Filing Deadlines at Companies House (2025): Key Dates & Penalties for Limited Companies

Introduction

Filing your company’s accounts on time with Companies House is a legal obligation for all UK limited companies and LLPs. Missing your filing deadline can lead to financial penalties, damage your company’s reputation, and increase the risk of regulatory scrutiny.

Companies House Filing Deadlines for Limited Companies

The deadline for submitting accounts to Companies House depends on your company type and accounting reference date (ARD).

General Filing Deadlines:

• Private Limited Companies (Ltd) & LLPs: 9 months after the end of the financial year

• Public Limited Companies (PLC): 6 months after the end of the financial year

First-Year Exception:

• For newly incorporated companies:
  First accounts are due 21 months after incorporation or 9 months after the end of the first accounting period. Whichever comes first.

Example:

Company Incorporation Date: 1st January 2024
End of First Accounting Period: 31st January 2025 (Companies House typically sets this as the last day of the month one year after incorporation)

Now, let’s calculate the two possible deadlines:

1. 21 months after incorporation:
   1st January 2024 + 21 months = 30th September 2025
2. 9 months after the end of the first accounting period:
   31st January 2025 + 9 months = 31st October 2025

Earliest of the two = 30th September 2025

✅ Deadline to file the first accounts: 30th September 2025

Penalties for Filing Late

Missing your deadline can be costly. Companies House issues automatic late filing penalties, which increase depending on how late your submission is:

Length of Delay	Private Company or LLP	Public Company
Up to 1 month late	£150	£750
Over 1 month but not more than 3 months	£375	£1,500
Over 3 months but not more than 6 months	£750	£3,000
Over 6 months late	£1,500	£7,500

Important: If you file late two years in a row, penalties are doubled.

Why Meeting Your First Accounts Deadline Matters – and Why Filing Early Helps

From our example above we have already established that for newly incorporated companies. The first set of accounts must be filed either 21 months after incorporation or 9 months after the end of the first accounting period.

That’s why we recommend filing your Corporation Tax return early. In our article we look at the reasons why businesses should file early. Why File Your Corporation Tax Return Early?

How Our Manchester Accountants Help Limited Companies Stay Compliant and Avoid Penalties

With over 20 years’ experience supporting limited companies across Manchester and the North West, Accounting Solutions Manchester takes the stress out of meeting your Companies House deadlines. We understand that missing a filing—even by a day—can lead to unnecessary penalties and reputational risk. Our proactive approach helps ensure you stay organised, compliant, and penalty-free.

• Limited company accounts – Preparation and filing of your annual accounts in full compliance with Companies House and HMRC requirements.

• Corporation tax returns – Accurate calculations, early reminders, and on-time submissions to avoid interest charges or late filing fines.

• Tailored support for directors – From personal tax returns to dividend planning, we’ll help you manage your director obligations too.

• VAT returns and advice – From VAT registration to accurate return filing, we ensure you meet Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements and stay compliant with HMRC deadlines.

• Bookkeeping services – Keep your records up to date with reliable, cloud-based bookkeeping that gives you real-time visibility and helps streamline your year-end accounts.

• Self-assessment tax returns – We handle personal tax returns for directors and shareholders, including dividends, PAYE income, and other earnings.

We offer end-to-end support for all your statutory responsibilities, including:

FAQs About Companies House Filing

What happens if I miss my Companies House deadline?

You’ll receive a penalty, which increases the longer you delay. Repeated offences result in doubled penalties.

Can I appeal a late filing penalty?

Yes, but only in exceptional circumstances such as a fire, flood, or illness. Appeals are rarely successful without strong evidence.

Is Companies House filing the same as filing with HMRC?

No. Companies House handles statutory accounts; HMRC requires Corporation Tax returns (CT600) separately.