Company Annual Return - reminder email - only 1 month to submit!

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

That might be if you're late once....but if you are late more then once, then you get a £100 fine...

Nope. Wrong I'm afraid.

[yetanotherbob]

And tbh, if you're late they only skelp your legs. I;ve never known anybody to get fined for late AR submission. Late Accounts, yes,but not the AR.

They give you a 28 day grace period if you miss the deadline after which it becomes a criminal offence for the director.

[sal626]

Nope. Wrong I'm afraid.

Happened to me....

missed deadline one year (years ago), and they sent me a reminder....filed late, no issue.

Missed it again following year...got reminder and a fine for 100. Called appealing/blaming the accountant.....no dice....had to pay the 100 for late filing.

[Contreras]

Happened to me....

missed deadline one year (years ago), and they sent me a reminder....filed late, no issue.

Missed it again following year...got reminder and a fine for 100. Called appealing/blaming the accountant.....no dice....had to pay the 100 for late filing.

OK, just to be clear...

Was this for late filing of Company Annual Return or something else (e.g. Company Accounts, or Employer Annual Return) ?

Was the £100 a court imposed fine, or a penalty imposed by Companies House or HMRC?

How long ago was this, roughly?

[sal626]

OK, just to be clear...

Was this for late filing of Company Annual Return or something else (e.g. Company Accounts, or Employer Annual Return) ?

Was the £100 a court imposed fine, or a penalty imposed by Companies House or HMRC?

How long ago was this, roughly?

Company Annual return to Companies house.
Penalty imposed by Companies house...

was about, I think, 5 years ago...

[psychocandy]

I agree if you're using a traditional high street accountant. But most online contractor accountants like us will include it so there's no hidden costs.

Anybody else with NW?

[Clare@InTouch]

The old accounts filing penalty was £100.

Can't say I've ever known anyone fined for late/non-submission of an annual return, Companies House simply threaten strike off action (and actually carry through with it eventually).

[ASB]

The CH guidance seems clear for the annual return:-

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/about/pdf/gp5.pdf

3. Are late filing penalties the same as fines imposed on company directors for non-filing of annual returns and accounts?

No. They are entirely different. Failure to file accounts or annual returns is a criminal offence which can result in directors being fined personally in the criminal courts. The registrar may also take steps to strike the company off the public record. Your company could receive a late filing penalty and as a director, you could incur a fine for the same set of accounts if you do not file them on time. Failure to pay a late filing penalty can result in enforcement proceedings.

I guess they could be issuing "pseudo penalties" in the form of "here's the deal, pay us £100 and we won't prosecute this year". A history of lateness is likely to make them much more aggressive.