Changing a SIC code on Companies House is done through a confirmation statement (CS01).
A company can wait until its next confirmation statement is due or file one early if the SIC code needs to be corrected sooner.
As of September 2026, filing a confirmation statement costs £50 online or £110 by post. These fees increased on 1 February 2026 from £34 online and £62 by post.
The important point is that the fee is annual rather than a charge for every individual confirmation statement.
A company normally pays with the first confirmation statement filed within its 12-month payment period. It can then submit further confirmation statements during that same payment period without paying the fee again.
This matters for businesses that need to correct a SIC code urgently rather than waiting for their normal annual filing date.
What Is a SIC Code and Why Does It Matter?
A Standard Industrial Classification or SIC code is a five-digit code describing the main economic activities carried out by a company.
UK limited companies normally provide at least one SIC code when they are incorporated.
A company can use up to four codes where it carries out several genuinely different activities.
SIC codes matter because the information appears on the public Companies House register and can be viewed by organisations assessing a business, including lenders, insurers, investors, suppliers and other commercial partners.
They are also used for government statistics and can appear in other regulatory and tax processes.
Businesses preparing to incorporate should therefore choose the code carefully alongside their other company-registration information.
The distinction between Companies House registration and registering a business with HMRC is also important because updating one organisation’s records does not automatically update the other.
Why Would a Company Need to Change Its SIC Code?
A company’s activities can change substantially after incorporation. A business might move into a new market, stop providing an old service or discover that its original SIC code never accurately described what it actually did.
A change may therefore be appropriate after a company introduces new products or services, moves into another industry, stops one of its previous activities, restructures its operations, corrects an incorporation mistake, prepares for finance or insurance applications, or discovers that the code on the public register conflicts with its real commercial activity.
A company’s SIC code does not normally restrict what the company is legally allowed to do. It is primarily a classification of economic activity.That does not mean an inaccurate code should be ignored.
Companies House has increasingly focused on data quality under its newer statutory powers, making accurate company information more important than it was previously treated by some businesses.
How Do You Change a SIC Code on Companies House?
There is no separate standalone Companies House form simply called “change SIC code”.
The change is made through a confirmation statement.
For most companies, the practical process is to sign into the appropriate Companies House filing service, open or prepare the confirmation statement, review the company’s existing information, enter any new SIC codes, remove obsolete codes, check the rest of the statement and submit it.
When choosing a replacement code, the business should use a code that appears in the Companies House condensed SIC code list.
A company can provide a maximum of four SIC codes.
How Much Does It Cost to Change a SIC Code in 2026?
Changing the SIC code itself does not attract a separate SIC amendment charge. The cost comes from filing the confirmation statement through which the change is made.
From 1 February 2026, the fees are:
| Filing Method | Current Fee | Previous Fee |
| Online confirmation statement | £50 | £34 |
| Paper confirmation statement | £110 | £62 |
The fee increase means older articles quoting £34 for online filing or £62 for paper filing are now outdated.
Do You Pay £50 Every Time You Change the SIC Code?
Not necessarily.
Companies House separates the payment period from the review period.
The payment period normally lasts 12 months. The company pays the annual fee with the first confirmation statement submitted during that payment period.
After paying that fee, the company can file additional confirmation statements within the same payment period without paying another confirmation statement fee.
For example, if the annual fee has already been paid with a confirmation statement and the business discovers two months later that its SIC code is wrong, it may be able to file another statement to correct the code without another £50 charge, provided the second filing remains within the same payment period.
A new annual fee becomes due when the next payment period begins.
Can You File an Early Confirmation Statement to Change a SIC Code?
Yes.
A company does not have to wait for its normal annual confirmation statement date if its SIC code needs to be corrected urgently.
An early filing may be useful where the company is preparing a mortgage or finance application, onboarding with a business bank or payment provider, submitting a tender, making an R&D claim, applying for insurance or correcting a clearly inaccurate public company record.
However, there is an important consequence.
Filing an early confirmation statement starts a new review period.
The previous version of this article stated that early filing did not change the next confirmation statement date. That is no longer the correct position.
When an early confirmation statement is filed, a new confirmation statement date is selected and the next review period starts on the following day.
The annual payment period is separate, so changing the review period does not necessarily mean another filing fee immediately becomes payable.
How Does the Confirmation Statement Review Period Work?
A company must generally file at least one confirmation statement every 12 months.
For a newly incorporated company, the first review period starts on incorporation and covers approximately the first 12 months of the company’s life. The confirmation statement must normally be delivered within 14 days of the end of that review period.
Worked Example
Suppose a company was incorporated on 1 May 2025.
