Guide · updated 28 September 2026

Accounts overdue on Companies House: what it means

"Accounts overdue" on a Companies House profile means the company has missed its deadline for filing its annual accounts. It is one of the most useful public warning signs there is, and it is easy to check.

The filing deadlines

Every UK company must file accounts for each financial year. A private company normally has 9 months from the end of its financial year; a public company has 6 months. A company's first accounts are usually due 21 months after incorporation. The deadline is shown on the company's profile as "next accounts due".

What happens when a company files late

Companies House issues an automatic late-filing penalty. For a private company it is £150 up to one month late, £375 up to three months, £750 up to six months and £1,500 beyond that, doubling if accounts were also late the previous year. If accounts stay missing, Companies House can begin compulsory strike-off, which removes the company from the register altogether.

Why it matters if you trade with the company

Filing accounts is a legal duty and one of the cheapest things a company does. When it slips, the reasons are often ones you'd want to know: the finance function is overstretched, the accountant won't sign off the figures, or the directors would rather not publish them. None of these proves a company is failing, but overdue accounts appear often enough before insolvency that they are worth acting on.

What to do if a customer's accounts are overdue

Check whether anything else has changed: new charges, directors leaving, or a strike-off notice. See the warning signs.
Look at how they pay you. A late filer that also pays late is a much stronger warning than one that pays on time.
Consider tightening terms: shorter credit, smaller orders, or payment in advance until the accounts appear.
Ask them. There is sometimes an ordinary explanation, such as a change of accountant or year-end.

The confirmation statement

Separately from accounts, every company must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months, confirming its details are correct, with 14 days' grace after each review period. An overdue confirmation statement is a lesser but similar signal.

RiskDiver flags overdue accounts and confirmation statements automatically for every company you monitor, and the company pages show each company's next deadlines.

Common questions

When are a private company's accounts due?

Normally 9 months after the end of its financial year. A company's first accounts are usually due 21 months after it was incorporated.

What is the penalty for filing accounts late?

For a private company it rises with lateness: £150 up to 1 month late, £375 up to 3 months, £750 up to 6 months and £1,500 after that. Penalties double if accounts are late two years running.

Can overdue accounts lead to a company being struck off?

Yes. Persistent failure to file can lead Companies House to start compulsory strike-off, which removes the company from the register.

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General information, not legal or financial advice.