If you are a company director, from the 1 October 2009 you can protect your home address from disclosure.

If you would like take advantage of this new concession you need to register a service address, which could be your registered office address, with Companies House. This can be done online www.companieshouse.gov.uk from the 1 October 2009. All clients can use our address as their registered office, although this is for Companies House and HMRC correspondence only and not for general business purposes.

If you take no action your home address will be taken as your service address until changed.

Just a quick reminder that other recent changes include:

1. You must be aged 16 or over to be appointed as a director.

2. You no longer have to appoint a company secretary, although you can do so if you wish.

3. You no longer need to hold an AGM unless you opt to do so.

Limited companies are required to file a copy of their accounts each year with Companies House. If you file even one day past the filing deadline you will be penalised. The late filing penalties which will be imposed from 1 February 2009 are increasing dramatically!

The new fines for private companies are:
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Not more than 1 month – £150 (presently £100)

More than 1 month but not more than 3 months – £375 (presently £100)

More than 3 months but not more than 6 months – £750 (presently £250)

More than 6 months – £1,500 (presently £500 between 6 to 12 months, £1,000 over one year)
The new fines for public companies are:
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Not more than 1 month – £750 (presently £500)

More than 1 month but not more than 3 months – £1,500 (presently £500)

More than 3 months but not more than 6 months – £3,000 (presently £1,000)

More than 6 months – £7,500 (presently £2,000 between 6 to 12 months, £5,000 over one year)
Additionally if you were late filing in the previous year (and the previous financial year had begun on or after 6 April 2008) the above fines are doubled.
The new fines also apply to flat management and dormant companies.

The message is clear. If you are responsible for the management of a limited company make sure you leave plenty of time to prepare and file accounts on time.
Filing deadlines
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Companies with accounting periods beginning on or after the 6 April 2008 should note the following changes to the filing deadlines with Companies House.

1. Private companies and LLPs – the delivery deadline has been reduced by one month from 10 to 9 months.

2. Public companies – the delivery deadline has been reduced by one month from 7 to 6 months.

Consequential changes include:

Full calendar months for filing periods have been introduced. Where the accounting period ends on a month end date the accounts filing period will end on a month end date. (Except for the first accounting period)
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Qualifying companies can still file abbreviated accounts.

If you are involved in the management of a limited company, you may like to make a note of the following changes which apply from 6 April 2008:

1. Filing Accounts
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For all private companies the filing deadline for delivery of accounts to Companies House has been reduced from 10 to 9 months. The change will apply to accounting periods beginning on or after 6 April 2008. For public companies the deadline is reduced from 7 to 6 months.

Qualifying companies will still be able to file Abbreviated Accounts.

2. Company Secretary
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For private companies only, the appointment of a company secretary becomes optional from 6 April 2008.

. the choice to continue with an existing appointed secretary is optional,
. if you decide to dispense with an existing company secretary after 6 April, you will need to advise Companies House using form 288b,
. you will not need to amend your Articles of Association unless there is a specific reference to a company having a secretary,

From the 6 April it will be possible to have a sole director and no company secretary.

Davies McLennon are Stockport Accountants