Annual Returns

What exactly is meant by the term "annual return" when referring to a company?

Every single registered business in the country is obligated to submit a document known as an annual return. A snapshot of significant (non-financial) information regarding the firm's internal structure is required to be submitted by the business each year. This snapshot must be provided by the company.

Confirming the important corporate facts, such as the company's name and address, as well as the details of the company's directors, secretaries, and shareholders, is the objective of the annual return. This includes the company's name and address. It is a matter of public record that the names and contact information of all businesses that have registered with Companies House. The objective of the yearly return is to validate this information.

If you are a director or the secretary of a registered company, it is your responsibility to ensure that the annual return is correctly filled out and submitted to the government in line with all existing legal requirements. Failure to do so may result in the company being penalised or even shut down.

You can expect to find the following information contained in your annual return:

• The Name of the Registered Address of the Company (Head Office)
• Information pertaining to the corporate secretary, if that such a position exists.

If the company that you own has shares, you will also be required to submit something called a "statement of capital." This document includes information not only about the shares themselves but also about any shareholders that the company might have.

To comply with the requirements of Companies House, your annual return must be submitted on a yearly basis, as the name of the form indicates. You are obligated to send in at least one return per calendar year; however, you are free to send in your information whenever you like throughout the course of the year. You are obliged to send in at least one return per calendar year. If you need to make any changes to the information about your organisation that could possibly change the deadline, having this information on hand will be very beneficial. Filing your return with the most recent information will allow you to avoid having to push back the due date of your return. If there are any modifications, you are able to submit a new return, which will guarantee that Companies House has the information that is the most accurate and up-to-date possible.

Your first return must be submitted to Companies House within twenty-eight days of the date that marks the anniversary of the date your company was formed. This requirement is in place to ensure that deadlines are met. All subsequent tax returns are required to be filed within a period of 28 days, beginning on the day after the filing of the most recent return and ending on the day after that.

You have the option of submitting your annual returns either online or through the mail; but, the former way will allow you to keep the most money in your pocket. The filing of your annual return online will cost you thirteen pounds, which may be paid for with a credit card, a debit card, or through PayPal. You can file your return online.

Companies House will assess an extra cost to you in the amount of £40 if you choose to mail in your annual return rather than submitting it online. If you would like, your package can include a check (the reverse of which will be written with the registration number of your company), if you wish to do so.