If you or your organisation is planning to set up as a Community Interest Company (CIC) in the UK, there has been an important change that affects your budget.
As of 1 February 2026, incorporation fees for CICs filed through Companies House have increased as part of wider reforms to the company filing system.
What has changed?
The cost of forming a CIC now is:
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£115 for online incorporation
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£139 for paper incorporation
These higher fees are already in effect.
Why the increase?
The fee changes are part of broader updates driven by new responsibilities under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which aim to strengthen company transparency and improve verification checks.
CICs are formed through Companies House, with approval from the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies, so they sit within this updated fee framework.
What this means for your group
For voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations working with tight budgets, even modest fee increases matter. If you are:
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planning to incorporate a new CIC,
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budgeting incorporation costs in a funding application,
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or advising others on legal structures,
it’s important to factor in the updated fees now they’re live.
WVCA can support groups to explore whether a CIC structure is right for them and help build any associated costs into your planning. See our VCS Support page for more info.