Companies House Filing Deadlines: A Complete Guide for UK Companies

Running a UK limited company comes with an important responsibility that is easy to underestimate: filing the right documents with Companies House on time. For most companies, the most important recurring deadline is the annual accounts filing date. But it is not the only one. Companies also need to keep their registered information current, file a confirmation statement every year, report certain changes promptly, and coordinate Companies House obligations with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) tax deadlines.

Missing one deadline can lead to financial penalties, administrative problems and, in serious cases, the company being struck off the register. This guide explains Companies House filing deadlines, including first accounts, annual accounts, confirmation statements, dormant companies, late filing penalties and the important distinction between Companies House and HMRC deadlines.

What Are Companies House Filing Deadlines?

Companies House filing deadlines are the dates by which a UK registered company must deliver required documents to the Registrar of Companies. The exact deadline depends on the type of filing and the company's circumstances. For a typical private limited company, the key recurring obligations include:

• Annual accounts
• Confirmation statement
• Changes to company information when they occur
• Certain shareholder and capital information
• People with Significant Control (PSC) information
• Other statutory documents where applicable

Takeaway: Companies House does not operate on one universal annual deadline for every company. Your company's incorporation date and accounting reference date determine several of its deadlines.

Annual Accounts Filing Deadlines

Annual accounts are among the most important documents a company files with Companies House. For a private limited company, annual accounts are generally due 9 months after the end of the company's financial year. Public companies generally have 6 months.

Example: Private Limited Company

Suppose a company's accounting reference date is:

• 31 December 2026

Its annual accounts will generally need to reach Companies House by:

• 30 September 2027

Important: The key word is reach. It is not enough to start the filing process on the deadline. Companies House needs to receive acceptable accounts by the deadline. Directors therefore should build in time for reviewing, correcting, and submitting the accounts.

First Company Accounts Have a Different Deadline

New companies get a longer period for their first accounts. A private company generally has 21 months from the date of incorporation to file its first accounts with Companies House. This catches many new founders by surprise because subsequent annual accounts have a shorter filing window.

Example

Imagine a company is incorporated on:

• 15 March 2026

Its first accounting period could extend beyond its first anniversary, depending on the accounting reference date. The first accounts generally have to be filed within the 21-month period applicable to the company's incorporation date and accounting reference date. After that, the normal annual filing cycle applies.

Pro Tip: The safest approach for a newly incorporated business is to check the company's exact filing dates on the Companies House register rather than trying to calculate them manually.

Companies House Accounts vs HMRC Tax Return Deadlines

One of the biggest compliance mistakes is treating Companies House accounts and the Corporation Tax return as the same filing. They are not. A company generally has separate obligations to:

• Companies House: File annual accounts
• HMRC: Pay Corporation Tax and file a Company Tax Return

Comparison of Key Deadlines

These are separate requirements. This means a company can potentially have to pay Corporation Tax before its annual accounts are due at Companies House. For example, if a company's accounting period ends on 31 December, its Corporation Tax is normally due on 1 October of the following year, while its Companies House accounts are generally due by 30 September. Understanding this distinction makes annual compliance much easier to manage.

What Is the Confirmation Statement Deadline?

Every UK company, including dormant and non-trading companies, must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months. The confirmation statement is designed to confirm that information held by Companies House about the company is accurate and up to date. The review period generally ends 12 months after:

1. The company's incorporation date, for its first confirmation statement; or
2. The confirmation statement date on its previous statement.

The company can then file its confirmation statement up to 14 days after the review period ends.

Why This Deadline Matters

The confirmation statement is not simply an optional annual update. Even if absolutely nothing has changed, a company still needs to file it. Companies House can take enforcement action, and a company that fails to file can potentially be struck off the register.

What Information Is Checked in a Confirmation Statement?

The confirmation statement gives the company an opportunity to confirm or update certain information, including relevant details concerning:

• Shareholders
• Share capital
• SIC codes
• Share trading status
• Certain PSC information
• Other company information held on the register

Not every company change should wait until the confirmation statement. Some changes must be reported separately and within their own statutory deadlines. For example, changes involving directors or registered office information generally need to be reported when they occur rather than simply waiting for the next confirmation statement.

Is the Confirmation Statement the Same as Annual Accounts?

No. This is another common misconception.

