How to apply for more time to file your annual accounts with Companies House?
As of 27th June 2020, the Companies etc. (Filing Requirements) (Temporary Modifications) Regulations 2020 (“the regulations”) Act kicked in and through this, companies enjoyed a 10-month extension before when they were required to submit financial documents such as accounts and confirmation statements.
How to seek an extension to file AFS with Companies House:
This Act sought to ease the administrative burden that companies were likely to face during the social-distancing and lockdown norms of the pandemic and make way for them to instead focus on seamless business operations.
Now that the bulk of the restrictions have been eased and the UK is tip-toeing back to the new normal, the deadline for the end of the extension loomed large too, ending on 5th April 2021.
From then, filing periods will bounce back to normal times and any charges created from 6th April will need to be filed as usual in the Companies House – within 21 days.
If you are among the few who was and is still not prepared to comply with the regulatory requirements, don’t fret! If your filing deadline falls after 5th April 2021, you can apply for a three-month extension to file your accounts! Here is a detailed account of how you can leverage this advantage.
When
If you cite issues around COVID-19 and its impact o your business, your application will most likely be granted an extension. However, check of you are eligible for an extension as you are allowed a maximum filing period of only 12 months.
How
In order to extend your accounts filing deadline, you will need to apply online. Email applications are not accepted.
For the online application, you will need:
- your company number
- justification about reason for requesting more time
- Optional submission of supporting documents
What’s Next?
Once you have submitted your application, the request is reviewed internally. You will be contacted through email about the status of your application and if you are required to submit more information.
If your application to extend your deadline is successful, you should file your accounts within the new deadline. If not, you will have to pay a late filing penalty. Another point to note is that this extension granted, will not affect or modify your account deadline dates in the future.
You will still need to keep track of those and stick to those deadlines as usual.
You may receive a letter from Companies House with a detail list of your outstanding accounts. This means they are taking time to process your application because of the pandemic.
If you still have any questions or concerns you can always get in touch with us and we at DataTracks can help you navigate through the rules. You can contact us at enquiry@datatracks.co.uk
DataTracks is a global compliance reporting software service company with over 14 years of experience assisting over 15,000 enterprises globally. Recognized by HMRC for CT600 in iXBRL and MTD, DataTracks is compliant with ISAE 3402, SSAE 18, and ISO 27001 standards. The company’s iXBRL tagging services ensure accurate and compliant financial statements for filing with regulatory bodies.