Company Accounts Deadlines: A Simple Guide for UK Limited Companies

Running a limited company comes with a few important deadlines, and your company accounts deadline is one you definitely do not want to miss.

As a company director, you are responsible for making sure your annual accounts are prepared and filed with Companies House on time. You may also need to pay Corporation Tax and submit a Company Tax Return to HMRC, each with its own deadline.

It might sound like a lot to remember, but it does not need to be complicated. In this guide, we explain the main company accounts filing deadlines, what happens if your accounts are late, and how you can stay ahead.

When Are Company Accounts Due?

For most private limited companies, annual accounts must be filed with Companies House within 9 months of the company's accounting reference date.

Your first set of accounts can work differently. Where a private company's first accounts cover more than 12 months, they generally need to be filed within 21 months of incorporation, or 3 months from the accounting reference date, whichever is longer.

Example of a Company Accounts Deadline

If an established private company's financial year ends on 31 March, its Companies House accounts would normally need to be filed by 31 December.

Don't leave it until the final day. Preparing your accounts early gives you more time to check the figures, answer any questions from your accountant and correct problems before submission.

Companies House and HMRC Deadlines Are Different

This is an area that can easily cause confusion.

Your Companies House accounts deadline is not necessarily the same as your Corporation Tax or Company Tax Return deadline.

For a typical private limited company:

• Annual accounts: normally due to Companies House 9 months after the financial year ends.

• Corporation Tax: normally payable 9 months and 1 day after the Corporation Tax accounting period ends.

• Company Tax Return: normally due to HMRC 12 months after the accounting period ends.

  
  

This is one reason we recommend preparing your company accounts well before the deadline rather than waiting until the last minute.

What Happens if You File Company Accounts Late?

Companies House applies an automatic penalty when company accounts are filed after the deadline.

For a private limited company, the current penalties are £150 if the accounts are up to one month late, £375 if more than one month but no more than three months late, £750 if more than three months but no more than six months late, and £1,500 if more than six months late. The penalty can also be doubled when accounts are filed late in two successive financial years.

It can become much more serious than simply receiving a penalty. Continued failure to file accounts can ultimately put the company at risk of being struck off the register, and failure to deliver required documents can also have consequences for directors.

Don't Wait Until the Deadline

Leaving your accounts until the last minute gives you very little room to deal with missing information or questions about transactions.

Getting your accounts prepared earlier can also give you a clearer understanding of how your company performed during the year and how much Corporation Tax may be payable.

What About Your Confirmation Statement?

Your confirmation statement is separate from your annual accounts.

Every company must file at least one confirmation statement every 12 months. The review period normally ends 12 months after incorporation for the first statement, or 12 months after the confirmation date of the previous statement. You then have up to 14 days after the end of the review period to file it.

This is another deadline directors should keep on their calendar.

How Much Does an Accountant Charge for Company Accounts?

The cost of preparing company accounts will depend on the business, the quality of its bookkeeping, the number of transactions and the amount of work required.

At Even Solutions Accountancy, our limited company accounting service starts from £350.

Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, we look at your business and the support you actually need before confirming your fee.

Why Use an Accountant for Your Company Accounts?

Preparing company accounts involves more than simply entering a few numbers into Companies House.

Your statutory accounts are prepared from your company's financial records and generally include a balance sheet, profit and loss account and relevant notes. Depending on the size and circumstances of the company, different reporting requirements can apply.

Working with an accountant can help you make sure your accounts and Company Tax Return are prepared correctly, your deadlines are monitored, and you understand the figures rather than simply filing them.

Need Help Filing Your Company Accounts?

If your company accounts deadline is approaching, don't leave everything until the last minute.

At Even Solutions Accountancy, we help limited companies across the UK prepare their year-end accounts, Corporation Tax calculations and Company Tax Returns. We keep the process straightforward, explain what we need from you, and help you stay on top of your filing obligations.