Its first review period would run from:
1 May 2025 to 30 April 2026
Its confirmation statement would then normally need to be filed by:
14 May 2026
If the directors instead submitted an early confirmation statement dated 1 February 2026 to change the company’s SIC code, a new review period would begin after that new confirmation date.
This distinction between the review period and payment period is important because filing early can alter the company’s future confirmation statement timetable without necessarily creating another fee during the same payment period.
What Do You Need Before Changing a SIC Code?
Before starting the filing, the company should have its Companies House account or WebFiling credentials, company number, company authentication code, chosen SIC codes and any required director identity-verification information available.
Businesses that have not previously used the relevant online service may first need to register for Companies House online filing.
Identity verification has also become much more important.
From 18 November 2025, Companies House began the mandatory identity-verification phase introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act reforms.
Existing directors entered a transition period during which their verified identity and personal code became connected with the confirmation statement process.
A director who has not completed the required verification may therefore need to verify through GOV.UK One Login or an authorised provider before the necessary filing can be completed.
The precise screen shown to a company can differ according to its structure and whether its directors have already supplied their personal codes.
What Changed Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act?
Several Companies House reforms now affect the wider confirmation statement process.
Two dates are especially important.
The lawful-purpose declaration began in March 2024, not November 2025. Companies filing eligible confirmation statements have had to confirm that the company’s intended future activities are lawful.
The major 18 November 2025 change was the rollout of mandatory identity verification for directors and people with significant control.
By 2026, a company updating its SIC code should therefore expect the confirmation statement process to involve more than simply selecting an industry classification.
It may also need to deal with registered email information, director identity verification, personal codes and the lawful-purpose declaration.
Which SIC Code Should a Business Choose?
The most appropriate code is the one that accurately describes what the company actually does.
Businesses should avoid choosing a code merely because its wording sounds broadly related.
Small differences between classifications can matter when an external organisation compares the company’s Companies House profile with the activities described in an application.
Several mainstream small-business examples illustrate the issue.
| Business Type | Common SIC Code | Description | Why Accuracy Can Matter |
| Buy-to-let/property letting company | 68209 | Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate | Specialist property lenders may assess the company’s activity and approved SIC classifications |
| Buying and selling property | 68100 | Buying and selling of own real estate | This describes property dealing rather than simply holding property for rental |
| E-commerce business | 47910 | Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet | A physical-store code may conflict with the online business model presented to banks or payment providers |
| Clothing shop | 47710 | Retail sale of clothing in specialised stores | Better suited to physical specialist clothing retail than a purely online seller |
| IT contractor/consultant | 62020 | Information technology consultancy activities | Commonly appropriate where the main activity is IT consultancy |
| Software developer | 62012 | Business and domestic software development | More specific where developing software is the company’s principal activity |
| Management consultant | 70229 | Management consultancy activities other than financial management | Common classification for general management consultancy |
| Holding company | 64209 | Activities of other holding companies n.e.c. | Often relevant where the entity primarily holds interests in other companies |
These are examples rather than universal instructions. The actual activities of the company should determine the code selected.
Which SIC Code Should a Buy-to-Let Company Use?
For a company whose main activity is letting property it owns or leases, 68209 — Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate is commonly the closer description.
This should not automatically be replaced by 68100, which means buying and selling the company’s own real estate.
That distinction can matter for special-purpose vehicle mortgage applications because some lenders maintain criteria relating to acceptable company activities and SIC codes.
Using 68100 does not mean every lender will reject an application, but a code suggesting property trading when the company is actually a long-term landlord can create an unnecessary inconsistency.
What SIC Code Should an E-Commerce Company Use?
A business mainly selling products through the internet commonly considers 47910 — Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet.
A purely online seller should be careful about using a specialist physical-store classification simply because it sells the same type of product.
For example, 47710 describes retail sale of clothing in specialised stores. That may accurately describe a physical clothing shop but could be less representative of a company operating exclusively through an online store.
The issue can extend beyond Companies House. Banks, payment processors and e-commerce payment services may compare information supplied during onboarding with publicly available company records.
Providers such as Stripe or Shopify Payments use their own risk and verification processes, so an incorrect SIC code does not automatically mean an account will be refused.
However, contradictory business classifications can contribute to requests for additional information or manual review.
Can an Incorrect SIC Code Affect a Business Bank Account?
Potentially.
Banks conduct Know Your Customer and anti-money-laundering checks when opening and reviewing business accounts. The institution may compare the business model stated on an application with publicly available Companies House information.
If a company says it is a software consultancy but the public register categorises it as a property business, the bank may ask for clarification.
An incorrect SIC code can similarly cause inconsistencies during applications involving finance, merchant accounts, insurance, grants, tenders or investment.
This does not mean the SIC code alone decides an application. Financial institutions use much broader underwriting and compliance criteria.
The risk is the inconsistency itself.
