Companies House filings: your accountant files, you answer

Key takeaways

Director responsibility for Companies House filing does not move when an accountant or company secretarial service files for you. Directors must make sure annual accounts, the confirmation statement and changes such as new directors are filed accurately and on time. Late accounts bring automatic penalties, and failing to file can be a criminal offence.

• Directors are responsible, whoever presses submit.
• Accounts are due 9 months after the year end for private companies.
• File a confirmation statement at least every 12 months.
• Check every filing before it is submitted.

Why are directors still responsible?

Because company law places filing duties on the company and its directors. An accountant acts as your agent; if they miss a deadline, the penalty is the company's. Directors also confirm that the information on the public register is correct, which matters to lenders, customers and suppliers who check it.

• Which business processes should you never outsource?
• Director duties: what you can delegate and what you cannot

Which filings matter most?

These come up for almost every small company.

• Annual accounts, 9 months after the year end.
• Confirmation statement, at least every 12 months.
• Changes of directors or registered office.
• Changes to people with significant control.
• Share allotments.

• Tax returns: your accountant files, you are responsible
• Investor relations: why founders keep the conversation

What does a late filing cost?

For private companies, late filing penalties for accounts start at £150 and rise to £1,500 the later they are, and double if accounts are late two years running. Persistent failure can lead to the company being struck off. Companies House rules are also changing, including identity verification, so check current guidance.

• Year-end preparation: get records ready for your accountant

What can be outsourced?

Preparing accounts, drafting the confirmation statement, tracking deadlines, gathering information on directors and shareholders, and submitting filings once approved. Directors review and approve each filing and keep the deadlines in their own diary.

• Keep the decision, outsource the admin around it
• Management accounts: outsource the pack, keep the review

What does this look like in practice?

A pattern we see: a change of director is never filed, and the public register is wrong for years. A simple rule that any change is logged with the provider within a week keeps the register right.

• See client work
• BPO Solutions for UK businesses

Companies House filing checklist

• Diary accounts and confirmation statement dates.
• Approve each filing before submission.
• Log director and shareholder changes within a week.
• Check the public register yearly.
• Keep Companies House authentication details secure.

• Right to work checks: can someone else do them for you?
• Letters from a regulator: who should reply?

Next step

Look up your company on Companies House today and check the directors, address and next due dates are correct.