Missed Companies House Deadline - What to Do

Missing a Companies House filing deadline does not necessarily mean your company is in serious trouble, but you should act quickly. Whether you missed a confirmation statement, annual accounts or another filing, leaving the matter unresolved can lead to penalties, compliance problems and, in some cases, strike-off action.

Check Which Filing Is Overdue

Start by checking your company's Companies House record and identify exactly what has been missed.

Common overdue filings include:

• Confirmation statement

• Annual accounts

• Director or secretary changes

• Persons with Significant Control information

• Overseas company filings

• Overseas Entity update statements

The consequences depend on the type of filing.

File as Soon as Possible

If the deadline has already passed, submit the required document immediately rather than waiting for a warning or penalty notice.

For annual accounts, late filing penalties for a private company can range from £150 for up to one month late to £1,500 when more than six months late. The company may also face further enforcement if the accounts remain outstanding.

Confirmation statements have different consequences. Companies House can issue financial penalties and take steps to strike off a company that repeatedly fails to file its confirmation statement.

What If You Missed a Confirmation Statement?

A confirmation statement must be filed even when nothing about the company has changed.

If it is overdue, check the company's filing status and submit the confirmation statement as soon as possible. Companies House may issue a warning notice and, depending on the circumstances, further penalties can arise if the company continues to fail to comply.

Since February 2026, the digital confirmation statement filing fee is £50.

What If Your Accounts Are Late?

Late accounts can result in an automatic financial penalty.

For a private company, the current penalties are:

• Up to 1 month late - £150

• More than 1 month but not more than 3 months - £375

• More than 3 months but not more than 6 months - £750

• More than 6 months - £1,500

The safest approach is to file acceptable accounts immediately and deal with any penalty separately.

Can You Appeal a Late Filing Penalty?

For late accounts, an appeal may be possible where exceptional circumstances prevented the company from filing on time or Companies House made an error.

Simply forgetting the deadline, being unable to afford the penalty or relying on an accountant will generally not be enough on its own.

If the filing was late because of circumstances outside the company's control, keep evidence that supports the explanation.

What Happens If You Ignore the Deadline?

Continuing to ignore an overdue filing can make the situation considerably worse.

Companies House can take enforcement action and may begin the process of striking a company off the register. A company that is struck off can lose its legal status, and assets may be affected.

Directors can also face consequences for persistent non-compliance.

Missed Deadline for an Overseas Company

Overseas companies with UK establishments can have additional Companies House filing obligations.

If an overseas entity is registered on the Register of Overseas Entities, it must also submit an annual update statement. This must normally be filed within 14 days after the statement date. If it is late, it should be filed as soon as possible.

International businesses should therefore monitor both UK corporate filings and property-related reporting requirements.

Get Professional Help With an Overdue Filing

If you have missed a Companies House deadline and are unsure what needs to be filed, Fraser Bond can provide practical company administration and compliance support.

This can include reviewing the company's filing position, coordinating outstanding corporate documents, monitoring deadlines and working with accountants or other professional advisers where necessary.

Resolve Your Companies House Filing Issue

The best response to a missed Companies House deadline is prompt action. Identify the overdue filing, prepare the correct information and submit it as soon as possible rather than allowing the problem to continue.

Fraser Bond can support UK companies, overseas businesses and international property investors with practical corporate administration and compliance coordination.

Why Choose Fraser Bond?

Fraser Bond combines UK corporate administration with property and international business expertise. This provides a practical option for companies that need help bringing their Companies House records up to date and maintaining compliance going forward.