UK companies have set time periods in which they must prepare and file their annual statutory accounts.
The filing date applicable to an individual company would depend on its incorporation date and whether it is delivering its first accounts or those for a subsequent year of operation.
Filing Dates for First Accounting Periods
For first accounting reference periods, the company must delivery it accounts within twenty one months of its company formation date.
A company which was registered on 15th February 2007 with an accounting reference date of 28th February 2008 would be required to submit its statutory accounts by 12 AM on the 15th of November 2008.
The above only applies to private limited companies which are given three months more to file their accounts than the equivalent public entity.
For a public company set-up on the same date, it would have until 12 AM on the 15th September 2008 to prepare and make the submission.
Late filing penalties are incurred should either type of company fail to meet the stated deadline for delivery.
Filing Dates for Subsequent Accounting Years
Following the initial accounting period, private limited companies must delivery accounts ten months from the end of its accounting reference date.
Public companies have seven months because they are deemed to be of greater interest to society.
The definition of months used above does not mean full calendar months. A private company with an accounting reference date of 28 February must deliver its accounts by 12 AM 28th December and not by the 31st of December.
