What Happens If I Miss a Companies House Deadline?

Running a business comes with enough spinning plates as it is. Amid the emails, invoices and ambitions, it’s surprisingly easy to let a Companies House deadline slip past unnoticed. But what actually happens when you do miss one?

If you're currently panicking over a missed filing date – don’t. You’re not the first, and you certainly won’t be the last. That said, it’s important to understand the implications, and what steps you should take next to limit the damage.

Missing the Annual Accounts Deadline

One of the most common deadlines to miss is for filing annual accounts. Every limited company must submit these once a year, and Companies House takes this obligation seriously.

Miss the deadline by even a day, and you’ll be hit with an automatic late filing penalty. The fines start at £150 but increase the longer the delay continues. If your company is late two years in a row, the fine doubles – so this isn’t something to shrug off or leave on the to-do list indefinitely.

What About the Confirmation Statement?

The confirmation statement (previously known as the annual return) is another key requirement. Unlike annual accounts, failing to file a confirmation statement doesn’t immediately result in a financial penalty. However, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.

If your confirmation statement is overdue, Companies House can eventually strike your company off the register – which is as serious as it sounds. That’s your company gone, dissolved, legally no longer in existence. And restoring it? Time-consuming, stressful, and often expensive.

Other Commonly Missed Changes

It’s not just annual filings you need to think about. Changes to company directors, registered office addresses or share structures should all be reported to Companies House promptly. While missing these deadlines doesn’t always carry an immediate penalty, it can create complications down the line – especially if someone else (a bank, a partner, or HMRC) is relying on the information being accurate.

Can I Just File Late and Hope for the Best?

In a word: no. Ignoring it won’t make it go away. However, if you’ve already missed a deadline, the best course of action is to file as soon as possible. Companies House won’t reduce the penalty, but they will look more favourably on companies that act quickly to fix the situation.

If there’s a genuine reason you couldn’t file on time – say, an unexpected illness or an IT failure – you can appeal the fine. Just be aware that appeals are only successful in exceptional circumstances, and “I forgot” or “I was too busy” usually won’t cut it.

Need Help Staying Compliant?

At Paramount Company Formations, we’ve helped thousands of clients not just register their companies, but keep them compliant year after year. Whether it’s setting up reminders, taking over your annual filings, or simply explaining what’s due and when, we’re here to make sure deadlines never catch you off guard again.

So if you're staring down a missed date, or want peace of mind that you won't be next time – get in touch.