Top reasons why Companies House rejects paper accounts
Companies House rejects almost 100,000 sets of paper filed accounts each year. Many of which are due to simple errors or omissions, but the impact on the company or LLP can be severe. If the accounts are submitted close to the filing deadline and subsequently rejected, an automatic late filing penalty will be issued if the accounts are not returned before the filing deadline.
If you want to avoid your accounts being rejected, file them electronically and get it right first time...
Most companies can file their accounts online through specialist accounts software or via our WebFiling service – watch our Video Demonstrations to see just how quick and easy it is.
If you must file on paper, you can avoid rejection by considering the following information when preparing your accounts. You may also find our accounts checklist useful too.
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Rejection: Company name or number is incorrect or absent
One of the main reasons accounts are rejected is because the company name or number are absent, incorrect, incomplete or inconsistent. The company name and registration number provided throughout the document must be consistent and exactly match that which is held on Companies House records.
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Rejection: Duplicate made up date
We receive a high number of duplicate accounts i.e. accounts with the same made up date as a set of accounts that has previously been filed for that company. Any duplicate accounts which are received will be rejected. Any amending/revised accounts received must be marked ‘amending’ or ‘revised’ as appropriate. You can check your ‘accounting reference date’ and ‘next accounts due date’ using our WebCHeck service or our Mobile App.
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Rejection: Signatory name or signature missing from the Balance Sheet
A director, or designated member for an LLP, must sign at the foot of the balance sheet after any statements given. Every balance sheet and Directors report must also state the name of the person who signed on behalf of the board.
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Rejection: Printed name missing from Director’s Report
The director or secretary that has signed on behalf of the board must provide their printed name (signature not required) on the Director’s Report.
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Rejection: Accounting Reference Date / Made Up Date absent or incorrect
A significant proportion of rejections are where the made up date is absent or the date does not match the accounting reference date. If you wish to prepare accounts with a made up date more than 7 days either side of your accounting reference date you must file a form AA01 (or LL AA01 for LLPs) to change your accounting reference date. This form must be received before the filing deadline for the specified period has passed.
The date provided throughout the accounts must be consistent. If you use a previous set of accounts as a template, please check all necessary dates are correct.
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Rejection: Incorrect Statements to the Accounts
Changes to legislation in recent years have seen considerable numbers of accounts being rejected for containing incorrect statements. The date an accounting period starts and the status of a company or LLP determine which statements should be provided.
Details of the various statements can be viewed at exemption statements.
The information above is intended to simply highlight the common reasons why paper filed accounts are rejected. Please also refer to the relevant accounts guidance for companies (GP2) or LLPs (GPLLP2).
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The best way to avoid rejection is to file your accounts online
Online filing is the quickest and most secure way to file, with inbuilt checks to eradicate the reject reasons above. Our WebFiling service also provides automatic email acknowledgements, so you have the piece of mind your accounts have been received and accepted.
You can submit audit exempt abbreviated, audit exempt full accounts or dormant company accounts online using our WebFiling service. Or, submit iXBRL format accounts for Audit exempt full; small abbreviated accounts; dormant accounts and audited individual full accounts using our Software Service, for which third party software is required.
Please note that online filing of accounts is not yet available for:
• small companies who wish to file abbreviated accounts with a special audit report
• medium sized companies taking disclosure exemptions
• Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
• Community Interest Companies (CICs)
• Companies preparing IFRS accounts
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