# Companies House accounts filing deadline calculator

Source: https://www.statutoryaccounts.io/tools/filing-deadline-calculator/

Last reviewed: 28 October 2026

Enter the company's accounting period and type to see the date its accounts are due at Companies House. A private company has 9 months after the end of its accounting reference period and a public company 6 months. The calculator also applies the rules for a first period longer than 12 months and for a shortened period.

## Key facts

| | |
| --- | --- |
| Private company (and LLP) | 9 months after the end of the accounting reference period (Companies Act 2006, s442) |
| Public company | 6 months after the end of the period |
| First period longer than 12 months | The later of 21 months from incorporation (18 for a public company) and 3 months after the period ends |
| Period shortened by notice | The later of the normal deadline and 3 months from the date of the notice |
| Counting months | To the corresponding date; from a month end to the last day of the target month (Companies Act 2006, s443) |
| Weekends and bank holidays | No extra time |
| Filing method from 1 April 2028 | Commercial software only, in iXBRL |

As at 25 October 2026.

## Work out the deadline

Enter the period and select Work out the deadline.

## Worked examples

The first three examples are the ones Companies House gives in its guidance on preparing and filing accounts; the fourth applies the rule for a shortened period.

| Situation | Deadline |
| --- | --- |
| Private company, accounting reference date 4 April 2026 | 4 January 2027 |
| Private company, accounting reference date 30 April 2026 (a month end) | 31 January 2027 |
| Incorporated 1 January 2025, first accounting reference date 31 January 2026 (13 months) | 1 October 2026: 21 months from incorporation is later than 30 April 2026 |
| Period 1 January to 30 June 2026, shortened by a notice given on 15 February 2027 | 15 May 2027: three months from the notice is later than 31 March 2027 |

## How the calculator decides

- It adds 9 months (private company) or 6 months (public company) to the last day of the period. Whether a company is public or private is judged immediately before the end of the period.
- If you tick the first period and the period is longer than 12 months, it works out both 9 months from the first anniversary of incorporation (21 months in total; 6 and 18 months for a public company) and 3 months after the period ends, and takes the later date.
- If you tick a shortened period, it also works out 3 months from the date of the notice and takes the later of that and the normal deadline.
- It counts months as the Companies Act does: a period ending on 4 April is due on 4 January; one ending on the last day of a month is due on the last day of the target month; a date that does not exist in the target month, such as 30 February, becomes the last day of that month.

## Assumptions and limits

- The register comes first. The company's page on the Companies House register shows when the next accounts are due. If it differs from this result, check the dates you entered and any change of accounting reference date.
- Extensions are not included. Companies House may extend the deadline for a special reason if the company applies before it expires; the extended deadline cannot be more than 12 months after the end of the period (Companies Act 2006, s442(5)).
- Delivery means received. Accounts count as delivered when Companies House receives acceptable accounts. Rejected accounts do not stop the clock, so leave time to correct and resubmit.
- Maximum length. An accounting reference period, including an extended one, cannot be longer than 18 months; the calculator refuses a longer period.
- It does not cover overseas companies or the separate deadlines for the Corporation Tax return; use the [CT600 deadline calculator](https://www.statutoryaccounts.io/tools/ct600-deadline-calculator/) for those.

## Filing late, and filing from 2028

If the accounts arrive after the deadline, Companies House charges a late filing penalty: for a private company £150 up to one month late, rising to £1,500 after six months, and double that when the previous year's accounts were late too. Work out the amount with the [late filing penalty calculator](https://www.statutoryaccounts.io/tools/late-filing-penalty-calculator/). Late filing is also a criminal offence by the directors.

From 1 April 2028 every company must file its accounts with commercial software, in iXBRL; the web and paper services close for accounts. On 23 October 2026 Companies House confirmed that date and said that small companies may still file abridged or filleted accounts. The deadlines themselves do not change.

## Frequently asked questions

**Is the deadline later if it falls on a weekend or bank holiday?**
No. Companies House gives no extra time when the deadline is a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday, so file before it.

**When are a new company's first accounts due?**
If the first period is longer than 12 months, the later of 21 months after incorporation and 3 months after the period ends. If it is 12 months or shorter, 9 months after it ends.

**Can I get more time to file my accounts?**
Companies House can extend the deadline for a special reason if you apply before it passes. The extended deadline cannot be more than 12 months after the end of the period.

**Does shortening the year end give more time?**
It can. After a period is shortened by notice, the accounts are due by the later of the normal deadline for the new period and three months from the date of the notice.

**Is the Corporation Tax return due at the same time?**
No. The CT600 is normally due 12 months after the end of the accounting period, and the tax is usually payable 9 months and 1 day after it.

## Sources

- [Companies Act 2006, section 391](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/391)
- [Companies Act 2006, section 392](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/392)
- [Companies Act 2006, section 442](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/442)
- [Companies Act 2006, section 443](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/443)
- [Companies Act 2006, section 453](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/453)
- [Companies House: preparing and filing Companies House accounts](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/filing-your-companies-house-accounts/life-of-a-company-part-1-accounts)
- [Companies House: update to accounts filing from April 2028 (23 October 2026)](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/companies-house-update-to-accounts-filing-from-april-2028)
- [Companies House: using software to file your company's information](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-software-to-file-your-companys-information)

## Related pages

- [When are a new company's first accounts due?](https://www.statutoryaccounts.io/guides/first-accounts-deadline/)
- [Accounting reference date (ARD)](https://www.statutoryaccounts.io/glossary/accounting-reference-date/)
- [Tools and templates](https://www.statutoryaccounts.io/tools/)
- [Companies House filing](https://www.statutoryaccounts.io/guides/companies-house-filing/)
- [Company size calculator](https://www.statutoryaccounts.io/tools/company-size-calculator/)
- [First accounts deadline calculator](https://www.statutoryaccounts.io/tools/first-accounts-deadline-calculator/)
- [Late filing penalty calculator](https://www.statutoryaccounts.io/tools/late-filing-penalty-calculator/)
- [Corporation Tax and marginal relief calculator](https://www.statutoryaccounts.io/tools/corporation-tax-calculator/)