How much is the Companies House late filing penalty?

For private companies: £150 if up to 1 month late, £375 if 1 to 3 months late, £750 if 3 to 6 months late, and £1,500 if more than 6 months late. For public companies the penalties are higher: £750, £1,500, £3,000, and £7,500 respectively. Penalties double if accounts are filed late in two consecutive financial years.

Can I appeal a Companies House late filing penalty?

You can appeal, but it is rarely successful. Companies House accepts appeals only in exceptional circumstances: a genuine, unforeseen event such as serious illness, bereavement, or a natural disaster. Being too busy, relying on an accountant who did not file on time, or not knowing the deadline are not accepted as grounds. The penalty is a civil matter payable by the company, not the directors personally (unless the company is dissolved).

Do late filing penalties double?

Yes. If a company files its accounts late in two consecutive financial years, the penalty for the second year doubles. For a private company that would mean £300 for the first month, £750 for 1 to 3 months, £1,500 for 3 to 6 months, and £3,000 for over 6 months late. This reset only after a year of filing on time.

Who pays the late filing penalty, directors or the company?

The penalty is charged to the company, not to the directors personally. However, if the company is dissolved or enters liquidation, the liquidator or HMRC may pursue individual directors for the debt. Directors can also face criminal prosecution under the Companies Act 2006 (section 451) for persistently failing to file accounts, carrying fines and a criminal record.

What does a late filing penalty mean if I am a creditor?

A company that has received a late filing penalty has failed to submit its accounts on time. For creditors, this is a red flag because: (a) you cannot see current financial data to assess credit risk, (b) the company may be hiding deteriorating finances, and (c) research shows that late filers are significantly more likely to enter insolvency within 24 months than companies that file on time.

How do I check if a company has filed its accounts late?

Go to Companies House (beta.companieshouse.gov.uk) and check the filing history. The "accounts due" date and the actual filing date are both shown. If the filing date is after the due date, accounts were filed late. RecoupIQ checks this automatically and flags it alongside other distress signals like gazette notices and director changes.

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Companies House Penalties

Companies House Late Filing Penalties: How Much and What It Means

Every UK company must file annual accounts with Companies House by a fixed deadline. Miss it and the penalty is automatic: £150 to £1,500 for private companies, up to £7,500 for public companies. Penalties double if late two years in a row.

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Late filing penalty amounts (2026)

How late	Private company	Public company
Up to 1 month	£150	£750
1 to 3 months	£375	£1,500
3 to 6 months	£750	£3,000
More than 6 months	£1,500	£7,500

Doubling rule: If accounts are filed late in two consecutive financial years, all penalties for the second year are doubled. A private company more than 6 months late for the second consecutive year pays £3,000, not £1,500.

Key deadlines for filing accounts

Private company

9 months after the end of the financial year (accounting reference date).

First accounts: 21 months from incorporation or 9 months from the accounting reference date, whichever is longer.

Public company (PLC)

6 months after the end of the financial year.

PLCs have a shorter deadline, hence the higher penalties for late filing.

Check if a company has filed on time

Enter a company name or number. See filing status, accounts due date, and whether this company has a history of late filing.

Why late filing matters for creditors

If you are considering extending credit to a company, or you are already owed money by one, late filing is a serious warning sign. Here is why:

You cannot see the current financial position

Without up-to-date accounts, you have no way to assess whether the company has enough assets to pay its debts. You are extending credit blind.

Late filers are more likely to fail

Academic research and credit agency data consistently show that companies which file late are significantly more likely to enter insolvency within 24 months. It is one of the strongest single predictors of failure.

Possible deliberate concealment

Some companies file late specifically to hide deteriorating finances from creditors and suppliers. If accounts would show net liabilities or significant losses, delaying their publication buys time.

For directors: how to avoid late filing penalties

1.Know your accounting reference date and the 9-month (or 6-month) deadline
2.Instruct your accountant at least 3 months before the deadline
3.File dormant accounts yourself via WebFiling if the company is not trading (takes 10 minutes)
4.Set a calendar reminder 30 days before the filing deadline
5.If you cannot file on time, note that Companies House does not grant extensions (unlike HMRC)

Late filing is one of the strongest predictors of company failure.

RecoupIQ checks filing delays alongside 72 other risk signals across 12 UK data sources. One search shows you whether a company is safe to trade with. From £29, no subscription, no contract.

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RecoupIQ monitoring (from £19.99/mo) alerts you within 24 hours of any filing failure on companies you watch. A late filing today often means insolvency in 6 to 12 months. Get the early warning and reduce your exposure. Available via the web dashboard or the Microsoft 365 Trust Check app (per-seat for teams). RecoupIQ is a Microsoft partner.

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Last reviewed: July 2026. General information for UK businesses. Not legal advice. RecoupIQ Ltd, Company No. 16947526, ICO ZC077511. Microsoft Partner.