Company change of year-end doesn't reflect on HMRC

Company change of year-end doesn't reflect on HMRC online system

Didn't find your answer?

I have a client whose year-end is 31st May 2016 however, as per the client request the company year-end has been shortened to 31st Aug 2015. As a result as per Companies house the accounts are now due by the end on January 2017. However, as per HMRC online system it still appears the deadline as 31st May 2017. Do I need to inform HMRC for the company change of accounting year-end? If not shall I just file the 2 tax returns on the commercial software and HMRC would update their record accordingly.

Replies (8)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

By petersaxton
10th Dec 2016 22:41

why two tax returns? what periods?

Thanks (0)
By johngroganjga
11th Dec 2016 05:53

HMRC don't find out about the change from Companies House. You don't need to inform them in advance of submitting the accounts to them. They will update their records when they see the accounts.

Presumably your two tax returns are to August 2015 and August 2016?

Thanks (0)
Replying to johngroganjga:
By Ruddles
11th Dec 2016 12:32

I suspect that the OP thinks, wrongly, that returns may be required to Aug 15 and May 16

Thanks (0)
RLI
By lionofludesch
11th Dec 2016 09:47

Assuming John has guessed right, yes, just file the returns to August 2015 and 2016. There should be a box to tick along the way saying the period's been shortened.

The August 2015 one is late.

Thanks (0)
By petersaxton
11th Dec 2016 10:44

why would you reduce an accounting period to 3 months?

Thanks (0)
avatar
By fkhan74695
12th Dec 2016 12:51

Thank you all for your replies.
This company has been formed on 7th May 2015 so the year-end per companies house was 31st May 2016. As per the client request the year-end has been shortened to 31st Aug 2015.
Now the first accounts deadline per Companies house is 17th Jan 2017 however, as far as the CT600 is concerned do you think we are late in filing it to HMRC as the new date doesn't reflect yet on the HMRC online system as John said it would reflect once we file it to HMRC?
In case we are late would it be better to change the year-end back to 31st May 2016.

Thanks

Thanks (0)
Replying to fkhan74695:
RLI
By lionofludesch
12th Dec 2016 13:34

Quote:

Thank you all for your replies.
This company has been formed on 7th May 2015 so the year-end per companies house was 31st May 2016. As per the client request the year-end has been shortened to 31st Aug 2015.
Now the first accounts deadline per Companies house is 17th Jan 2017 however, as far as the CT600 is concerned do you think we are late in filing it to HMRC as the new date doesn't reflect yet on the HMRC online system as John said it would reflect once we file it to HMRC?
In case we are late would it be better to change the year-end back to 31st May 2016.

Thanks

Jeez - we're economical with the facts here, aren't we ?

As far as CH goes, it looks like some eager beaver rushed in an altered the ARD on 17 October 2016, which would explain the 17 Jan filing date which, I take it is for the 2015 accounts. Really, you still have a month to prepare accounts covering three months - plenty of time, I would've thought - but, if not, shorten the AP by a day and buy yourself three months. That's three months from the day you make the change. Filing date for the 2016 accounts remains 31 May 2017.

For HMRC, afaIk, you're stuck with twelve months from the end of the AP. But - maybe the year end was changed because the trade started on 1 Sept 2015. If that's the case, and there was no trading in the short period, no return is required anyway.

Thanks (0)
By petersaxton
12th Dec 2016 13:10

"In case we are late would it be better to change the year-end back to 31st May 2016."

Impossible to say unless we know why the year end was changed in the first place. Don't you discuss things with your client?

Thanks (0)