Companies House said it’s the directors’ responsibility to file a company’s account, and failure to do so could result in a criminal record, a fine or disqualification.
The department warned that for small companies, it is not possible to file abbreviated accounts anymore, but they can find their accounts filing options for small companies.
Small companies will also still need to file accounts if their company is dormant.
Online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week — and there are in-built checks to help avoid mistakes.
To file online, directors will need a company authentication code. If they need to request a new code, they should allow up to five days for this to arrive at the company’s registered office.
They should also note that paper accounts should only be sent if a company cannot file online. Accounts filed on paper need to be manually checked and can only be done so during office opening hours, and it can take over a week to process.
