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Yes—but you must apply to Companies House before your accounts filing deadline. An extension is for an exceptional event outside your company’s control, not an ordinary grace period. A request alone does not change the deadline, so keep preparing the accounts and try to file by the original date.
When is it too late to apply?
The cutoff is the company’s existing filing deadline. Companies House says you must apply for an extension—or file the accounts—before that deadline. Once the deadline has passed, this extension route is no longer available and late-filing penalties may apply.
Check the actual deadline for your company rather than relying on a general rule. For subsequent accounts, the usual statutory period is nine months after the end of the accounting reference period for a private company and six months for a public company. First accounts and some changed accounting reference dates have different rules. You can check a company’s deadline using the Companies House company search.
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Accounts must be delivered and accepted by the deadline; posting them on the last day is not enough. A deadline falling on a Sunday or bank holiday still applies, and accounts rejected after a last-minute submission do not receive extra time. See Companies House guidance on filing annual accounts for the timing rules.
What reasons can justify more time?
Companies House considers requests where an exceptional event outside the company’s control prevented it from filing on time. Its examples include unexpected illness and a fire that destroys company records shortly before the deadline. These are examples, not guarantees of approval; the guidance does not provide a complete eligibility checklist.
An application should explain what happened, how it stopped the company filing, and how much more time is needed. An ordinary delay or a request made simply for convenience is not the exceptional circumstance described in the guidance.
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How to apply for an extension
Apply online
- Open the official Companies House service to apply for more time to file your accounts.
- Have the company number and an email address ready.
- Explain the event fully, why it prevented timely filing, and how much extra time you need. You can add supporting documents if relevant; the online form makes these optional.
- Submit the request before the existing filing deadline. Companies House estimates the online application takes up to 15 minutes.
Apply by post
GOV.UK also describes applying by letter. Explain what happened and how much extra time you need, then write to Companies House, Crown Way, Cardiff, CF14 3UZ. The online service is the direct application route; the guidance does not establish email as a way to make the initial application.
What happens while Companies House reviews the request?
Companies House emails its decision and may ask for more information. Keep the accounts work moving and file by the original deadline if possible. A pending request is not approval: Companies House may still send a reminder letter while it is considering the application.
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If the application is approved, the new date applies to this accounts filing only. Deliver acceptable accounts by that date. The extension does not move future accounts deadlines, and Companies House says an extension may not be available if the deadline has already been extended. Under section 442 of the Companies Act 2006, the resulting filing period cannot exceed 12 months after the end of the relevant accounting reference period. The rules for first accounts and altered accounting reference dates can differ, so check the applicable due date rather than applying the usual six- or nine-month period automatically.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What if the accounts are late?
Companies House says late-filing penalties are automatic. Its guidance, updated 16 January 2026, sets the following penalties by company type and how late the accounts arrive:
| How late | Private company | Public company |
|---|---|---|
| Up to one month | £150 | £750 |
| More than one month, up to three months | £375 | £1,500 |
| More than three months, up to six months | £750 | £3,000 |
| More than six months | £1,500 | £7,500 |
These are company penalties, not an application fee. For both private and public companies, the penalty doubles if accounts are late in two successive financial years. Check the current Companies House late-filing penalty guidance for the latest amounts and rules.
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