Every limited company has to prepare annual accounts, and most also have to file a Corporation Tax return. The work is much quicker, and the bill usually lower, when your records are ready before your accountant starts.
This post covers the deadlines, what we need from you, and a few things to think about before your year end.
The deadlines
For a private limited company, counting from the end of the financial year:
Pay Corporation Tax: 9 months and 1 day after the year end
File accounts at Companies House: 9 months after the year end
File the Company Tax Return with HMRC: 12 months after the year end
Your first accounts are usually due 21 months after the company was registered. A Corporation Tax accounting period can't be longer than 12 months, and it usually starts when the company starts trading, which may be later than the date it was registered. So first accounts covering more than 12 months may need two tax returns. The Corporation Tax dates run from the end of the accounting period, which is usually the same as the financial year. Large companies pay Corporation Tax in instalments instead.
Late accounts at Companies House get an automatic penalty, starting at £150 and rising to £1,500 if more than six months late. It doubles if your accounts are late two years in a row. HMRC late filing penalties for Corporation Tax returns also doubled from April 2026.
What we need from you
Bank statements for every business account, up to the year end
Sales and purchase records, including any invoices still unpaid at the year end, both ways
Equipment and vehicles bought or sold in the year, with invoices
Loans and finance agreements, with year-end balances
Director's loan account: anything paid personally for the business, and anything the company paid for you
Dividends paid in the year, with the paperwork
Payroll and pension reports
VAT returns for the year, if you are registered
Stock on hand at the year end, if you hold stock
If you keep your records in bookkeeping software, much of this is already there. We just need access and answers to a few questions.
Before your year end
Some decisions only help if they are made before the year end. Talk to us a month or two beforehand about:
Equipment purchases. The timing affects which year you get the tax relief in.
Pension contributions paid by the company for you.
Your director's loan account, if it is overdrawn.
Dividends, and whether the company has enough profits available to pay them.
Companies House changes from April 2028
Companies House confirmed on 23 October 2026 what changes from April 2028:
All companies must file accounts using accounting software. Filing accounts on paper or through the Companies House website will end. Other filings, such as the confirmation statement, can still be made on the website.
Abridged accounts stay. Small companies can still file abridged accounts.
Profit and loss accounts stay private. Small companies can still leave the profit and loss account out of the accounts they file. The plan to make them file it has been paused.
Some smaller changes include a stronger statement for companies claiming audit exemption, and limits on how often a company can shorten its accounting year.
If we file your accounts, we will deal with this for you.
Summary
Your company's accounts are due at Companies House 9 months after the year end, and Corporation Tax is payable a day later. Getting your records to us early, and talking to us before the year end, gives time to plan and avoids penalties.
If you would like us to prepare your company's accounts, book a call or contact us.