Free tool
Companies House late filing penalty calculator
Enter your accounts deadline and the date you filed (or expect to file) to see the penalty Companies House will charge, including the doubling rule for a second late year. The same estimator also covers late Corporation Tax returns, VAT and Self Assessment.
Penalty estimator
Pick what was late, enter the dates and see an itemised estimate.
Your estimate appears here
Each penalty and any interest is listed separately, with how it’s worked out.
Official guidance
This is an estimate, not a bill. HMRC and Companies House decide the actual amount, and appeals, reasonable excuses, time to pay arrangements and part payments can change it. Interest uses HMRC’s late payment rate, currently 7.75% a year from 9 January 2026 (Bank Rate plus 4%), with earlier rates applied to earlier days. Rates last checked 10 October 2026. If you use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, different Self Assessment penalties apply.
Estimates only. Companies House and HMRC decide the actual amounts; appeals, time-to-pay arrangements and part payments are not modelled.
How the penalty is worked out
Companies House charges an automatic civil penalty when annual accounts arrive after the filing deadline. The amount depends only on how late the accounts are and whether the company is private or public. Private companies usually have 9 months from their accounting reference date to file; the exact date is on the company's public record. Source: GOV.UK late filing penalties.
| How late the accounts are | Private company or LLP | Public company |
|---|---|---|
| Not more than 1 month | £150 | £750 |
| More than 1 month, up to 3 months | £375 | £1,500 |
| More than 3 months, up to 6 months | £750 | £3,000 |
| More than 6 months | £1,500 | £7,500 |
Doubling rule: the penalty is doubled if accounts were also filed late in the previous financial year.
If you have already missed the deadline
- Not late yet? If the deadline has not passed and something exceptional has happened, you can apply to extend the filing deadline — but only before the date.
- File now. The penalty rises at each band, so a filing today is cheaper than one next month. Filing online is faster than paper and gets a same-day acknowledgement.
- Check next year's date. A second late year doubles the penalty. Generate your company's deadlines and add them to your calendar.
- Pay or appeal. Pay the penalty notice when it arrives, or appeal only if something genuinely exceptional stopped you filing. Read what happens if you miss your Companies House accounts deadline for the full picture, including strike-off risk.
- Do not forget the confirmation statement. It has its own deadline and its own consequences, explained in the confirmation statement guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Companies House late filing penalty?
For a private company or LLP the penalty is £150 if the accounts are not more than 1 month late, £375 if more than 1 month and up to 3 months late, £750 if more than 3 months and up to 6 months late, and £1,500 if more than 6 months late. Public companies pay £750 to £7,500 on the same bands.
Does the penalty double if I was late last year?
Yes. If your accounts were also filed late in the previous financial year, the penalty for the current year is doubled. A private company more than 6 months late two years running pays £3,000.
Can I appeal a Companies House late filing penalty?
You can appeal if you have exceptional circumstances, for example a serious illness or a disaster that prevented filing. Companies House rarely accepts reasons such as the accounts being delayed by your accountant, not knowing the deadline, or being a dormant company. Appeal in writing and keep filing while it is considered.
What happens if I still do not file?
The penalty is a civil debt, so Companies House can pursue it through the courts and it is recorded against the company. Directors can be prosecuted for not filing, and Companies House may start the process of striking the company off the register.
Is the Companies House penalty the same as the Corporation Tax penalty?
No. They are separate regimes. Companies House penalises late accounts; HMRC separately penalises a late Company Tax Return (CT600) starting at £100, and charges interest on late Corporation Tax. The estimator on this page covers all three.