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Hi,

I have a client , its their first year of trading and the accounts according to companies house should be filed today 27/11/2013, as the company was first registered 27/02/2012.

I have today logged onto companies house via the authentication code and changed the accounting ref to 05/04/2013. It appears  that the reference date has changed, but it still says the next accounts are due on the 27/11/2013

Accounting Reference Date: 05/04
Last Accounts Made Up To:  (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due: 27/11/2013
Last Return Made Up To27/03/2013
Next Return Due: 24/04/2014 

Are the accounts due today or not?

No answer via the phone to get confirmation.

Can anyone advise?

Replies (18)

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By pauld
27th Nov 2013 12:23

may be correct

I think there is a maximum period for which the first accounts must be filed irrespective of accounting year end, possibly 21 months.

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By ccassociates
27th Nov 2013 12:34

Yes

The accounts are due today, 9 months after the first anniversary of incorporation, extending the AR does not change that.

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By Rachael-SimplifiedAccounting
27th Nov 2013 12:34

Give them time ...

Have you had a confirmation email from Companies House to say that the change in accounting reference date has been accepted? From recollection, it can take up to 2 days for the change to be processed.

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By Jaydee UKBF
27th Nov 2013 12:37

You get no time-extension if you extend the first year's accounts - but counter-intuitively you do if you shorten.

So, you must have extended from 28/2/13 to 5/4/13 for the screen shot to be as it is - had you shortened instead you would have had longer to file (but perhaps then the CT600 would be late instead).

If you do not mind what the year-end is, shortening today to 31/1/13 will mean that your first filing deadline will be the CT600 on 31/1/14.

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Replying to Paul Scholes:
Euan's picture
By Euan MacLennan
27th Nov 2013 13:21

Work around

What part of ...

Jaydee UKBF wrote:

If you do not mind what the year-end is, shortening today to 31/1/13 will mean that your first filing deadline will be the CT600 on 31/1/14.

and

Euan MacLennan wrote:

Why don't you now try shortening the period to (say) 31 March 2013?  You might then get the benefit of s.442(4)(b) with the filing date being set to 27 February 2014.

[EDIT]  Sorry!  The first accounting period would need to be less than 12 months, so shorten it today to 31 December 2012 or 31 January 2013 and the filing date will become 3 months from today, 27 February 2014.

... did you not understand?

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Replying to Wanderer:
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By Kirkers
27th Nov 2013 14:29

Too late?

Euan MacLennan wrote:

What part of ...

Jaydee UKBF wrote:

If you do not mind what the year-end is, shortening today to 31/1/13 will mean that your first filing deadline will be the CT600 on 31/1/14.

and

Euan MacLennan wrote:

Why don't you now try shortening the period to (say) 31 March 2013?  You might then get the benefit of s.442(4)(b) with the filing date being set to 27 February 2014.

[EDIT]  Sorry!  The first accounting period would need to be less than 12 months, so shorten it today to 31 December 2012 or 31 January 2013 and the filing date will become 3 months from today, 27 February 2014.

... did you not understand?


Euan, I thought you could only change it once every 5 years? Might be wrong but I'm sure I've read something similar.
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Replying to bernard michael:
Euan's picture
By Euan MacLennan
27th Nov 2013 14:34

Not too late

Kirkers wrote:

Euan, I thought you could only change it once every 5 years? Might be wrong but I'm sure I've read something similar.
 

You can only extend the accounting period once every 5 years in accordance with s.392(3) CA 2006, but you can shorten it as often as you like - and this would be the first such shortening for the new company.

Well!  It will not be too late if the OP does it by midnight today!

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Replying to Moonbeam:
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By Kirkers
27th Nov 2013 14:56

Every day is a school day, especially as a student!

Euan MacLennan wrote:

Kirkers wrote:

Euan, I thought you could only change it once every 5 years? Might be wrong but I'm sure I've read something similar.
 

You can only extend the accounting period once every 5 years in accordance with s.392(3) CA 2006, but you can shorten it as often as you like - and this would be the first such shortening for the new company.

Well!  It will not be too late if the OP does it by midnight today!


Thanks! Learn something new every day.
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Euan's picture
By Euan MacLennan
27th Nov 2013 12:57

It is the law

... as set out in s.442(3)(a) Companies Act 2006.

Why don't you now try shortening the period to (say) 31 March 2013?  You might then get the benefit of s.442(4)(b) with the filing date being set to 27 February 2014.

[EDIT]  Sorry!  The first accounting period would need to be less than 12 months, so shorten it today to 31 December 2012 or 31 January 2013 and the filing date will become 3 months from today, 27 February 2014.

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By rjoconnor81
27th Nov 2013 12:41

First Period Accounts

The filing date for first period accounts is slightly different to the following periods.  They must be filed 21 months after incorporation and extending the year end does not change this.

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By SunilA
27th Nov 2013 13:00

Work around

Hi,

Any work  around  suggestions?

 

Kind regards

SA

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Stepurhan
By stepurhan
27th Nov 2013 13:21

File the accounts?

Bit of a facetious suggestion I know, but why have you hit the deadline like this?

The 21 months from incorporation is not a new requirement for first accounts. The year end would have been 28/2/2013, almost 9 months ago, giving ample time to get the accounts done. If the fault is the client's then inform them their tardiness is going to cost them a penalty. If the fault is yours then agree to clear the penalty. Just make sure you don't miss the 27/12/2013 deadline, as the fine will go up then.

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By SunilA
27th Nov 2013 15:27

Hi,

 

Would this work even though, I extended it to the 05/04/2013 today?

 

and now change it to 31/12/2012 today?

 

Thanks

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By Jaydee UKBF
27th Nov 2013 15:58

Would this work

Absolutely - if you do it today.

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Euan's picture
By Euan MacLennan
27th Nov 2013 17:14

Try it - now!

What have you got to lose?  Make sure that you don't try to be too clever - you have to set the date to before 26th February 2013.

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By SunilA
28th Nov 2013 09:15

Companies House

Hi,

Thanks everyone it worked.

Shortened the period to 31/12/12, accounts now due 27/02/2014.

 

Kind regards

SA

 

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By Nadine
28th Nov 2013 09:33

Just as an aside, I trust you discussed this lengthening and shortening of the accounting period with your client and haven't just done this to avoid penalties????

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By SunilA
28th Nov 2013 09:45

Companies House

Absolutely

 

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