How to Appeal a Companies House Penalty

Missing a filing deadline happens but when it does, Companies House won’t hesitate to issue a late filing penalty. Fortunately, if you have a valid reason for missing your deadline, you can appeal the fine.

This post  explains how to appeal a Companies House penalty, what counts as a reasonable excuse, and how to prevent future issues with your company accounts or confirmation statement.

Why Companies House Issues Penalties

Companies House issues late filing penalties to ensure that all UK companies meet their statutory filing obligations on time. Submitting annual accounts promptly helps maintain transparency in the public record and supports trust in the UK business environment.

Every UK limited company must file its annual accounts with Companies House no later than nine months after the end of its accounting year. This deadline applies whether or not the company has traded during the year.

If your company misses the deadline, a late filing penalty is applied automatically – there’s no grace period or reminder stage once the due date has passed. The longer the delay, the higher the fine.

Late Filing Penalty Scale for Private Limited Companies:

It’s worth noting that penalties double if your company files late two years in a row, which makes timely filing critical for avoiding unnecessary costs.

For full details, see the official Companies House guidance on late filing penalties.

When You Can Appeal a Companies House Penalty

You can only appeal a Companies House late filing penalty if you have a genuine and exceptional reason for missing the deadline. Simply forgetting, being busy, or misunderstanding the filing requirements will not be accepted as valid grounds for appeal.

Companies House considers appeals on a case-by-case basis, and you must demonstrate that the delay was genuinely beyond your control. Providing clear supporting evidence is essential to strengthen your case.

Examples of valid reasons for appeal include:

• Serious illness or bereavement: where a key director, accountant, or person responsible for filing was affected.
• Fire, flood, or theft: that resulted in the loss or destruction of company records.
• System failures: such as confirmed downtime or technical issues with the Companies House online filing service.
• Postal delays: proven to be outside your control, for instance due to postal strikes or severe weather disruption.
• Incorrect professional advice: from your accountant or directly from Companies House that led to the missed deadline.

Companies House applies a strict standard for appeals. You must be able to show that you took reasonable steps to meet the filing deadline and that the failure occurred despite your best efforts.

How to Appeal the Penalty – Step by Step

If you believe your company has a valid reason for missing the filing deadline, you can submit an appeal to Companies House asking for the late filing penalty to be cancelled or reduced. The process is straightforward but must be followed carefully, with full evidence provided.

Step 1: Prepare Your Appeal

Before you submit your appeal, gather all the necessary details and documentation. Your appeal should include:

• Company name and registration number
• Penalty reference number (found on the penalty notice from Companies House)
• A clear explanation of why you believe the penalty should be cancelled
• Supporting evidence such as:
  • Emails or letters showing you attempted to file on time
  • Medical certificates or hospital notes (if illness was a factor)
  • Police or insurance reports (in cases of fire, flood, or theft)
  • Screenshots or correspondence confirming a Companies House system issue

Providing specific and verifiable evidence significantly improves your chances of a successful appeal.

Step 2: Submit the Appeal

You can submit your appeal online using the official Companies House penalty appeal form, or by post to:

Fines Team
Companies House
PO Box 710
Crown Way
Cardiff
CF14 3UZ

Appeals should normally be submitted within 30 days of receiving your penalty notice. Late appeals are unlikely to be accepted unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Step 3: Wait for a Response

Companies House usually responds to appeals within four to six weeks. In some cases, they may contact you to request additional information before reaching a decision.

If your appeal is rejected, you can either:

• Pay the penalty to close the matter, or
• Escalate the issue by asking for a review by the Registrar of Companies, or in rare cases, taking the matter to the County Court if you believe the decision was procedurally unfair.