What limited companies need to send to companies house

   

When setting up, and running a UK company, company directors and the company secretary are responsible for sending information to Companies House, to ensure that the Registry is up-to-date. This may include changes in company details, or submission of accounts.

Although there are literally hundreds of forms which may at some time or another be submitted to Companies House, the key ones are listed below - updated in line with the final implementation of the Companies Act 2006.

1. Company Accounts

All limited companies, whether trading or not, must keep accounting records and file accounts for each accounting period with Companies House. Directors are personally responsible for ensuring that accounts are delivered, and can be penalised if the annual accounts are delivered late.

The Companies House booklet, 'Accounts and Accounting Reference Dates', provides more information on preparing and filing accounts and about exemptions from filing.

Accounts must be produced to a standard that can be scanned to reproduce electronically.

2. Annual Returns (Form AR01)

An annual return is a snapshot of company information giving details of its directors and secretary, registered office address, shareholders and share capital.

Companies House will send a pre-printed 'shuttle' annual return form to the company's registered address each year. It details the information already held on its database.

The details should be checked, signed off and returned within 28 days with a small fee. These days, most companies submit their annual returns online - see our dedicated article on Annual Returns.

The old Form 363 was replaced by Form AR01 from 1st October 2009.

3. Change of accounting reference date (Form AA01)

Every company has an accounting reference date, which is the date to which the company's accounts are prepared each year. This date can be changed using Form AA01.

This Form replaces the old Form 225 from 1st October 2009.

4. Change of registered office (Form AD01)

Every company must have a registered office: it is the 'home' of the company to which all official documents, notices and court papers have to be sent by law. The address must be a physical location, not just a post office box.

You can change your registered office address by submitting Form AD01 to Companies House. Please note that any change becomes legally effective only when Companies House have acknowledged receipt of the form.

This Form replaces the old Form 287 from 1st October 2009.

5. Change of directors and secretary and their details

The old Forms 288(a,b,c) have been replaced by a series of more meaningfully-named Forms, as a result of the main implementation of Companies Act 2006, effective from 1st October 2009.

AP01 - Appointment of Director

AP02 - Appointment of Corporate Director

AP03 - Appointment of Secretary

AP04 - Appointment of Corporate Secretary

TM01 - Terminating appointment as Director

TM02 - Terminating appointment as Secretary

CH01 - Change of particulars for Director

CH02 - Change of particulars for Corporate Director

CH03 - Change of particulars for Secretary

CH04 - Change of particulars for Corporate Secretary

You can find out more about the most commonly used Forms, and how to submit information online, at the Companies House site.