• Annual accounts = Financial reporting (tells Companies House about the company's financial position and performance)
• Confirmation statement = Company information check (confirms that key company information held on the public register is accurate)

A company normally needs to complete both. They have different purposes and different deadlines.

What About Dormant Companies?

Dormant companies do not escape Companies House filing obligations. A dormant company generally still needs to file:

1. Dormant company accounts
2. A confirmation statement

Companies House specifically states that dormant and non-trading companies must file a confirmation statement at least once every year. Being dormant also does not automatically eliminate HMRC obligations. The company's tax position should be considered separately. This is particularly relevant for founders who incorporate a UK company before launching their business. A company can be inactive commercially while still having ongoing statutory responsibilities.

Companies House Filing Deadlines for Non-Resident Directors

A UK company can have directors or shareholders who live outside the UK. Being a non-resident director does not remove the company's Companies House filing obligations. For example, a founder living in Nigeria, India, the United States or another country can own and manage a UK limited company. The company remains registered in the UK and must comply with the applicable Companies House requirements. This is important for international entrepreneurs using UK companies for:

• Consulting
• E-commerce
• Software businesses
• Digital agencies
• Amazon selling
• Online education
• International trading
• Professional services

For global founders, the practical challenge is often not incorporation itself but maintaining compliance after incorporation. A UK company formation and management platform such as IncorpUK can be relevant to international founders who need help navigating the administrative side of maintaining a UK company, although statutory responsibility ultimately remains with the company and its directors.

What Happens If You Miss a Companies House Deadline?

The consequences depend on which filing was missed. For annual accounts, Companies House imposes automatic late filing penalties. For private companies, the current penalties are:

Note: The penalties can be doubled if the company's accounts are late in two consecutive years. Public company penalties are substantially higher.

Late Filing Can Become More Serious Than a Fine

Failure to file accounts is not merely an accounting inconvenience. Companies House explains that failure to deliver accounts on time can be a criminal offence, while directors can face consequences if statutory documents are repeatedly not delivered. A company that appears no longer to be operating may also be struck off the register. If a company is dissolved, its assets can potentially pass to the Crown. For that reason, directors should treat filing deadlines as a core governance responsibility rather than an administrative task to be dealt with when convenient.

Can You Appeal a Late Filing Penalty?

Yes, but an appeal is not automatically successful. Companies House expects the company to provide a specific reason why the accounts were late and evidence that the circumstances were outside its control. Examples of potentially relevant circumstances can include serious unforeseen events affecting the company's ability to prepare or submit its accounts. However, Companies House specifically indicates that reasons such as the following do not by themselves normally provide sufficient grounds for an appeal:

• Not knowing the deadline
• Not knowing how to file
• The accountant being responsible
• Directors being overseas
• Being unable to afford the penalty
• Being the company's first accounts

Remember: The legal responsibility for filing remains with the company and its directors, even when an accountant or agent is handling the paperwork.

What Happens If Companies House Rejects Your Accounts?

A company can technically submit accounts before the deadline and still end up with a compliance problem if Companies House rejects them. This is why filing on the final day is risky. If accounts contain errors or fail to meet the required format, they may be rejected. The company then needs to correct the problem and resubmit acceptable accounts. A sensible approach is to aim for completion several weeks before the statutory deadline. That gives the company time to:

• Prepare the accounts
• Review the figures
• Obtain director approval
• Submit the accounts
• Resolve any rejection
• Confirm that the filing has been accepted

Companies House Filing Changes Coming in 2028

Companies House is also changing how accounts will be filed. From April 2028, all UK registered companies will be required to file accounts digitally in iXBRL format using commercial software. Companies House says its web and paper-based accounts filing systems will close from that point.

The reforms will also affect the information smaller companies and micro-entities provide. This does not mean that today's filing deadlines should be ignored. Instead, it means businesses should expect company reporting to become increasingly digital and structured. For founders managing their own companies, it is worth ensuring that accounting records and software are already organised rather than waiting until the reforms take effect.

