Accounts and tax returns for private limited companies
Overview
After the end of its financial year, your private limited company must prepare:
- full (‘statutory’) annual accounts
- a Company Tax Return
You need your accounts and tax return to meet deadlines for filing with Companies House and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
You can also use them to work out how much Corporation Tax to pay.
| Action | Deadline |
|---|---|
| File first accounts with Companies House | 21 months after the date you registered with Companies House |
| File annual accounts with Companies House | 9 months after your company’s financial year ends |
| Pay Corporation Tax or tell HMRC that your limited company does not owe any | 9 months and 1 day after your ‘accounting period’ for Corporation Tax ends |
| File a Company Tax Return | 12 months after your accounting period for Corporation Tax ends |
Your accounting period for Corporation Tax is the time covered by your Company Tax Return. It’s normally the same 12 months as the company financial year covered by your annual accounts.
Filing your accounts and tax return
You can file with Companies House and HMRC together or separately.
You must take additional steps:
- at the end of your company’s first year
- if you restart a dormant company
There are penalties for filing late with Companies House and HMRC.