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).

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.

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