A Practical Companies House Filing Calendar

A simple annual compliance calendar can prevent most deadline problems:

• Throughout the year: Keep bank statements, sales invoices, purchase invoices, expense records, payroll records, loan information, dividend records, asset records, and shareholder information up to date.
• Before year-end: Review the accounting records and confirm the company's accounting reference date.
• 3–4 months before accounts deadline: Start preparing the annual accounts and resolve missing documentation.
• 1–2 months before deadline: Review the accounts, approve them and prepare the filing.
• Before the deadline: Submit the accounts and confirm that Companies House has accepted them.
• Once every 12 months: Check the confirmation statement date and ensure the company's information is current.
• Separately: Track HMRC's Corporation Tax payment and Company Tax Return deadlines.

This separation is important because Companies House compliance and tax compliance are related but distinct.

Companies House Filing Checklist

Before the filing season arrives, use this checklist:

• [ ] Check your company's accounting reference date
• [ ] Confirm the annual accounts deadline
• [ ] Check whether these are the company's first accounts
• [ ] Prepare bookkeeping records
• [ ] Reconcile business bank accounts
• [ ] Review director and shareholder records
• [ ] Check PSC information
• [ ] Confirm the company's SIC code
• [ ] Review registered office information
• [ ] Prepare annual accounts
• [ ] Check whether the company is dormant or trading
• [ ] Submit accounts early enough to resolve rejection issues
• [ ] Check the confirmation statement deadline
• [ ] File the confirmation statement every year
• [ ] Track Corporation Tax separately
• [ ] Keep evidence of successful submissions

Common Companies House Deadline Mistakes

1. Assuming the accountant is automatically responsible: An accountant can prepare and submit filings, but directors should still monitor whether the filing has actually been completed.
2. Confusing Companies House and HMRC: Annual accounts and Corporation Tax returns are different obligations.
3. Waiting until the deadline day: Technical problems, rejected filings or missing information can turn a straightforward filing into a late one.
4. Forgetting dormant companies: Dormant does not mean exempt from all Companies House filings.
5. Ignoring the confirmation statement: A company with no changes still has to file its confirmation statement.
6. Assuming incorporation is the end of the process: Forming a company is only the beginning. Ongoing reporting is part of maintaining it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you have to file company accounts with Companies House?

A private company generally has 9 months after the end of its financial year to file annual accounts. Public companies generally have 6 months.

When are a company's first accounts due?

A private company's first accounts are generally due 21 months after incorporation.

How often does a UK company file a confirmation statement?

At least once every 12 months. The statement can generally be filed up to 14 days after the end of the relevant review period.

Do dormant companies have to file with Companies House?

Yes. Dormant companies generally still need to file annual accounts and a confirmation statement.

What happens if company accounts are filed one day late?

For a private company, the current late filing penalty is £150 for accounts filed up to one month late.

Can Companies House extend an accounts filing deadline?

In certain circumstances, a company can apply for an extension. The request generally needs to be made before the existing filing deadline and must meet the applicable requirements.

Is the Companies House deadline the same as the Corporation Tax deadline?

No. A private company's annual accounts are generally due 9 months after its financial year-end, while Corporation Tax is normally payable 9 months and 1 day after the end of the relevant Corporation Tax accounting period.

Do non-resident UK company owners have to follow Companies House deadlines?

Yes. A founder or director living outside the UK does not automatically remove the company's Companies House filing responsibilities.

What is the penalty for late Companies House accounts?

For a private company, the penalty is currently £150 for up to one month late, rising to £375, £750 and £1,500 as the delay increases.

Are Companies House filing rules changing?

Yes. Companies House has announced that from April 2028 all UK registered companies will need to file accounts digitally using commercial software in iXBRL format.

Conclusion

Companies House filing deadlines are not complicated once you separate the obligations and understand how each deadline is calculated. For most UK private companies, the central dates are:

• First accounts: generally 21 months after incorporation
• Annual accounts: generally 9 months after the financial year-end
• Confirmation statement: at least once every 12 months, with up to 14 days after the review period ends
• Corporation Tax: a separate HMRC deadline, normally 9 months and 1 day after the relevant accounting period

The most effective strategy is not to manage these deadlines reactively. Put every statutory date into a calendar, maintain accurate records throughout the year, prepare accounts well before the deadline and check that filings have actually been accepted. For international founders and non-resident directors, this discipline is particularly valuable. A UK company can provide access to a familiar corporate structure and international markets, but incorporation also creates continuing reporting obligations. Ultimately, filing on time is one of the simplest ways to protect your company's good standing, avoid unnecessary penalties and keep your UK business administration under control.