How long do I have to file my accounts?

Approaching a company's first year-end can feel incredibly stressful, as there will be a lot of paperwork you need to file at this time.

In this article we provide you with a simple list of what you will need to do, along with a few tips to make the whole process easier for you. We finish with the penalties and deadlines for late filing.

The Partnership Statement (SA800(PS)) is used to record details of your earnings from sources other than trading and professional income indicated on your SA800 Partnership Tax Return.

Your first set of accounts is due 21 months after the date you registered with Companies House. Your accounts for the subsequent financial years are due nine months from your financial year end. Do note that if you change the accounting reference period, the filing time may be reduced.

Different deadlines apply for public companies.

PAYE

RTI late filing will incur a monthly penalty of £100, depending on the number of employees you have.

Self Assessment

A late filing penalty of £100 is imposed if your tax return is up to three months late. The penalty increases if you're later than three months, or if you pay your tax bill late. Additionally, interest will be charged on late payments.

VAT

You may be required to pay a surcharge if you submit a late return. Surcharges for late payments or VAT return filings are indicated on the HMRC website.

Corporation Tax

HMRC's penalties are as follows:

• 1 day late: £100
• 3 months late: An additional £100
• 6 months late: Your total corporation tax bill will be estimated, after which a penalty of 10% of unpaid tax will be imposed.
• 12 months late: An additional penalty of 10% of unpaid tax will be imposed.
  

Company accounts

The following penalties for private limited companies will be imposed if you fail to file your accounts with Companies House on time:

• Up to 1 month late: £150
• 1 - 3 months late: £375
• 3 - 6 months late: £750
• More than 6 months late: £1,500

As a contractor running your own limited company, you need to be aware of the following deadlines:

• File end of year accounts to Companies House: 9 months after your company year ends. If it is your first year, the due date will be 21 months from the date your company was incorporated.
• File your confirmation statement: This is due on the anniversary of incorporation each year
• File your corporation tax return: This is due 12 months from your company year end.
• Pay your corporation tax bill: Payment is due 9 months and 1 day after the end of the company year
• PAYE RTI (Real Time Information) Returns: A submission of your company payroll has to be submitted in real time each month to HMRC. This is due on or before the intended salary payment. Any tax due from this can be payable on a quarterly or monthly basis as follows:
• the 22nd of the next tax month if you pay monthly
• the 22nd after the end of the quarter if you pay quarterly
• VAT returns: Usually submitted on a quarterly basis, the company VAT is due to be filed and paid within 1 month and 7 days from the quarter end.
• Self Assessment tax returns: Your Self Assessment Tax Return is always due to be filed by the following 31st January after the end of the tax year. This date is also the same deadline for payment of any tax due but you may also have a payment on account due by 31st July after this.
• P11D: The submission of the company P11D will need to made by 6th July with any payment of National Insurance arising due by 19th July (22nd if paid electronically)

Tax season can be stressful for small business owners.

You don't have the convenience of having an employer filing for you. While there are all kinds of tips and strategies for managing your taxes, the first order of business is to get key deadlines noted on your schedule, and determine how and when to make your payment.

Here's what you need to know:

1. HMRC - Companies must register with HMRC to file online and obtain a user ID and password.

2. Companies House ‚- To file online companies must obtain an authentication code from Companies House

Alternatively, the accounts can be posted to Companies House.

As a limited company director, there are several important deadlines you need to be aware of. These are:

• File your Self Assessment tax return: 31st January 2022 for the 2020/2021 tax year
• Pay you Self Assessment tax: 31st January
• Registering for VAT: Register for VAT within 30 days of meeting the conditions for compulsory registration
• Filing and paying VAT returns: 1 month and 7 days after your VAT quarter end date
• Company accounts: First year accounts are due 21 months after incorporation. Subsequent accounts are due 9 months after the year end
• Corporation tax registration: You need to register within 3 months of trading commencing.
• File your corporation tax return: 12 months following the end of your accounting period
• Corporation tax payment: 9 months and 1 day following the end of your accounting period
• File your Confirmation Statement: You need to file a confirmation statement every 12 months, within 14 days after your confirmation date.

If you're paying salaries to employees or directors, you need to register for PAYE and pay your PAYE bill to HMRC.

• Monthly payments: Your PAYE bill is due on the 22nd of the next tax month.
• Quarterly payments: Your PAYE bill is due on the 22nd after the end of the quarter.
  

There are various ways to make your payment.

• Same or next day payments: online or telephone banking, CHAPS
• Payments processed in 3 working days: card payments (online), Bacs, cash or cheque payments at your bank or building society, Direct Debit, by cheque through the post
• Payments processed in 5 working days: Direct Debit (if it's the first time you're setting up a Direct Debit payment)

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You can change your company's year-end-otherwise known as the accounting reference date (ARD). Changes can be made to your current financial year or the year before.

Your company's financial year can be shortened as many times as you want, with the minimum duration you can shorten it by being one day. You can lengthen your company's financial year by up to 18 months once every five years. If other conditions apply, such as if your company is in administration, you'll be able to lengthen your financial year more often.

The first accounting year end date for a new company is the last day of the month in which the first anniversary falls on. For example, if your company was incorporated on 15 January 2021, the first accounting year end date will be 31 January 2022.

A year end refers to the end of a company's financial year. As such, the year-end accounts are a summary of a company's performance across the financial year, and will typically include a directors' report, balance sheet, profit and loss statement and explanatory notes. These financial statements and reports, along with the company tax return (CT600) must be filed with HMRC.