HMRC & Companies House Compliance
Never Miss Another Deadline. Never Face Another Penalty.
Missing compliance deadlines costs money and credibility. At Finwave Accountants in Birmingham, we take complete ownership of your HMRC and Companies House obligations, preparing and filing tax returns, annual accounts, VAT returns, and confirmation statements on time, every time. As Authorised Corporate Service Providers, we also conduct identity verification for directors and PSCs to Companies House standards. You'll never worry about penalties, late filing charges, or regulatory issues again.
Author and Technical Reviewer
Ussama Tiwana ACCA
Director Finwave Accountants
More details here
This page is reviewed regularly to ensure accuracy in line with UK laws and regulations. Last reviewed 18-Jan-2026
Our Compliance & Filing Services
Annual Accounts Preparation & Filing
We prepare full statutory accounts compliant with UK accounting standards and Companies House requirements, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, notes to accounts, and directors' reports. Accounts are filed electronically to Companies House well before your 9-month deadline, avoiding automatic penalties. We handle everything from bookkeeping completion through final submission, ensuring your accounts accurately reflect business performance while meeting all legal requirements.
Corporation Tax Returns
Complete corporation tax return (CT600) preparation and filing with HMRC within the 12-month deadline. We calculate your tax liability accurately, identify all allowable deductions and reliefs, claim capital allowances and R&D credits where applicable, and coordinate tax payment timing (due 9 months and 1 day after period end). Our systems track deadlines automatically, and we file early to avoid interest charges and late filing penalties that escalate from £100 to thousands for persistent non-compliance.
Confirmation Statements
Every UK company must file a confirmation statement at least annually, verifying that company details held by Companies House are accurate and current. We prepare and file your confirmation statement within the required timeframe, updating information about directors, shareholders, share capital, registered office, SIC codes, and People with Significant Control (PSCs). Directors and PSCs must now verify their identity with Companies House personal codes before filing, we guide you through this process ensuring smooth submission. Late filing can result in company strike-off and director prosecution.
VAT Returns & Filing
Quarterly or monthly VAT return preparation and submission to HMRC under Making Tax Digital requirements. We use MTD-compatible software, reconcile your sales and purchase VAT, identify allowable input VAT claims, handle complex scenarios including partial exemption and reverse charges, and submit returns electronically by deadline. We also advise on VAT scheme optimization (Flat Rate, Cash Accounting, Annual Accounting) and manage VAT registration, deregistration, and HMRC correspondence.
Self-Assessment Tax Returns
Personal tax return preparation and filing for company directors, sole traders, partners, and individuals with complex tax affairs. We gather income information from all sources, claim all allowable deductions and reliefs, calculate tax liability including payments on account, and file online by the 31st January deadline. We handle HMRC queries, amendments, and appeals if needed. For directors, we coordinate self-assessment with company tax planning to minimize overall tax burden. Late filing penalties start at £100 and escalate rapidly after three months.
Dormant Company Accounts
Even dormant companies must file annual accounts and confirmation statements with Companies House. We prepare simplified dormant accounts meeting all requirements at minimal cost, file them on time to avoid penalties and potential strike-off, and maintain your company's good standing for future reactivation. Dormant companies still face late filing penalties as active companies, so timely filing is essential even when not trading.
Identity Verification Services
As Authorised Corporate Service Providers, we conduct identity verification for company directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs) to Companies House standards. From 18 November 2025, all new and existing directors must verify their identity and obtain a Companies House personal code before filing company documents. We handle the verification process including checking government-issued ID documents, verifying addresses, conducting AML checks where required, and assisting with Companies House personal code applications. This ensures your filings proceed smoothly without rejection.
Deadline Management & Monitoring
We maintain a comprehensive deadline calendar for all your compliance obligations including annual accounts filing (9 months after year-end), corporation tax returns (12 months after year-end), corporation tax payment (9 months and 1 day after year-end), confirmation statements (annually), VAT returns (quarterly or monthly), self-assessment (31st January), and PAYE submissions (monthly or quarterly). You'll receive advance reminders, but more importantly, we file everything proactively without you needing to chase. No missed deadlines, no penalties, no stress.
What's Included
✓ Annual accounts preparation and Companies House filing
✓ Corporation tax return preparation and HMRC filing
✓ Confirmation statements preparation and filing
✓ VAT return preparation and submission
✓ Self-assessment tax returns for directors
✓ Dormant company accounts and filings
✓ Identity verification for directors and PSCs
✓ Comprehensive deadline tracking and monitoring
✓ HMRC and Companies House correspondence handling
✓ Penalty protection guarantee
Compliance & Filing Questions Answered
When are annual accounts due at Companies House?
For most UK limited companies, annual accounts must be filed 9 months after your financial year ends. For example, if your year-end is 31st March 2025, your accounts filing deadline is 31st December 2025. For newly incorporated companies, the first accounts deadline is 21 months from the date of incorporation. This extended first-year period gives new businesses more time to establish their accounting systems. However, it's still 9 months for all subsequent years. Missing the deadline triggers automatic penalties. We file accounts at least one month before deadlines, giving you time to review and ensuring no risk of penalties.
What are the penalties for late filing at Companies House?
Companies House imposes automatic penalties for late accounts filing: £150 if filed up to 1 month late, £375 if 1-3 months late, £750 if 3-6 months late, and £1,500 if more than 6 months late. These penalties double if accounts were also late the previous year. Additionally, persistent late filing can result in company strike-off from the register and potential prosecution of directors. These penalties are automatic—you cannot appeal unless exceptional circumstances apply (serious illness, natural disaster). Late filing also damages your company's credibility with banks, suppliers, and potential investors who check Companies House records. Gov.uk guidance here.
