HMRC & Companies House
Compliance

For most UK limited companies, annual accounts must be filed 9 months after your financial year ends. For example, if your year-end is 31st March 2025, your accounts filing deadline is 31st December 2025. For newly incorporated companies, the first accounts deadline is 21 months from the date of incorporation. Missing the deadline triggers automatic penalties. We file accounts at least one month before deadlines, giving you time to review and ensuring no risk of penalties.

Companies House imposes automatic penalties for late accounts filing: £150 if filed up to 1 month late, £375 if 1–3 months late, £750 if 3–6 months late, and £1,500 if more than 6 months late. These penalties double if accounts were also late the previous year. Additionally, persistent late filing can result in company strike-off from the register and potential prosecution of directors.

A confirmation statement confirms your company's registered information is accurate and up-to-date, including directors, shareholders, share capital, SIC codes, and People with Significant Control (PSCs). Every UK company must file at least one confirmation statement every 12 months, within 14 days after the end of your review period. Filing costs £34 online or £62 by post. All directors and PSCs must now verify their identity and provide Companies House personal codes before filing.

Corporation tax payment is due 9 months and 1 day after your accounting period ends. The corporation tax return (CT600) must be filed 12 months after the accounting period ends. Note these are different deadlines — you must pay tax before filing the return. Large companies (profits over £1.5 million) pay quarterly instalments instead. Late payment incurs interest charges from the due date; late filing penalties start at £100 for up to 3 months late.

Companies House grants extensions only in exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances beyond your control such as serious illness, bereavement, or fire/flood destroying records immediately before the deadline. You must apply before your normal filing deadline, and approval is not guaranteed — most applications are rejected. If approved, you typically receive only one additional month. We recommend simply filing on time.

Yes, all UK limited companies must file annual accounts and confirmation statements with Companies House, even if dormant or not trading. Dormant companies can file simplified dormant accounts, which are much shorter and simpler than full accounts, but must still meet the 9-month filing deadline. The same automatic penalties (£150+) apply as active companies. Many company owners mistakenly think dormant companies are exempt — they're not.

Missing the 31st January online self-assessment filing deadline triggers automatic penalties: £100 immediately, then £10 daily after 3 months (maximum £900), £300 or 5% of tax due after 6 months, and another £300 or 5% after 12 months. Interest also accrues daily on unpaid tax. If you've missed the deadline, file immediately to stop daily penalties accruing, pay what you can to reduce interest, and contact us to minimise penalties and negotiate time-to-pay arrangements if needed.

From 18 November 2025, all company directors and PSCs must verify their identity with Companies House and obtain a personal code before filing most company documents. You can verify yourself online with GOV.UK One Login. As Authorised Corporate Service Providers, we can verify identity on your behalf, checking documents to Companies House standards and assisting with the personal code application.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) is HMRC's initiative requiring businesses to keep digital records and submit returns using MTD-compatible software. MTD for VAT is already mandatory for most VAT-registered businesses. MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment affects sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000 annually from April 2026, requiring quarterly submissions summarising income and expenses. We use MTD-compliant systems, ensuring automatic compliance with all MTD requirements.