.

Is DVLA a government entity? They certainly make a profit out of me, as does the Environment Agency. That's about £1,500 in tax before I've even gone anywhere!

47% sounds so much more than £16

It is. I'm pretty sure they don't generate profits.