Running a company in the UK comes with a wide range of legal duties and obligations that, if not met, can lead to considerable fines and penalties. One of the key duties of company directors is to submit (file) certain documents each year to Companies House. Getting on top of your filing requirements and deadlines as a company director and engaging professionals who can manage this for you is essential in order to run a successful limited company. In this guide, we will explain the Companies House late filing penalties for the year 2024/25.
What are late filing penalties?
Late filing penalties are paid by companies that fail to submit their accounts and other statutory reports to Companies House on time. Late filing penalties were first brought in by Companies House in 1992 as a way of making sure that company directors file their statutory annual accounts and reports on time.
The reason why filing on time is so important is that Companies House filings are placed on the public record for all to see. By implementing late filing penalties, Companies House can ensure that the publicly available records are as up-to-date as possible.
Who is responsible for submitting filings to Companies House?
It is the personal responsibility of company directors or designated members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs) to ensure that annual accounts and other statutory filings are prepared and delivered to Companies House on time.
Delivery does not refer to when filings are sent but rather when they are actually received by Companies House in the required format.
Do all companies need to submit filings to Companies House?
Yes, all companies are legally required to submit financial accounts and company reports to Companies House annually regardless of scale, trading status or whether they are public or private.
Submitting accounts late to Companies House will result in an automatic financial penalty being levied. This is why it is so important to understand your filing periods and cut-off dates. The period allowed to file company accounts can vary depending on whether submitting a first or subsequent set of accounts, as we will discuss further in this article.
What happens if filings are not received on time?
Failing to ensure that company annual account filings and/or confirmation statements are not received on time is not a trivial matter; it is a criminal offence resulting in an automatic fine. This is because company directors and formally designated members of limited liability companies (LLPs) have a statutory obligation to ensure the companies they are members of submit filings on time. Failing to do so can result in:
- An automatic fine for the company
- Enforcement proceedings leading to directors being personally fined in the criminal courts
- The company being struck from the register of companies (this is more likely to happen as a result of persistent late or non-filings).
As Companies House states, “any criminal proceedings for not filing confirmation statements or accounts is separate from (and in addition to) any late filing penalties issued by Companies House against the company”.
What are the deadlines for filing first accounts?
For private companies submitting a first set of accounts since incorporation covering a period of more than 12 months, these must be filed with Companies House by whichever is the longer of:
- Within 21 months of the date of incorporation, or
- 3 months from the accounting reference date (ADR).
For public companies submitting a first set of accounts since incorporation covering a period of more than 12 months, these must be filed with Companies House by whichever is the longer of:
- Within 18 months of the date of incorporation, or
- 3 months from the accounting reference date (ADR).
What are the deadlines for filing of subsequent accounts?
For private companies submitting a subsequent set of accounts, these must be filed with Companies House within 9 months of the accounting reference date.
Public companies submitting a subsequent set of accounts must file them with Companies House within 6 months of the accounting reference date.
It is important to bear in mind, however, that if your company has changed its accounting reference date (e.g., to bring it in line with other companies you own), the filing period may be less.
Companies House late filing penalties for 2024/25
As of December 2024, the late filing penalties levied by Companies House are as follows:
| How overdue? | Private company or LLP late filing penalty | Public company late filing penalty |
|---|---|---|
|
Not more than 1 month |
£150 |
£750 |
|
More than 1 month but not more than 3 months |
£375 |
£1,500 |
|
More than 3 months but not more than 6 months |
£750 |
£3,000 |
|
More than 6 months |
£1,500 |
£7,500 |
Persistent late filings can result in even higher penalties than the amounts shown above. Companies House states that penalties are doubled if accounts are received late in 2 successive financial years.
How can I avoid an automatic Companies House penalty for late filing?
Thankfully, there are several ways to avoid being subject to a company late filing penalty or personal endorsement action as a director. Preparation and organisation are essential. The first step is to diarise the key filing dates for your company, both for the initial filing and subsequent filings. We recommend putting a date in your diary that is well before the actual deadline for receipt, which will allow you to verify the progress of filings, resolve any issues if they arise, and allow time for processing by Companies House. It is no use simply checking on the deadline day as it will already be too late for your company to meet the deadlines.
To ensure that your company filings are received on time, we recommend:
- Putting a recurring entry in your calendar as a reminder of when your company filings are due – have several reminders, perhaps starting one or two months prior.
- Register with Companies House for reminders of when your company filings are due – this will also allow you to check that the dates you are working to are correct.
- Engage reliable and trusted accountants who can manage the process on your behalf. They understand the filing process and will ensure that your annual accounts and confirmation statements are prepared, sent, and received by Companies House in plenty of time.
- Allowing plenty of time for your filings to be received by Companies House within the deadline. Bear in mind that if your filing deadline date is on a Sunday or Bank Holiday, it still applies. You cannot assume in this case that it is fine for your filings to be received on the next working day or Monday. If your filings are being sent by post rather than online, also consider that using first-class post will not guarantee next-day delivery. If you need to use the postal system, we recommend paying extra for a guaranteed method of delivery if the deadline is getting close.
If you are unsure of your filing deadlines, you can check these online. If you use a company formation agent such as Uniwide Formations, you can see the deadlines you need to meet using our online company portal. Failing this, you can use the Companies House checking service to verify when your accounts are due.
Can our filing deadline be extended?
Yes, if you have a genuine reason for not meeting the filing deadline, you may be able to request more time to file your accounts from Companies House. This may be the case if you are unable to meet the deadline because of factors outside of your control. Genuine late filing reasons which may lead to the granting of an extension include:
- Unexpected/serious illness
- A fire or flood within your premises meaning that records are unavailable.
In order to get an extension, you will need to apply before the deadline. To apply for an extension, you will need to complete the online accounts filing deadline extension application form and provide your company number, explain why you need more time, and provide any supporting documents.
Upon receipt of your extension application, Companies House will review the information provided and write back to you by email with a decision. It is important that you don’t assume that the extension application will be approved; they are only normally accepted in extreme circumstances. For this reason, we recommend still trying to get your accounts filed on time or as soon as possible. If Companies House do accept your accounts filing deadline extension application, this will not change your filing deadline for future company filings.
Final words
We hope you have found this guide to late filing deadlines useful. Companies House is extremely strict when imposing penalties and will do so automatically if you miss a deadline. Also, consider that if your accounts do not meet the strict formatting and other requirements set out by Companies House as per the Companies Act, and this results in corrections or amendments being made after the deadline (e.g. a missing signature needs to be added), this will also result in an automatic penalty. Working with a trusted and reliable accountant will ensure that your filing requirements are met each year; however, it is still advisable to check ahead of time that they are fully on track, as the legal obligation to file on time falls to you as a director.
