Dormant Companies - Companies House - Company Formation

The return dates for new incorporations is normally one year after the company has been formed.

As previously stated dormant entities have to compile and send their statutory accounts to the Registrar. The accounts should be made up to the businesses accounting reference date which is normally the last day of the month in which the company was formed. For example, if incorporation took place on the 25 April, the accounting reference date would be 30 April each year.

The company can elect to alter the date by completing and sending  form 225 to Companies House. This must be done whilst the particular accounting period which the directors want to be changed is still running. It can not be changed once the period is over.

A Company may wish to change its accounting reference date because of any of the following reasons:

• To be line with a parent or subsidiary company
• To enable the year end to fall during a quieter trading period
• so that it matches the fiscal year
• To be in line with the company's competitors

Late filing penalties apply if a dormant company fails to met the statutory accounts filing deadline. There is usually very little recourse to dispute penalties which are imposed and Companies House would actively seek to recover fines which it has imposed. It is strongly advisable that reminders are set so as to ensure that ccounts filing deadlines are not missed. Where an accountant is employed to carry out the preparation of accounts for the company, it is usual for them to inform the directors and secretary when submission dates are approaching.

It should be borne in mind that it is still the directors responsibility (not the accountants) to meet the filing date.



Do call us if you would like further help or advice on this subject.

• Dormant company home
• What is a dormant company?
• Dormant companies and Companies House I
• Dormant companies and Companies House II
• Accounts and audit exemption I
• Accounts and audit exemption II