What Happens If I File Late With Companies House?

If you file documents late with Companies House, the consequences depend on what you have failed to file. Late annual accounts can result in automatic financial penalties, while failing to file a confirmation statement can lead to enforcement action and potentially the company being struck off.

Directors are responsible for making sure company filings are submitted on time.

What Happens If Annual Accounts Are Late?

Companies House automatically issues penalties when company accounts are filed after the deadline.

For a private limited company, the penalty increases depending on how late the accounts are:

• Up to 1 month late — £150
• 1 to 3 months late — £375
• 3 to 6 months late — £750
• More than 6 months late — £1,500

The penalties can be doubled if accounts are filed late in two successive financial years.

What If My Confirmation Statement Is Late?

A late confirmation statement does not have the same automatic late-filing penalty structure as annual accounts.

However, failing to file it is serious. The company and its officers may be committing an offence, and Companies House can take action that may eventually result in the company being struck off the register.

If your confirmation statement is overdue, it should be filed as soon as possible.

Can Companies House Close My Company?

Potentially, yes.

If a company repeatedly fails to meet its filing obligations, Companies House may begin the process of striking it off the register.

Once a company is dissolved, its bank accounts may be frozen and assets belonging to the company can potentially pass to the Crown.

Does Filing Late Affect Directors?

Yes. Directors are legally responsible for ensuring that the company meets its filing obligations, even when an accountant or another professional handles the paperwork.

Ignoring Companies House correspondence or repeatedly missing deadlines can create more serious problems than simply filing a document a few days late.

What Should I Do If I Have Missed a Deadline?

Act as quickly as possible.

Check which documents are overdue, prepare the required information and submit the outstanding filing to Companies House.

Do not wait for further reminders if you already know that a filing is overdue.

Final Answer

Filing late with Companies House can result in financial penalties, enforcement action and, in serious cases, the company being struck off the register.

Late annual accounts currently carry penalties starting at £150 for private companies, increasing to £1,500 when more than six months late.

The safest approach is to monitor your Companies House deadlines and submit all required filings on time.

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