Compliance
Annual accounts & compliance: Two-Page Guide
Statutory accounts, corporation tax and Companies House filings, on time every time. What a limited company must file, when, and what is changing.
Looking for help with this? See our annual accounts and compliance service →
Current rates: see the business tax tables 2026/27, or work out your own figures with our tax calculators →
What every limited company must file
| Filing | Deadline | If it is late |
|---|---|---|
| Annual accounts (Companies House) | 9 months after the year end. First accounts: 21 months after incorporation | Automatic penalty of £150 to £1,500, doubled if late two years running |
| Corporation tax payment | 9 months and 1 day after the year end | Interest at Bank of England base rate plus 4% |
| Corporation tax return (CT600) | 12 months after the year end | £100, then a further £100 at 3 months, then tax-geared penalties |
| Confirmation statement | Within 14 days of the review date, at least every 12 months | An offence by the company and its directors; the company can be struck off |
VAT returns, payroll submissions and P11D benefit returns run to their own timetables. We keep all of them on one deadline calendar for you.
More than a legal formality
Your filed accounts are public. Banks, lenders, credit agencies, suppliers and customers all read them, and a late filing or a qualified set of accounts can affect your credit rating and borrowing terms.
Directors are personally responsible for keeping adequate accounting records and for approving accounts that give a true and fair view. HMRC expects records to be kept for at least six years.
Corporation tax in brief
Profits up to £50,000 are taxed at the 19% small profits rate and profits over £250,000 at the 25% main rate, with marginal relief in between. The limits are shared between associated companies, so a second company can push both into higher rates.
Changes to know about
| Change | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Identity verification | All directors and people with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House. Existing directors do so when the company files its next confirmation statement, and the transition period ends on 18 November 2026. As an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, we can verify identities for you. |
| Accounts filing reforms | Software-only filing, and a requirement for small and micro companies to file a profit and loss account, were due from April 2027. Companies House has postponed them and promised at least 21 months’ notice before they start. |
| Registered email address | Every company must give Companies House an appropriate email address for official correspondence. It is not shown on the public register. |
| Higher size thresholds | Raised for financial years starting on or after 6 April 2025, so more companies qualify as micro or small and can file simpler accounts. |
Your year-end checklist
- Bank accounts reconciled to statements at the year end
- List of unpaid sales invoices and supplier bills
- Stock and work in progress counted and valued
- Invoices for equipment and vehicles bought in the year
- Director’s loan account reviewed. An overdrawn balance not repaid within nine months of the year end triggers a temporary tax charge (section 455)
- Dividends supported by board minutes and vouchers
Planning point The year end is the last chance to act for that year: timing capital purchases, pension contributions, bonuses and dividends. Talk to us before the year end, not after.
How King Street can help
Accounts that arrive on time, and make sense
We take over your filings, keep every deadline in one calendar and walk you through the numbers each year. You deal directly with Doug Murphy or Stephen Thompson, not a rotating account team.
Email us about this guide 0161 835 23233rd Floor, 82 King Street, Manchester M2 4WQ
This guide is general information, not advice on your circumstances. Please speak to us before acting.
View as PDF
This guide can’t be shown on this page. Your browser may be blocking the viewer. You can still read it as a PDF: