All limited companies must file their accounts with the Registrar of Companies each year. In the case of private limited company and limited liability partnership (LLP) they must normally file the accounts within ten months after the accounting year end. Public limited companies have a shorter period and must normally lodge their accounts with the Registrar within seven months of after the accounting year end.
However, the Companies Act 2006 has changed the period allowed for filing accounts. The filing period for limited company and limited liability partnership accounts are nine months after the end of the accounting period end and for public limited company, they have to file their accounts within six months after the accounting year end. Both filing periods have been reduced by one month. These changes apply to companies with accounting periods beginning on or after 6 April 2008.
The filing periods for first accounts for private company and LLP, are now 21 months whereas for a public company is 18 months.
Once the accounts are filed with Companies House, they are on public record and can be inspected by anyone for the payment of a small fee. The companies accounts are available for downloads from Companies House website at £1 per document.
There are, however, exemptions for small company and medium sized companies which are able to send in abbreviated accounts which put less information on public record.
Canterbury Accountancy - Providing solutions to businesses