What is a confirmation statement and when is it due?
A confirmation statement is a Companies House filing that confirms your company's registered information is accurate and up-to-date. It includes registered office address, directors, company secretary, shareholders, share capital, SIC codes, and People with Significant Control (PSCs). Every UK company must file at least one confirmation statement every 12 months (you can file more frequently if you wish). The deadline is within 14 days after the end of your review period, which is calculated from either your incorporation date or your last confirmation statement. Filing costs £34 online or £62 by post. Unlike accounts, there's no automatic financial penalty for late confirmation statements, but Companies House may strike your company off the register for persistent non-compliance, and directors can be prosecuted. All directors and PSCs must now verify their identity and provide Companies House personal codes before filing. Gov.uk guidance here.
When is corporation tax due and when must I file the return?
Corporation tax payment is due 9 months and 1 day after your accounting period ends. For example, if your year-end is 31st March 2025, your corporation tax payment deadline is 1st January 2026. The corporation tax return (CT600) must be filed 12 months after the accounting period ends—in the same example, by 31st March 2026. Note these are different deadlines—you must pay tax before filing the return. Large companies (profits over £1.5 million) pay quarterly installments instead. Late payment incurs interest charges from the due date. Late filing penalties start at £100 for up to 3 months late, rising to £200 after 6 months. We coordinate payment and filing well before deadlines. HMRC guidance here.
Can I extend my Companies House filing deadline?
Companies House grants extensions only in exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances beyond your control such as serious illness, bereavement, fire, flood, or theft destroying records immediately before the deadline. You must apply before your normal filing deadline, and approval is not guaranteed, most applications are rejected. If approved, you typically receive only one additional month. Applications submitted after the deadline are automatically rejected and penalties apply immediately. We recommend simply filing on time rather than seeking extensions, with proper planning and early preparation, extensions are unnecessary.
Do dormant companies need to file accounts?
Yes, all UK limited companies must file annual accounts and confirmation statements with Companies House, even if dormant or not trading. A company is dormant for Companies House purposes if it has had no significant accounting transactions during the financial year. Significant transactions include any business income, expenses, or asset purchases (but not include £34 confirmation statement fees, penalties, or filing fees). Dormant companies can file simplified dormant accounts, which are much shorter and simpler than full accounts, but must still meet the filing deadline. The same 9-month deadline applies, and late dormant accounts incur the same automatic penalties (£150+) as active companies. Confirmation statements must also be filed annually regardless of dormant status. Many company owners mistakenly think dormant companies are exempt, they're not, and face strike-off if they don't file.
What happens if I miss the self-assessment deadline?
Missing the 31st January online self-assessment filing deadline triggers automatic penalties: £100 immediately after deadline, then £10 daily after 3 months (maximum £900), £300 or 5% of tax due (whichever is greater) after 6 months, and another £300 or 5% after 12 months. Interest accrues daily on unpaid tax from the original due date at HMRC's current rate. Paper returns have an earlier deadline (31st October) with the same penalty structure. If you have reasonable excuse (serious illness, bereavement, service failure affecting online filing immediately before deadline, or fire/flood destroying records), you can appeal penalties, but HMRC's definition of reasonable excuse is strict—being busy or not knowing about obligations doesn't qualify. If you've missed the deadline, file immediately to stop daily penalties accruing, pay what you can to reduce interest, and contact us to minimize penalties and negotiate time-to-pay arrangements if needed. HMRC guidance here.
How do I verify my identity for Companies House?
From 18 November 2025 all company directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs) must verify their identity with Companies House and obtain a Companies House personal code before filing most company documents. You can verify yourself online with GOV.UK One Login. Companies House verifies documents and issues a unique personal code which must be provided when filing confirmation statements, appointing new directors, or filing various company changes. As Authorised Corporate Service Providers, we can verify identity on your behalf, checking documents to Companies House standards and assisting with the personal code application. New directors must verify identity before appointment., while existing directors and PSCs have different dates and they can find out on their company details at Companies House website. Gov.uk guidance here.
What is Making Tax Digital and how does it affect my business?
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is HMRC's initiative requiring businesses to keep digital records and submit returns using MTD-compatible software. MTD for VAT is already mandatory for most VAT-registered businesses, you must use compatible software to keep digital VAT records and submit VAT returns. MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment affects sole traders and landlords with business/property income over £50,000 annually from April 2026. This requires quarterly submissions summarizing income and expenses, plus a final declaration. Compatible software includes popular accounting packages like Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, and FreeAgent. We use MTD compliant systems, ensuring automatic compliance with all MTD requirements. Non-compliant submissions are rejected.
Can I change my company year-end date?
Yes, you can change your accounting reference date (year-end) by notifying Companies House. You must notify Companies House before your current filing deadline for the change to affect that filing. You can shorten your accounting period by any duration as many times as needed, but you can only extend your financial year by up to 18 months once every five years. Changing year-end affects filing deadlines for annual accounts, corporation tax returns, and potentially VAT periods. For example, changing from 31st March to 30th April shifts your accounts deadline from 31st December to 31st January. Consider the impact on corporation tax—if your accounting period and tax period don't align, you may need multiple CT600 returns. We advise on optimal year-end timing based on your business cycle, cash flow, and tax planning needs, then handle all Companies House and HMRC notifications.
The content on this website is provided for general information only and does not constitute professional, financial, tax, or legal advice. No action should be taken or omitted based on this information without seeking appropriate professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances.
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Call: 0121 630 6307
Email: info@finwavefirm.co.uk