Late filing penalty calculator
Companies House charges automatic penalties when annual accounts are filed late. Enter how many days overdue you are and we’ll show exactly what the penalty is.
How Companies House late filing penalties work
Penalties are automatic — there is no discretion, no grace period, and no warning beyond the standard reminder letters. The amount is fixed by statute and depends on three things: whether your company is private or public, how many days late the accounts are, and whether you were late filing last year as well.
The penalty bands (private companies)
| How late | Penalty | Doubled if late two years running |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 month | £150 | £300 |
| 1 to 3 months | £375 | £750 |
| 3 to 6 months | £750 | £1,500 |
| More than 6 months | £1,500 | £3,000 |
Public companies (PLCs) pay 5× more — but very few dormant companies are PLCs.
What if I’m about to file?
The penalty is set by the date Companies House receives your accounts, not the date you started filing. If you file today and the system accepts it tomorrow, you’ll still be charged based on today’s band. See our guide on late filing penalties for the full mechanics, or read how to catch up on overdue dormant filings if you’re behind on multiple years.
Can the penalty be appealed?
Yes, but only on narrow grounds — death of a director, fire, flood, or a Companies House systems failure. “I forgot” or “I didn’t know” are not accepted. Most appeals fail.
Never see another penalty
DormantFile reminds you 90, 30, 14, 7, 3 and 1 day before every dormant filing deadline — and then files for you. From £19/year.
Avoid future penalties