{"id":6820,"date":"2019-10-22T09:34:24","date_gmt":"2019-10-22T08:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qualitycompanyformations.co.uk\/blog\/?p=6820"},"modified":"2024-01-30T10:28:28","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T10:28:28","slug":"how-to-appeal-against-a-filing-penalty-for-late-company-accounts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qualitycompanyformations.co.uk\/blog\/how-to-appeal-against-a-filing-penalty-for-late-company-accounts\/","title":{"rendered":"How to appeal a filing penalty for late company accounts"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you miss the deadline for delivering your limited company accounts to Companies House, a late filing penalty will be automatically imposed, even if your company is dormant. Fines will continue to escalate until the overdue annual accounts are submitted. Below, we discuss how to appeal a filing penalty.<\/p>\n Dormant Company Accounts Service - only \u00a349.99<\/span><\/a>\n \n

Whilst it is possible to appeal a filing penalty for late accounts, the law grants Companies House very limited discretion. Therefore, fees will only be waived in exceptional circumstances.<\/p>\n

Penalties for filing late accounts at Companies House<\/h3>\n

There are different levels of late filing penalties<\/a> imposed when a company delivers its annual accounts after the statutory filing deadline. An automatic penalty is applied as soon as the deadline has passed. If accounts remain outstanding, subsequent higher penalties are applied at set intervals until the annual accounts are delivered to Companies House.<\/p>\n

The late filing penalties for limited companies (including LLPs) are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Time after filing deadline<\/td>\nPrivate Limited Company\/LLP<\/td>\nPublic Limited Company (PLC)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Up to 1 month late<\/td>\n\u00a3150<\/td>\n\u00a3750<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1 to 3 months late<\/td>\n\u00a3375<\/td>\n\u00a31,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3 to 6 months late<\/td>\n\u00a3750<\/td>\n\u00a33,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
More than 6 months late<\/td>\n\u00a31,500<\/td>\n\u00a37,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

These fines are rather substantial, which reflects the serious nature of failing to deliver accounts on time. But it doesn\u2019t end there. If you file late annual accounts at Companies House two years in a row, the late filing penalties are automatically doubled.<\/p>\n

In addition to financial charges, anyone viewing your company details on the register will see that your accounts are outstanding and\/or they were delivered late at some point in the past.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s more. In extremely serious cases, company officers (directors and secretaries) can face disqualification and personal prosecution, the company\u2019s credit score could be adversely affected, and the registrar may even take steps to strike off the company.<\/p>\n

How to appeal a filing penalty<\/h3>\n

If you fail to deliver your annual accounts on time and wish to appeal a filing penalty<\/a> received from Companies House, you must:<\/p>\n