Can a SIC Code Affect R&D Tax Relief?
This is an increasingly important reason to keep SIC information accurate.
Since 8 August 2023, companies making claims for Research and Development tax relief have generally been required to submit HMRC’s Additional Information Form.
That form requests information about the claimant company, including its current SIC code or business type.
The significance is that the SIC code becomes another piece of information available when HMRC assesses the nature of the trade and the claimed R&D activity.
HMRC’s R&D compliance approach considers whether the claimed scientific or technological work makes sense in the context of the company’s trade. Information provided through the Additional Information Form can also form part of risk assessment.
A software company genuinely undertaking qualifying software R&D but still registered under an unrelated generic business activity therefore creates an avoidable inconsistency.
A mismatched SIC code does not automatically make an R&D claim invalid. Eligibility depends on the actual qualifying activities and expenditure, not merely the classification entered at Companies House.
However, the public record, Company Tax Return and R&D supporting information should tell a coherent story.
Businesses considering an R&D claim should therefore review their wider Corporation Tax responsibilities and available reliefs alongside their Companies House information.
Can the Wrong SIC Code Cause Problems With Stripe or Shopify Payments?
It can contribute to a mismatch in the company’s profile, particularly where the activity described to the payment provider looks materially different from the Companies House record.
This is especially relevant to online retailers.
For example, a business operating an e-commerce website but registered under a classification suggesting an unrelated activity may face additional questions when undergoing account verification or periodic compliance reviews.
Payment providers make their own decisions using many factors. There is no universal rule saying that one particular incorrect SIC code automatically causes a Stripe or Shopify Payments rejection.
The practical recommendation is therefore straightforward: the Companies House classification should match the business model the company presents elsewhere.
How Many SIC Codes Can a Company Have?
A UK company can provide up to four SIC codes.
Using several codes can be useful where the company genuinely operates in different sectors.
For example, a technology company might develop its own software while also providing IT consultancy. In that situation, 62012 and 62020 could potentially both be relevant.
Adding unrelated codes simply to make the company’s activities look broader is not advisable.
The codes should describe real activities.
What Are Common Technical and Engineering SIC Codes?
Technical businesses often need more precise classifications because small differences in activity can result in different codes.
| SIC Code | Business Activity |
| 71111 | Architectural activities |
| 71122 | Engineering-related scientific and technical consulting activities |
| 71129 | Other engineering activities |
| 71200 | Technical testing and analysis |
| 72110 | Research and experimental development on biotechnology |
| 72190 | Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering |
Companies operating across several genuine technical activities may use more than one relevant code, subject to the four-code limit.
Which SIC Codes Apply to Government and Public Administration Activities?
The condensed classification system also contains codes for public-sector and international activities.
Examples include 84110 for general public administration, 84210 for foreign affairs, 84220 for defence activities, 84230 for justice and judicial activities, 84240 for public order and safety, 84300 for compulsory social security activities and 99000 for activities of extraterritorial organisations.
These codes are generally associated with specialised public or international bodies rather than ordinary commercial companies.
What Is the Difference Between Dormant and Non-Trading SIC Codes?
Companies House lists:
99999 — Dormant Company
and
74990 — Non-trading company
The distinction is sometimes oversimplified as “dormant means a company used to trade but stopped, while non-trading means it never started”.
That is not a reliable rule.
For Companies House accounting purposes, a company is normally regarded as dormant where it has had no significant accounting transactions during the financial year. A company can therefore be dormant even if it has never traded.
A previously active company can also later become dormant.
“Non-trading” is a broader description used where the company is not currently conducting trading activity.
Businesses should therefore select the classification reflecting their actual circumstances rather than assuming 99999 is only for companies that previously traded.
Companies House highlighted this issue again in 2026, warning that active companies using dormant or non-trading classifications are among the discrepancies likely to attract scrutiny under its expanded data-quality powers.
Do Dormant Companies Still Need a SIC Code?
Yes.
A limited company that is dormant still needs an appropriate SIC classification on the Companies House register.
Code 99999 is the specific Companies House classification for a dormant company.
A company that restarts trading should review the code and replace the dormant classification with the code or codes that reflect its actual activity.
Do LLPs Need SIC Codes?
No.
Limited liability partnerships do not provide SIC codes to Companies House in the same way limited companies do.
An LLP files its own version of the confirmation statement, but SIC code changes are not part of that filing.
This article’s SIC-changing procedure therefore applies primarily to incorporated companies required to provide a nature-of-business classification, not to LLPs.
Sole traders and ordinary partnerships also do not file Companies House SIC codes in the same way as limited companies.
What Happens After a SIC Code Is Changed?
Once Companies House accepts the confirmation statement, the company’s revised nature-of-business information can appear on its public record.
The updated classification then becomes visible to anyone checking the company.
