Applying for more time to file your company鈥檚 accounts
How to ask Companies House to extend your filing deadline if an unplanned event stops you filing your accounts.
All companies must send their accounts to Companies House every year.
Your company should take appropriate measures to make sure accounts are filed on time. The law imposes an automatic penalty if a company鈥檚 accounts are filed late.
You should also file your accounts online if you can.
When to apply
You can apply to extend your accounts deadline if you cannot send your accounts because of an event that鈥檚 outside of your control - for example, because of an unexpected illness or if a fire has destroyed company records a few days before your filing deadline.
You must apply for the extension (or file your accounts) before your filing deadline, or you鈥檒l receive a late filing penalty.
You can to check your filing deadlines online - you do not need to contact us to find out when your filing deadline is.
You may not be eligible if you鈥檝e already extended your accounts deadline. The law only allows a maximum filing period of 12 months.
How to apply
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You鈥檒l need:
- your company number
- information about why you need more time
- any documents to support your applications (optional)
What happens next
We鈥檒l review your application and make a decision about your extension request.
It鈥檚 important to file your accounts by the deadline date if possible. You should not wait for a decision about your extension request.
We鈥檒l contact you by email to tell you if your application has been successful or not. We may also contact you if we need more information.
If we agree to extend your filing deadline, you must file your accounts before the new deadline date or your company will get a late filing penalty.
This will not change your future accounts deadline dates.
If you鈥檝e applied for more time to file your accounts, but not yet had confirmation that it鈥檚 been accepted, you may still receive a letter from Companies House chasing for outstanding accounts.
More information
Updates to this page
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The automatic extensions granted by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act have come to an end.
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The automatic extensions granted by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act will come to an end for filing deadlines that fall after 5 April 2021.
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The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 came into effect on 26 June 2020. Companies and other types of business registered at Companies House will get more time to file accounts. Link added to guidance.
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Advice for companies affected by Coronavirus.
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First published.