The measures introduced by the Regulations aim to relieve the burden on businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak and allow them to focus all their efforts on continuing to operate rather than their annual filing requirements.

Extension to accounts filing deadlines from 27 June 2020

Public Limited Company: extended from 6 to 9 months

Private Company: extended from 9 to 12 months

LLP:  extended from 9 to 12 months

For example, a private company with an accounting reference date of 31 January 2020 would have to had filed accounts by 30 September 2020 and this is extended to 31 January 2021.

The extension granted by the Regulations will apply to a company's original filing deadline. It will not be added to a filing extension already granted by Companies House.

Companies House have stressed that this is a temporary measure and filing deadlines which fall on or after 6 April 2021 will not automatically be extended. Therefore, if a private limited company's accounting reference date is after 6 July 2020, its deadline for filing the 2020 accounts will not automatically be extended.

Confirmation statement

The current 14 day deadline will be extended to 42 days and will apply to all companies and LLPs. This is a temporary measure it will not apply where the confirmation statement is due after 6 April 2021.

Mortgage charges

For charges created on or after 6 June 2020, the period to deliver the particulars of a charge will automatically increase to 31 days (previously 21 days). This 31 day period will start the day after the date the charge was created.

Event driven filings

Extensions have also been granted to certain event driven filings. In particular, this includes any changes you’re required to file to update your company's record before you file your confirmation statement.

The period allowed to deliver details of the event will increase to 42 days.