Last Updated on January 8, 2026 by Joy Kyalo
Companies House has updated several of its fees, which are expected to take effect on February 1, 2026. These price hikes will affect business owners and entrepreneurs who are looking to incorporate a company in the UK.
The incorporation fees have been doubled from £50 to £100 for digital incorporation, from £71 to £124 for paper application, and from £78 to £156 for same-day incorporation. Even with these price changes, the UK remains one of the cheapest countries to incorporate a company.
This article will break down the Companies House fee increase that entrepreneurs and business owners should know. We can also highlight the current fees against the new fees to understand the percentage of increase or decrease in prices.
Key Takeaways
- Companies House fees will increase from 1 February 2026, impacting incorporations and filings.
- Digital incorporation fees double from £50 to £100, with paper filings rising even more.
- Only a few services, such as voluntary strike-off, will see reduced fees.
- Businesses should plan early or incorporate before 2026 to avoid higher costs.
What are the current fees?
As mentioned above, companies can currently incorporate a company with Companies House for £50 digitally. For those interested in a paper application, the fee is £71, while those in a hurry and needing same-day incorporation will incur £78. These prices will not last long, making it essential for those interested in starting a UK company to take advantage of them.
Companies will also be affected by the filing of statutory records. Currently, filing confirmation statements digitally costs £34, while on paper costs £62.
Mentioning just a few, many business owners have already budgeted for the current fees, but with the price hike, their pockets will be strained. This makes it essential for business owners to take advantage of the current prices and prepare for the new fees by February 2026.
Pro Tip: Incorporate Before Fees Increase
If you’re planning to start a UK company, consider incorporating digitally before February 2026 to lock in the lower £50 fee. Digital filings are not only cheaper but also faster and less prone to delays compared to paper applications, helping you save both time and money.
The paper application cost is always higher than the digital application cost due to increased administrative and processing requirements associated with manual handling. The digital process involves automated digital systems, which make work easier and seamless for a service to be approved, hence its affordability.
Companies House fee increase expected on February 1, 2026
Below are the new fees for services with Companies House;
Company incorporation and registration fees
Limited partnerships
| Service | Channel | New fee |
| Registration of a limited partnership | Paper | £124 |
| “Annual fee” for Scottish limited partnership (registration of all relevant documents delivered during a relevant period, payable on the registration of a confirmation statement) | Paper | £110 |
| “Annual fee” for Scottish limited partnership | Digital (upload service) | £110 |
| Designation as a private fund LP (after the LP has been registered) | Paper | £30 |
Overseas entities
All filings for the Register of Overseas Entities must be filed digitally. The only exception is for those who have protected status or a pending protection application. This group will need to pay a separate paper fee.
| Services | Channel | New fee |
| Registration of an overseas entity | Digital | £250 |
| Paper | £528 | |
| Update fee | Digital | £134 |
| Paper | £268 | |
| Application for removal | Digital | £301 |
| Paper | £602 |
Community interest companies
| Service | Channel | New fee |
| Incorporation | Digital | £115 |
| Paper | £139 |
With the above Companies House fee increase, we can see that some services’ costs will increase while others will decrease. The fees reflect the cost of Companies House delivering its service and the new powers that were bestowed upon it.
Who will be affected by the fee hikes?
New incorporations: If you will be incorporating a UK company after February 1st, 2026, you will be affected by the new fees. The new incorporations will incur £100 digitally.
Existing companies: The already registered companies will be affected by a fee hike in filing statutory records or accessing certain services.
Company formation agents: UK company Formation agents and third-party services will need to adjust their fees to accommodate the new Companies House fees.
Paper filers: Those who use paper applications to incorporate or file statutory records will be highly affected.
To summarise, the Companies House fee increase is not a small bump, meaning it will significantly impact companies’ finances. While Companies House adjusts its fees, the UK remains a cost-effective country for company incorporation. This jump in prices means that businesses need to act fast and plan to avoid surprises and manage costs effectively.
To take advantage of the current costs, BusinAssist offers incorporation services, filing of statutory records, company closure, and change of company name, among several services. You can take advantage of the current services before the year ends.
Contact us at info@businassist.com and take advantage of the current prices.
FAQs
Q: How much more will it cost to form a company after the February 2026 fee increase?
Ans: It will cost you double the current amount to incorporate a company in February 2026. The current cost of forming a company digitally is £50; after the price hike, it will be £100. If you choose a paper application, the fee has increased from £71 to £124.
Q: Does the fee rise affect digital filings, paper filings, or both?
Ans: The fee rise is affecting both digital and paper filings. For instance, filing a confirmation statement digitally will rise from £34 to £50, while paper filing will increase from £62 to £110. This encourages more online submissions to support the transparency and fight economic crime championed under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (EECTA).
Q: If I plan to start a company soon, should I incorporate before 1 Feb 2026 to save money?
Ans: Yes, if you are planning to incorporate a company soon and save money, it is essential to do it before 1 February 2026. Incorporating a company after February 2026 means you will incur double the current incorporation fees (£50) to register your company.
Q: Do existing companies also pay more, or is the increase only for new incorporations?
Ans: Existing companies will be affected by the Companies House fee hike through filing services. Confirmation Statement filing fees will increase from £34 to £50 digitally, while paper applications will increase from £62 to £110.
Q: Does the fee increase apply to all business types (Ltd, LLP, overseas entities, charities)?
Ans: Companies House fees increase affects private limited companies (Ltd), Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), overseas companies, and charities, especially registration fees.
Ltd
- Digital incorporation – £50 to £100
- Paper incorporation – £71 to £124
- Digital filing Confirmation Statement – £34 to £50
- Paper filing – £62 to £110
LLP
- Digital incorporation – £50 to £100
- Paper incorporation – £71 to £124
- Digital filing Confirmation Statement – £34 to £50
- Paper filing – £62 to £110
Overseas companies
- Paper incorporation – £71 to £124
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Joy is a content writer at BusinAssist with 6+ years of experience in content marketing and social media strategy. She specialises in company formation and virtual operations, guiding entrepreneurs through global markets with clarity, drawing on her marketing and PR background. Business Assist with BusinAssist – your business success partner.