What To Do If You Receive a Late Filing Penalty from Companies House – And How FTG Can Help

What To Do If You Receive a Late Filing Penalty from Companies House – And How FTG Can Help

It’s never a welcome surprise – that letter from Companies House notifying you of a late filing penalty because your company’s year-end accounts weren’t submitted on time. Whether it slipped through the cracks or there were delays getting the right information together, the result is the same: a financial penalty, stress, and often confusion over what to do next.

At File Tax Go, we regularly help business owners who’ve found themselves in this situation. Here’s a quick guide on what to do if you’ve received a late filing penalty – and how we can support you every step of the way.What Is a Late Filing Penalty?
Companies House requires all limited companies to file their annual accounts by a specific deadline – typically nine months after the company’s year-end. If you miss that deadline, you’ll receive an automatic penalty starting at £150 and increasing the longer you delay:

These penalties apply even if your company is dormant or not trading – the filing obligation still stands.

Step 1: Don’t Panic – But Act

Quickly
It can be tempting to ignore the letter and hope it resolves itself. Unfortunately, that will only make matters worse. In addition to increasing penalties, persistent non-compliance can result in your company being struck off the Companies House register or directors facing prosecution in serious cases.

Take the notice seriously and respond quickly.

Step 2: Submit Your Accounts ASAP

The first priority is to get your accounts submitted to stop further penalties from accumulating. If you’re unsure what’s missing, or you don’t have an accountant in place, FTG can step in immediately to help prepare and file your accounts.
We offer fast-track filing services to get your company back on track – often within 48–72 hours depending on the complexity.

Step 3: Consider Appealing (If You Have a Valid Reason)

Companies House only accepts appeals for exceptional circumstances, such as:

• Serious illness
• Bereavement
• Fire, theft or flood
• Software or filing issues (with evidence)

If you think you have a legitimate reason for missing the deadline, we can help you draft and submit an appeal, giving you the best chance of success. But bear in mind: most appeals are rejected, so it’s important to manage expectations.

Step 4: Prevent It From Happening Again
Once you’ve dealt with the immediate issue, we’ll help you put systems in place to avoid future penalties. This might include:

• Automated deadline reminders
• Monthly or quarterly bookkeeping
• Annual accounts planning
• Cloud accounting software setup

We aim to make compliance easy, affordable, and stress-free – especially for small businesses and sole directors.

How FTG Can Help You Today
At File Tax Go, we specialise in helping limited company owners stay compliant without the fuss. Whether you’re already facing a penalty or just want to avoid one, our services are built around simplicity, speed and support.

Here’s how we can assist:
  Prepare and file late accounts quickly
  Communicate with Companies House on your behalf
  Draft a penalty appeal (if applicable)
  Offer ongoing support to prevent future issues
  Transparent pricing and no hidden fees

Don’t Wait – Let’s Get You Back on Track

If you've received a late filing penalty or are at risk of missing your filing deadline, get in touch with us today. The sooner you act, the more options we have to help – and the less costly it could be.

Visit us at www.filetaxngo.co.uk
 

Or contact us directly to speak with one of our expert advisors

FTG – Fast, Friendly Filing for Limited Companies