Companies House

Paul Hughes

Events Manager

Why Go Limited?

Your company name is protected You get limited liability What is limited liability? In return the company must send certain information to

Companies House for public viewing

£15

£13

£40

Signs and Stationery

Company name to be displayed at:-

• All places of business

• Registered Office Address

But does not apply to

• Dormant Companies

• Primarily residential addresses

Company Communications

All items of Business Stationery & Communications including emails and Company Website must show

• Company name

• Place of registration

• Registered number

• Registered office address

• If being wound up, that fact

Director’s responsibilities

Accounts and Annual Returns are delivered

• Directors’ and secretaries’ details are kept up to date

• No under 16’s appointed (except for LLP’s)

• No upper age limit

• At least 1 “natural person” appointed (except for LLP’s)

• Registered office and SAIL address is correct and operational

Secretary Duties

Every PLC needs one

Private companies – it’s optional

Usual duties include:

• Notifying changes

• Maintaining statutory registers

• Notifying members and auditor of meetings

• Providing copies of resolutions and agreements

• Supplying copies of company accounts

Annual Return

• Over 94% are now filed online

• Not the financial return

• All companies have to file one each year

• Based on your Legal Return Date

• Snapshot of the Company details at this date

• Must be filed within 28 days of this date

• £13 filing fee online (£40 for paper filing)

Accounting Reference Date

• Can be filed online

• Based on your incorporation date

• Usually the last day of your incorporation month

• Can be changed using form AA01

However……

• Period can be shortened without restrictions

• But can only be extended once in 5 years - unless bringing in line with holding or subsidiary company

Accounts filing periods

Private Co - 9 months from the accounting reference date

Public Co - 6 months from the accounting reference date

New Companies 1st Accounting Period

Private Company - 21 months from date of incorporation

Public Company - 18 months from date of incorporation

Late Filing Penalties

• Civil Penalty against the company

• Introduced 1 July 1992 and amended 1 February 2009

• Accounts only

• Accounts must be received by Registrar by due date

• Penalties are doubled for filing late 2 years running

• Appeals procedure

• Registrar has very limited discretion not to collect a penalty

Late Filing Penalties

Less than 1 month £150

LTD PLC

£750

1 month - 3 months

£375 £1500

3 months - 6 months

£750 £3000

More Than 6 months £1,500 £7500

Don’t Forget

Penalties are doubled for filing late 2 years running

Voluntary Strike-off

• Straightforward procedure

• Company not traded or changed name in last 3 months

• Form DS01must be completed

• Majority of directors must authorise application

• £10 fee to pay

• Can take 6 months and is subject to third party objections

• Reversible process via Restoration process

Annual Return

1818

Audited 12%

Small full un-audited

12%

Dormant 20%

Audit Exempt Abbreviated 56%

Accounts

Nearly 2m accounts will be filed this year:

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Contact us

Telephone: 0303 1234 500

email: enquiries@companieshouse.gov.uk

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