Business Matters

Avoiding problems with Companies House

So it is now almost a year since the new Companies Act came fully into force and it has dramatically changed the power of Companies House who have warmed to their new found penalty regime and regularly issue striking off notices for the slightest delay in submitting returns and happily issue demands for late filing penalties when the accounts are even 1 day late.

Mostly I suspect everyone agrees that there has to be a cut off and at some point the penalty regime has to be enforced, but everyone will also say, "Why me? I put the accounts in the post on time - it's not my fault that Royal Mail didn't deliver it on time"

Many things in life are like this - it's never anyone's fault, always that of someone else.

For those who want to see the current penalties:

Companies House Penalties

For those who want to avoid them,

Just click here to see how we can help

And for some instant advice?The short answer is that you need to file on time and that means being prepared, and THAT means:

1. Don't leave it till the last minute to send your accounts to the accountant. For one thing it costs you more and secondly you could still be late.
2. If you're doing your own accounts, do them much sooner than the final month. It will take you longer than you think and don't put them in the post - it is wholly unreliable and Companies House won't accept that as an excuse.
3. Don't believe that you will be able to appeal against any penalty and win. You WILL lose. In short there is virtually no excuse for late submission of accounts to Companies House, and the few there are are so difficult to qualify for its much easier and takes less energy to do it on time.

Comments: 0 (Add)

Your name:
Message:
Enter :	[?]