Companies House late filing penalty (full schedule)

Companies House late-filing penalties for annual accounts are automatic and unforgiving. The penalty depends on how late the filing is and whether the company is private or public — and doubles if the company was late the prior year.

What is this filing?

The Companies House late-filing penalty is a civil penalty issued automatically when annual accounts are filed after the deadline. It applies to the company itself, not the directors personally. The penalty is separate from any HMRC Corporation Tax penalty.

When is it due?

Penalties apply from the day after the annual-accounts deadline. The deadline is 9 months after the accounting reference date for private companies, 6 months for public companies.

What's the penalty for missing it?

Private companies: £150 (≤1 month late), £375 (1–3 months), £750 (3–6 months), £1,500 (>6 months). Public companies: £750 / £1,500 / £3,000 / £7,500. Late in two consecutive years: penalty doubled in the second year (£300/£750/£1,500/£3,000 for private, £1,500/£3,000/£6,000/£15,000 for public).

What it actually costs

Private company accounts filed 3–6 months late incur a £750 penalty (£1,500 if a repeat offender). Public company penalties are double. The penalty accrues the moment the deadline passes — Companies House does not issue a warning letter before imposing it. The penalty is a registered civil debt, reported at Companies House, and visible in company credit searches. For a company involved in a transaction, financing, or tendering, a live penalty notice can delay or block the process.

Why this catches practices out

• The penalty is charged to the company, not the director — clients sometimes dispute that a penalty has been issued because they did not receive the notice directly.
• Filing at the last minute raises the risk of technical rejection — a Companies House WebFiling system error on a deadline day does not automatically extend the deadline.
• Second-consecutive-year doubling is rarely communicated at the first missed deadline, creating a surprise for practices at the next late filing.

How PenaltyProof helps

PenaltyProof's whole reason to exist. We email 30, 14, and 7 days before each annual-accounts deadline (paid plans), plus on the day it's due — long before any penalty applies.

Frequently asked questions

Can a late-filing penalty be appealed?

Yes. Companies House allows an appeal within 28 days of the penalty notice date. Grounds for appeal are limited: the penalty will only be waived if the accounts were filed on time but incorrectly rejected by CH, or if there are exceptional circumstances. Vague explanations are routinely refused. Use the CH penalty appeal form and keep a copy of all evidence (Royal Mail tracking, software submission logs).

Does the penalty double automatically the second time?

Yes, provided the company was late in two consecutive years. Companies House checks the prior year automatically. If the first late year attracted a £375 penalty (1–3 months), the same lateness in the following year results in a £750 penalty — doubled, with no discretion.

Are there separate HMRC penalties on top of the Companies House penalty?

Yes. If the late accounts mean the CT600 is also late, HMRC levies a separate penalty — from 1 April 2026, £200 on day one and £400 at three months. The CH and HMRC penalties are independent and both apply.

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