On 26 June 2020 the Companies etc. (Filing Requirements) (Temporary Modifications) Regulations 2020 (the regulations) were signed into law, coming into force on 27 June 2020.
The measures introduced in the act have been designed to relieve the administrative burden on businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and allow them to focus all their efforts on continuing to operate.
Extensions have been granted in the following areas:
- Annual accounts
- Confirmation statements
- Event-driven filings (changes to your company or Directors/Partners)
- Charges
Annual accounts
Most companies or limited liability partnerships (LLPs) with a filing deadline falling between 27 June 2020 to 5 April 2021 (inclusive) will get an automatic 3-month extension to their filing deadline.
What If your company has already applied for an extension?
The extension granted by the regulations will apply to your company’s original filing deadline. It will not be added to the filing extension already granted by Companies House.
What if your company has shortened its accounting reference period?
Your company’s filing deadline will be extended to the later of the new period of 12 months from your company’s accounting reference date, or 3 months from the date of the notice to shorten your company’s accounting reference period.
What if your company has extended its accounting reference period?
Your company will be eligible for an extension if its filing deadline falls on or before 5 April 2021 and you had not previously applied for an extension.
What if this is your company’s first accounting period?
If your company’s first accounts cover a period of 12 months or less, then its filing deadline will be extended to 12 months following the period end.
If your company’s first accounts cover a period greater than 12 months, then its filing deadline will be 24 months from the date of incorporation.
Does this apply to next year’s accounts as well?
This is a temporary measure and any filing deadlines that fall on 6 April 2021 or later will not automatically extend.
Your company may however still be eligible for an extension if you need more time to file as a result of COVID-19 but this will need to be applied for and will be considered on a case by case basis.
What about the company’s tax position?
At present the taxation payments and filing deadlines remain unchanged.
Confirmation statements
The current 14-day deadline (from the end of your review period that the confirmation statement covers) will be extended to 42 days. This is an automatic extension for all filings between 27 June 2020 and 5 April 2021 (inclusive).
The extension applies to the time allowed to file the company’s confirmation statement at the end of your review period (the period that your confirmation statement covers). It does not alter the review period, so you should not amend the confirmation date on the company’s confirmation statement or change the return for changes occurring after the review period but before the revised deadline.
Event-driven filings
Additional time is also granted to file details of certain company events. This also increases to 42 days.
Charges
The current 21-day deadline to deliver particulars of a charge to Companies House will increase to 31 days.
For charges created on or after 6 June 2020, the period to deliver the particulars of a charge will automatically increase to 31 days. This 31 day-period will start the day after the date the charge was created.
How to check your new filing deadline
Companies House are updating their site in stages. But you can check the revised filing deadlines here https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/