Companies House late filing penalties – don’t risk them

If you have a limited company or LLP, you’ll know that Companies House late filing penalties are automatically imposed if your annual accounts aren’t submitted on time.

The rules also apply to dormant companies. Even if your company has not traded, you still need to file annual accounts with Companies House unless a specific exemption applies.

What’s worse is that the later your annual accounts, the larger the Companies House late filing penalties. For example, if you have a private limited company, the late filing penalty for accounts filed not more than one month late is £150. When your accounts are 1-3 months late, this rises to £375. Leave them 3-6 months and you’ll expect to pay £750. Worst of all, if your annual accounts are six or more months late, you’ll pay £1,500 in Companies House late filing penalties.

If those figures weren’t bad enough, public companies have to pay much higher late filing penalties. These can be as high as £7,500 for annual accounts that are more than half a year late. If accounts are filed late in two successive financial years, the fine hits £15,000.

Are Companies House late filing penalties enforced?

Yes. Companies House’s latest annual report shows that late filing penalties remain a major enforcement issue. In 2024/25, 297,682 penalties were levied, with a total value of £157.2 million. Companies House also levied 75,062 double penalties against companies that had filed accounts late for two successive years or more.

The report also shows that Companies House collected £86.5 million in cash from revenue activities during 2024/25. Some penalty debts are later written off, often because companies are dissolved or collection becomes uneconomic, but trading companies should not assume a penalty will simply disappear.

Is it worth ignoring late filing penalties?

Just because Companies House doesn’t manage to collect all the late filing penalties it issues, it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to ignore them.

Firstly, if you don’t file your annual accounts, it’s a criminal offence. Directors, or designated members of an LLP, can be personally fined in the criminal courts. This is separate from the late filing penalty imposed on the company itself.

Secondly, if the Companies House Registrar believes your company is no longer in operation, it could get struck off. If this happens, you’re not allowed to trade. The company’s bank account will be frozen, any money in the account will pass to the Crown, and company assets may become bona vacantia. In some cases, a dissolved company can be restored to the register. However, this can involve extra costs, delays and outstanding filing obligations.

It’s also worth noting that many of the unpaid Companies House penalties are likely to have been issued to companies that have since become insolvent. If you’re still trading, Companies House is likely to pursue you. It can also use debt collection agencies and legal action to recover unpaid penalties.

Filing close to the deadline is risky too. Companies House treats accounts as delivered only when they are actually received in the correct format. If accounts are rejected, for example because the balance sheet has not been signed, and the corrected version is filed late, the company will still get a late filing penalty.

Can you appeal a Companies House late filing penalty?

You can appeal, but Companies House has limited discretion. Appeals are usually only successful where there are exceptional circumstances, such as an unforeseen event at a critical time.

An appeal is unlikely to succeed simply because the company is dormant, you cannot afford to pay, you relied on your accountant, these are your first accounts, or you were not familiar with the filing requirements.

How to avoid Companies House late filing penalties

Given the sanctions Companies House can apply, it’s never worth ignoring late filing penalties. Most businesses don’t intend to file their annual accounts late, but sometimes other things get in the way. Luckily our annual accounts service gives you complete peace of mind. We’ll not only make sure your annual accounts are submitted correctly and on time, but we’ll submit your Corporation Tax return too!