Changing Companies House data does not, however, automatically alter every other record held about the business.
HMRC, banks, insurers, payment processors, regulators and licensing bodies may hold separate information.
Where the company’s underlying activity has changed substantially, it should consider whether those organisations also need to be updated.
Can a Company Remove an Old SIC Code?
Yes.
A confirmation statement can be used to remove SIC codes that no longer apply as well as add replacement codes.
For example, a company that previously combined software development and retail activity but has now stopped retailing should not necessarily keep the retail code indefinitely.
Leaving old activities on the record can give third parties a misleading impression of the company’s current operations.
What Other Information Can Be Updated Through a Confirmation Statement?
The confirmation statement can be used for specified changes including SIC codes, statement of capital information, trading status of shares, certain PSC-related information and shareholder information.
Other changes must be reported through their appropriate Companies House procedure rather than simply being entered into the confirmation statement.
These can include director changes, registered office changes and registered email changes.
The confirmation statement should therefore be treated as an annual check of the company’s record rather than a universal form for making every possible amendment.
What Are the Most Common SIC Code Mistakes?
The most common problems are choosing a broad code when a more accurate one exists, leaving obsolete activities on the record, confusing online and physical retail classifications, selecting property-trading codes for a property-letting company, using dormant or non-trading codes after trading has started, and assuming the SIC code automatically updates HMRC or other commercial organisations.
Another mistake is filing an early confirmation statement without recognising that doing so starts a new review period.
Companies should also avoid assuming that adding four codes is automatically better than having one. One accurate code is usually more useful than several unrelated classifications.
Should Businesses Copy a Competitor’s SIC Code?
A competitor’s public Companies House record can provide a useful clue, but it should not be treated as definitive evidence that the same code is right for another business.
Companies choose their own classifications and may themselves have selected an inaccurate or outdated code.
The safer approach is to identify the company’s actual principal activities and match them against the official condensed classification descriptions.
Can a SIC Code Be Changed at Any Time?
A company can effectively change its SIC code whenever necessary by filing a confirmation statement.
It can wait until the normal statement is due or submit an early statement.
Businesses should remember that an early filing changes the next review period, while the separate annual payment period determines whether another confirmation statement fee is payable.
Is Changing a SIC Code Free?
There is no separate fee specifically for changing the SIC code.
However, the change must be made through a confirmation statement.
The current confirmation statement fee is £50 online or £110 by post.
If the company has already paid the annual confirmation statement fee within its current 12-month payment period, a further statement during that same payment period can normally be filed without another annual fee.
How Long Does a SIC Code Change Take to Appear?
Online filings are generally processed more quickly than paper submissions.
The exact time can vary according to Companies House processing and whether the filing requires additional checks.
Businesses facing an important mortgage, bank account, tender or compliance deadline should avoid leaving the correction until the last moment.
Do Sole Traders Need a Companies House SIC Code?
No.
A sole trader is not incorporated at Companies House and therefore does not maintain a Companies House company profile containing SIC codes in the same way as a limited company.
SIC classifications can still be used elsewhere for statistical or tax purposes, but that is separate from a limited company’s Companies House obligation.
Does the SIC Code Control What a Company Is Allowed to Do?
Usually not.
A SIC code describes the company’s economic activity. It does not normally act as a licence or legal restriction limiting the company to that activity.
Some regulated businesses may separately require licences, permissions or regulatory authorisation.
Changing a SIC code does not grant those permissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to change a SIC code in 2026?
There is no separate SIC code amendment charge. The change is made through a confirmation statement, which costs £50 online or £110 by post when the annual fee is due.
Did the confirmation statement fee increase in 2026?
Yes. On 1 February 2026, the online fee increased from £34 to £50 and the paper fee increased from £62 to £110.
Do you pay every time you file a confirmation statement?
Not normally. The annual fee is paid with the first confirmation statement in the company’s 12-month payment period. Additional statements can then normally be filed within the same payment period without another annual fee.
Can a company change its SIC code before the confirmation statement is due?
Yes. An early confirmation statement can be filed to add, replace or remove SIC codes.
Does filing an early confirmation statement change the next filing date?
Yes. Filing early starts a new review period based on the new confirmation statement date.
Can a company use more than one SIC code?
Yes. A limited company can use up to four SIC codes where multiple codes are genuinely needed to describe its activities.
Do LLPs need SIC codes?
No. Limited liability partnerships are not required to provide SIC codes to Companies House in the same way as limited companies.
What is SIC code 68209 used for?
68209 describes other letting and operating of own or leased real estate and is commonly considered by companies whose main activity is holding property for letting.
What is SIC code 47910?
47910 describes retail sale via mail order houses or via the internet and is commonly relevant to e-commerce retailers.