This Content Was Last Updated on February 9, 2017 by Jessica Garbett

 

A repost of our blog about this from earlier this year:

A reminder about the change in Companies House filing deadlines for accounts from 10 months to 9 months.

This applies to Companies and LLPs for their financial year starting after 6 April 2008.

For most companies with a 31 March year end this means the 10 month deadline still applies for their 31 March 2009 year end, as the year started before 6 April 2008, however these companies will have a 9 month deadline from their 31 March 2010 onwards.

However some companies with a 31 March 2009 year end will have a 9 month deadline if either (i) they have changed their accounting year by shortening it or (ii) this is the first year of trading and is less than a full 365 days (or less than 360 days to be precise).

As we approach the peak deadline dates for 31 March year ends, we advise all limited company clients to check their filing position. This can be done online at Companies House, free of charge:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house/about/about-our-services

This will tell you last accounts received and next accounts due.

As a reminder, we automatically prepare abbreviated accounts for filing at Companies House for all our clients, and these are sent out either with your approval accounts or bound accounts – our clients, however, have the responsibility for signing the accounts and sending them to Companies House. We recommend use of Royal Mail recorded delivery or guaranteed next day. Companies House are notorious for not making any allowance for postal delays, including strikes, and automatic penalties are due even for being a day late! There is an online filing mechanism available but it is cumbersome, and we don’t at present recommend it except for very last minute filings.