Accounts · CT600 · deadlines
Company filings, finally explained
Plain-English guides to your annual accounts and Company Tax Return — what's due, when, and exactly how to file it yourself.
Annual accounts
What Companies House needs, which size regime you fit, and how to file.
Read the guide →Company Tax Return
The CT600 explained in plain English — the deadline, the penalties, and the first-year quirk.
Read the guide →Deadlines & penalties
Every filing date that applies to you, and what lateness actually costs.
Read the guide →Start here
Not sure what applies to you?
If you run a standard limited company, you're on the main path — see company accounts and the Company Tax Return. Sole traders, community interest companies and charities file differently — find your organisation type below.
Sole traders
Not a company — nothing goes to Companies House. Here's what applies instead.
Read the guide →Community interest companies
A company with a community purpose — accounts, the CIC34, and corporation tax.
Read the guide →Charities
A different regulator — the Charity Commission, not Companies House.
Read the guide →Penalties, plainly
£150
— that's a day late on your accounts, and it stays there for the first month. Fixed, knowable costs; no mystery, no drama.
| How late | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 month | £150 |
| 1 to 3 months | £375 |
| 3 to 6 months | £750 |
| More than 6 months | £1,500 |
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Prefer to have an accountant file for you?
Doing it yourself means watching every deadline and second-guessing HMRC's rules — with a penalty waiting if anything slips. If you work with an accountant you trust, you can rest easy knowing it'll be done properly and on time.
Speak to an accountant