Limited company deadlines: a guide for contractors | PayStream

Missing one can result in penalties, interest and unnecessary correspondence from HMRC or Companies House . In some cases, continued failure to meet your obligations can lead to more serious consequences for both your company and you as the director.

The good news is that, with the right support and a little forward planning, staying on top of your company's deadlines doesn't need to be complicated.

Here are some of the key deadlines limited company contractors and business owners should be aware of.

Annual accounts deadline for Companies House

Your limited company will normally need to prepare annual accounts and file them with Companies House.

These accounts report on the financial position and performance of your company for its financial year, including information about its income, expenses, assets and liabilities.

For an established private limited company, the normal Companies House deadline for filing annual accounts is nine months after the end of the company's financial year.

For example, if your company's financial year ends on 31 March, the normal filing deadline will be 31 December.

Different rules apply to a company's first accounts, so it’s particularly important for new company directors to check the company's specific deadline rather than assuming the standard nine-month period applies.

What happens if your limited company accounts are late?

Companies House will automatically issue a late filing penalty when accounts are filed after the deadline. The penalty increases depending on how late the accounts are, and penalties can be doubled where accounts are filed late in two successive financial years.

Corporation Tax payment deadline

Once your limited company's taxable profit has been calculated, you’ll know how much Corporation Tax is due.

For most contractor limited companies, Corporation Tax will normally need to be paid nine months and one day after the end of the Corporation Tax accounting period.

For example, if your accounting period ends on 31 March, the Corporation Tax payment will normally be due by 1 January of the following year.

One important thing to remember is that your Corporation Tax payment is normally due before your Company Tax Return. Even if your company doesn’t have any Corporation Tax to pay, you may still have filing obligations. Don't assume that no tax no bill means no action is required.

Paying Corporation Tax late can result in HMRC charging interest on the outstanding amount.

Corporation Tax Return deadline 

Your limited company's Corporation Tax Return, commonly referred to as the CT600, is submitted to HMRC.

The return contains details of the company's taxable profits, Corporation Tax calculation and other relevant tax information and is submitted together with the required supporting information.

The normal deadline for submitting the Corporation Tax Return is 12 months after the end of the relevant accounting period.

For a limited company contractor with an accounting period ending on 31 March, the key dates would normally be:

• 31 March – accounting period ends

• 1 January – Corporation Tax payment due

• 31 March – Corporation Tax Return due

One of the most common areas of confusion is assuming that the tax doesn't need to be paid until the return is filed. In reality, the Corporation Tax payment deadline comes around three months before the filing deadline.

Confirmation statement deadline

Your confirmation statement is different from your annual accounts.
It's used to confirm that the information Companies House holds about your limited company is accurate and up to date.
Depending on your company’s circumstances, this can include information about its:

• registered office;

• directors;

• shareholders;

• people with significant control;

• share capital; and

• principal business activities.

Companies generally need to provide a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months, and the statement must be filed within the applicable filing period following the end of the review period.

Don't ignore your confirmation statement simply because nothing has changed. A confirmation statement is still required even where the information held by Companies House remains correct.

VAT returns and payments

If your limited company is VAT registered, you'll normally need to submit VAT Returns throughout the year. Most businesses submit VAT Returns every three months, although different arrangements can apply.

Your VAT Return and VAT payment will normally be due one calendar month and seven days after the end of the VAT accounting period. So, if your VAT quarter ends on 31 March, the return and payment would normally be due by 7 May.

VAT is an area where good cash-flow management is particularly important. The money collected from customers as VAT isn't additional company income and businesses should ensure sufficient funds are available when the payment falls due.

If you're concerned that your limited company won’t be able to pay its VAT liability, don't ignore the deadline. Seek advice as early as possible.

PAYE and payroll deadlines

If your limited company operates a Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme, there are several payroll-related responsibilities to consider.

When you pay yourself as a director or another employee, payroll information generally needs to be reported to HMRC through a Full Payment Submission (FPS) on or before the date they’re paid.

