Part of our complete guide to Self Assessment.
Two separate filings, two separate deadlines
Every limited company has two distinct annual obligations to Companies House, not HMRC, that are easy to confuse: the confirmation statement and the annual accounts. They're unrelated in purpose and run on different clocks.
Confirmation statement
A short administrative filing confirming your company's registered details, directors, shareholders, registered office, people with significant control, are still accurate, or flagging what's changed. It's due every 12 months, based on your company's "confirmation date" (usually the anniversary of incorporation or your last statement), with a 14-day window to file after that date.
Annual accounts
Your full statutory financial statements, generally due 9 months after your company's accounting reference date (usually the anniversary of incorporation unless you've changed it), with a longer 21-month window for a company's very first accounts.
Verify before relying on this: the 9-month and 21-month figures are general knowledge in this article, not freshly re-confirmed against gov.uk at the time of writing. Check your exact dates with us or directly with Companies House.
Why these dates aren't your tax year
Both deadlines are pegged to company-specific dates (incorporation date, accounting reference date), not the UK tax year (6 April to 5 April) and not your Corporation Tax payment deadline, see our note on corporation tax rates and deadlines. Three separate clocks, each needing separate tracking, is exactly why this catches directors managing their own admin off guard.
What happens if you miss them
- Late accounts attract automatic, escalating financial penalties that increase the longer they stay outstanding
- Persistent non-filing of either can ultimately lead to Companies House striking the company off the register, with serious consequences for the business and its directors
Let us track these for you. Book a free consultation, our limited company accounts service tracks both deadlines as standard, so neither slips past you.
Frequently asked questions
What is a confirmation statement?
An annual confirmation to Companies House that your company's registered details (directors, shareholders, registered address, etc.) are still accurate, or an update if they've changed. It is due every 12 months from incorporation or the last statement.
When are annual accounts due at Companies House?
Generally 9 months after your company's accounting reference date, with a longer 21-month window for a company's very first set of accounts. Verify your exact date with us or Companies House directly, as this is a general rule with exceptions.
Are confirmation statements and annual accounts the same thing?
No, they are completely separate filings with separate deadlines. A confirmation statement is a short administrative check on company details, annual accounts are the full financial statements.
What happens if I miss either deadline?
Late accounts attract automatic, escalating financial penalties. Missing deadlines for either filing for an extended period can ultimately lead to Companies House striking the company off the register.