Companies urged to file accounts early and online

Companies House are urging companies to file their accounts early via the online filing system in order to avoid delays and subsequent penalties.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Companies House are continuing to operate at a reduced capacity, and with the majority of staff still working from home, and the government agency is warning it could take longer than usual to process paper documents sent by post.

The online filing service is available 24/7 and there are inbuilt checks to help companies avoid making mistakes when submitting their accounts. To use the online filing system, companies will need to have their company authentication code, which can be requested from Companies House.

Companies House advise that companies should only be sending paper accounts if the company cannot file online. If you need to file your accounts on paper, you should send them to Companies House with plenty of time before the deadline. This allows plenty of time to correct your accounts and resend them if they are rejected. It is also advisable to use a guaranteed next day delivery service because Companies House will not accept postal delays as an excuse for filing late.

It is the directors' responsibility to file company accounts, and the consequences of late submission can include a fine, a criminal record and disqualification from office.

Should you require any advice or assistance in relation to online filing or would like details of the company secretarial services we can provide, our corporate team would be happy to help.

This article is for general guidance only. It provides useful information in a concise form. Action should not be taken without obtaining specific legal advice.