Where PAYE tax and National Insurance are due, payment will normally be due quarterly. The tax quarters end on 5 April, 5 July, 5 October and 5 of January each year, with electronic payments normally needing to reach HMRC by the 22nd of the month after the end of the quarter.

Different arrangements can apply depending on the circumstances, including where an employer is required to make monthly rather than quarterly payments.

Payroll isn't therefore something that should only be considered at the company's year-end. It creates ongoing reporting responsibilities throughout the year.

P11D deadline for benefits and expenses

If your limited company provides you or your employees with certain taxable benefits, additional reporting may be required.

Depending on the circumstances, taxable benefits can include things such as company cars, private medical insurance and other benefits provided by the company.

Where a P11D is required, the normal deadline is 6 July following the end of the relevant tax year.

Any Class 1A National Insurance due on taxable benefits generally need to be paid by 22 July when paying electronically, or 19 July if paying by cheque.

Not every director will require a P11D, but you should make sure you understand whether benefits provided by your company create a reporting obligation. Some directors choose to payroll benefits so they are reported in real time and taxes paid on an ongoing basis.

Self Assessment deadline for your personal tax obligation

Self Assessment is a personal tax obligation, rather than a limited company filing requirement, but it is particularly relevant to many contractors who operate through their own limited company.

Importantly, being a company director does not, by itself, automatically mean that you must submit a Self Assessment Tax Return. Whether you need to submit one depends on your personal tax circumstances and whether HMRC requires a return.

If you do need to complete a Self Assessment Tax Return, the main online filing deadline is normally 31 January following the end of the relevant tax year. Any tax due under Self Assessment will also normally need to be paid by 31 January.

For example, for the tax year ending 5 April 2027, the normal online filing and payment deadline would be 31 January 2028.

Depending on your circumstances, you may also have to make payments on account, with payments normally falling due on:

• 31 January, and

• 31 July.

If you're new to Self Assessment, there can also be an earlier requirement to notify HMRC that you need to complete a return. Don't wait until the following January before considering whether you need to register.

Companies House changes during the year

Not everything can wait until your annual accounts or confirmation statement.

Certain changes to your company need to be reported to Companies House when they happen.

This can include changes to matters such as:

• directors;

• registered office;

• company officers;

• share structure; and

• people with significant control.

The deadline will depend on what’s changed, so it's important to tell your accountant promptly when something significant changes within your company.

Don't leave your limited company accounts until the deadline

One of the easiest mistakes to make is to think of a filing deadline as the date you need to start dealing with something. It isn't.

Your accountant may need information from you well in advance to prepare the relevant accounts or return, ask questions, make any necessary adjustments and obtain your approval before submission.

Providing information early also gives you greater visibility of upcoming tax liabilities and more time to make sure funds are available.

This can be particularly useful if you’ve had an unusual year. For example, you may have:

• Changed contracts

• Had a period between contracts

• Stopped or restarted trading

• Bought significant equipment

• Taken larger dividends

• Made other changes to the business.

What if your company isn't currently trading?

Having no current trade or contract doesn't necessarily remove your company's obligations.

If your limited company remains active, you may still have Companies House and HMRC responsibilities even if you haven't raised an invoice for several months.

Similarly, moving into an umbrella role doesn't automatically close your limited company or remove its filing requirements.

If your circumstances have changed, speak to your accountant rather than simply leaving the company unattended. You may have several options depending on whether you expect to use the company again.

How we can help with your limited company accounting

Running a limited company means keeping track of multiple deadlines throughout the year. We know that’s probably not the part of business or contracting you want to spend your time thinking about.

We help limited company contractors and business owners with their ongoing accounting and tax responsibilities, from annual accounts and Corporation Tax to VAT, payroll and wider tax support.

If you're already a PayStream accountancy client, make sure you keep us informed of any significant changes to your business and provide requested information promptly so that we can keep your affairs on track.

And if you're managing your limited company accounting yourself or considering changing accountants, get in touch with a member of our team to find out how our accountancy service can help take the pressure out of managing your company's accounting and tax obligations.