How to appeal a Companies House late filing penalty
You can appeal a late filing penalty, but only in limited circumstances. Here is how the appeal works and what counts.
If you have been charged a late filing penalty, you can appeal, but Companies House only cancels penalties in exceptional circumstances. Knowing what counts saves you time.
What counts as a reason
Appeals succeed only where something genuinely beyond your control stopped you filing on time, such as a serious illness or a fire or flood that destroyed your records. Being too busy, not knowing the deadline, or relying on someone else are not usually accepted.
How to appeal
You appeal online or in writing, explaining what happened and including any evidence, such as a medical note or insurance report. You should still file the overdue accounts as soon as possible, because the penalty stands until they are filed.
The better protection
Because successful appeals are rare, the safest approach is not to be late in the first place. A tool that tracks your deadline and lets you file quickly is the simplest protection.