Can I appeal a Companies House late filing penalty?

Yes, you can appeal. But successful appeals typically require exceptional circumstances and evidence. Common reasons like forgetting the deadline or accountant delays are usually not accepted.

What evidence should I include in a penalty appeal?

Include evidence that supports exceptional circumstances (for example medical letters, insurance reports, evidence of a serious incident, or proof of postal issues). Keep it specific and attach documents where possible.

Should I still file the accounts if I plan to appeal?

Yes. File your accounts as soon as possible. An appeal is about the penalty; it does not remove the underlying filing obligation.

Where do I submit a Companies House penalty appeal?

Use the official Companies House online appeal service, or follow the instructions on your penalty notice. Always use official links and keep a copy of what you submit.

How long does a Companies House penalty appeal take?

It varies. You should submit your appeal as soon as possible and keep your evidence and references organised, so you can respond quickly if asked for more information.

Companies House Late Filing Penalty Appeal (2024/25) – Checklist + Template

1) Use official links (avoid scams)

Official appeal service (Companies House): appeal-a-penalty
Penalty amounts and rules (GOV.UK): penalties-for-late-filing

Note: we provide practical templates and checklists. We are software, not accountants.

2) Should you appeal? (30-second decision tree)

More likely to be considered

You have evidence for an exceptional event.

- Serious illness / bereavement (documented)
- Fire/flood/theft affecting records (insurance/police)
- Postal issues with proof

Usually rejected

These rarely succeed on their own.

- “I forgot” / didn’t know the deadline
- Accountant delay / admin mistakes (without exceptional evidence)
- “Company not trading”
- General IT issues

Do this first

File your accounts as soon as possible. The appeal is about the penalty, not your obligation to file.

Filing steps: How to file company accounts

3) Evidence checklist (attach what you can)

Situation	Evidence to attach	Tip
Serious illness / bereavement	Medical letter, hospital note, death certificate	State exact dates and impact on filing
Fire/flood/theft	Insurance report, police reference, photos	Explain which records were affected
Postal issues	Proof of posting, tracking, Royal Mail evidence	Include tracking numbers and dates
Other exceptional event	Any third-party proof (letters, reports)	Avoid vague statements without evidence

4) Copy-paste appeal template

Template (edit the placeholders)

Subject: Appeal against late filing penalty – [Company Name] ([Company Number]) – [Penalty Reference]

To Companies House,

I am writing to appeal the late filing penalty issued to [Company Name] ([Company Number]) for the accounting period ending [Year End Date]. The penalty reference is [Penalty Reference].

Summary (1–2 sentences):
[State the exceptional circumstances briefly and clearly.]

Timeline:
- Accounts due date: [Due date]
- What happened: [Date(s) + what occurred]
- When we were able to file: [Date filed]

Why this was exceptional:
[Explain why the event was outside your control, and how it directly prevented filing on time.]

Evidence attached:
1) [Document name / type]
2) [Document name / type]
3) [Document name / type]

Remedial action:
[Explain steps taken to prevent recurrence (reminders, process changes, using software/tools, etc.).]

Thank you for considering this appeal.

Yours faithfully,
[Name]
[Role]
[Email]
[Phone]