For businesses with a 31 December financial year-end, the 30 September 2026 Companies House deadline is fast approaching.
For most private limited companies, annual accounts must be delivered to Companies House within nine months of the end of the accounting reference period. This means companies with a 31 December 2025 year-end will generally need to file their accounts by 30 September 2026.
Why is the deadline important?
Filing your accounts on time is an important part of your company’s legal responsibilities. The responsibility ultimately sits with the company’s directors, even where an accountant is responsible for preparing and submitting the accounts.
Don’t risk a late filing penalty
Missing the deadline can result in an automatic late filing penalty. For a private company, penalties currently start at £150 for accounts filed up to one month late and can rise to £1,500 where accounts are more than six months late.
Don’t leave it until the last minute
Preparing annual accounts can involve gathering financial records, reconciling figures, reviewing transactions and dealing with any queries before the accounts can be finalised. Leaving the process until September could therefore create unnecessary pressure, particularly if additional information is needed.
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Meeting your Companies House deadline is much easier when you give yourself plenty of time. Getting your records and paperwork together early means that any issues can be identified and resolved before the filing deadline, rather than becoming a last-minute problem.
Tracey Keyse
Head of Practice, Evans Entwistle
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How Evans Entwistle can help
At Evans Entwistle, we can help businesses prepare their annual accounts and ensure they are ready for filing with Companies House. We can also help you understand your wider accounting and tax responsibilities, so there are no unexpected deadlines or compliance issues.
If your company accounts are due by 30 September 2026, don’t wait until the deadline is almost here. Getting started now can give you peace of mind and help ensure your accounts are filed accurately and on time.
Need help with your company accounts?
Our team can help you prepare your accounts and make sure you’re ready for the Companies House deadline.
Contact Evans Entwistle