Companies House Late Filing Penalty: What It Costs and How to Avoid It
Late accounts at Companies House cost £150 to £1,500 for a private company, and double if late two years running. See the full scale and how to avoid it.
Companies House applies an automatic penalty when a company's annual accounts are filed after the deadline. The amount depends on how late the accounts are and what type of company it is.
The penalty scale
GOV.UK sets out these penalties for late accounts, measured from the due date:
| How late | Private company or LLP | Public company |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 month | £150 | £750 |
| More than 1 month, up to 3 months | £375 | £1,500 |
| More than 3 months, up to 6 months | £750 | £3,000 |
| More than 6 months | £1,500 | £7,500 |
The two-years-in-a-row rule
According to GOV.UK, the penalty is doubled if the accounts are late in two successive financial years. A company that is a little late once and again the next year can end up paying far more than the table suggests.
Why the date is easy to get wrong
The penalty runs from the due date, so a wrong due date is expensive. The most common causes:
- First accounts: these are due 21 months after the company was registered, not 9 months after year end.
- Later accounts: due 9 months after the financial year ends. Count calendar months, not 30-day blocks.
- A changed year end: this moves the deadline.
- Mixing up HMRC and Companies House: the Company Tax Return (12 months after the period ends) is a different filing from the accounts.
Read more in our guide to the Companies House accounts deadline.
How to avoid a penalty
- Diary the real due date, not an approximation. Record the rule you used so a colleague can check it.
- Set reminders well ahead. A reminder on the due date itself is too late if the client is slow with records.
- Chase clients on a fixed schedule. For example 30, 14, 7 and 1 days before the deadline.
- Keep proof of filing with the deadline. It settles any later dispute about whether something was filed on time.
- Review the list monthly. New clients, changed year ends and dissolved companies all change the picture.
What if you are already late?
File as soon as you can. The scale shows the penalty rises with time, so the cost of waiting grows. If you think a penalty was issued in error or you have a reason for the delay, Companies House has a process to appeal. Check the current process on GOV.UK.
A simple way to stop it happening
Deadline tracking is the kind of work a tool does better than memory. FilingKeeper is a deadline tracker for small UK accounting and bookkeeping practices: it works out Companies House and HMRC dates from the published GOV.UK rules, reminds your practice before each date, and keeps proof of filing with each deadline. It is in beta and does not file anything for you.
Free check: email up to 10 company numbers to haseeb@filingkeeper.com and get a deadline report back within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the penalty for filing accounts late at Companies House?
For a private company or LLP, GOV.UK lists £150 up to one month late, £375 up to three months, £750 up to six months and £1,500 beyond that.
Do penalties double?
Yes, if the accounts are late in two successive financial years, per GOV.UK.
Is the penalty different for public companies?
Yes. The amounts are higher, from £750 up to £7,500.
Does late Corporation Tax work the same way?
No. HMRC applies its own penalties for the Company Tax Return and for late payment.
Last checked against GOV.UK on
Rules can change, so confirm on GOV.UK before you rely on a date or an amount. Sources: