Late filing penalties effective 1 February 2009

Will I have to pay penalty if my company accounts were filed late?

All companies are required to deliver statutory accounts to Companies House by the due date. Failure to do so, the company will have to pay a late filing penalty. The filing dateline can be obtained from the Companies House website. www.Companieshouse.gov.uk.

A new late filing penalties have been introduced in accordance to Companies Act 2006 which will apply to private company and public limited company accounts with the accounting year end start on or after 6th April 2008.

Effective from 6th April 2008, private limited company and public limited company are required to file their statutory accounts  to Companies House, 9 months and 6 months respectively after their accounting year end. (reduced by 1 month from last CA requirement).

What are the new late filing penalties?

Please note that if you have failed to file your company’s accounts on time last year (and that the accounting year end start on or after 6th April 2008), the penalty will be doubled as per the penalty shown in the table above.

The late filing penalty will be sent to your company registered office address. The Companies house will not waive a penalty if your accounts are delayed in the post.

When do I have to file amended Articles of Association?

Generally, you have to file the amended Articles of Association to Companies House within 15 days and failure to do so is a criminal offence.

£200 penalty will be levied if your company failed to sent the amended copy of Articles and Association to the Companies House within 28 days after a notice requiring your company to file the Articles has been issued. Please note that payment of £200 penalty does not render the company free from criminal proceedings.