A1ExpressFile Your Dormant Accounts in Seconds
Simple, secure, and approved by Companies House. One flat fee per filing, from £8.99. No hidden costs.
3-minute filing
Our engine automates the complex forms. Just verify your details and submit.
Companies House approved
Approved Companies House filing software, your accounts are prepared to spec and filed direct to the source.
Transparent pricing
No subscriptions or recurring fees. Pay once per filing, with secure card processing.
Your questions, answered
The things people check before they file, in plain English.
What is a dormant company?
A company is dormant for Companies House if it had no "significant accounting transactions" during its accounting period, nothing that would need entering in its accounting records. Dormant companies stay on the public register, so they must still file dormant accounts every year and a confirmation statement. Being dormant for Companies House is not the same as being dormant for HMRC.
When are dormant accounts due?
Your first accounts are due 21 months after the date the company was registered with Companies House. After that, accounts are due 9 months after the last day of your accounting period, the date the accounts are made up to. Accounts must have reached Companies House by the due date, so don't leave filing to the last day.
What happens if I file late?
Companies House issues an automatic civil penalty against the company: £150 (up to 1 month late), £375 (1–3 months), £750 (3–6 months), £1,500 (over 6 months), doubled if accounts are late two years in a row. Separately, failing to file is a criminal offence for the directors (s451 Companies Act 2006), who can be personally prosecuted and fined, and Companies House can strike the company off the register.
What do I need to file dormant accounts online?
Three things: your company number (we look the company up on the register for you), your 6-character Companies House authentication code, and the name of the director (or LLP member) approving the balance sheet. Payment is £8.99 for a limited company (£19.99 for an LLP), and you don't need to create an account.
What is the Companies House authentication code, and how do I get one?
It's a 6-character code of letters and numbers that acts as the company's electronic signature: filings can't be submitted online without it. If you don't have one, request it free from Companies House; it's posted to the company's registered office and typically arrives within 5–10 working days. A1Express uses your code once, for the submission you approve, and never stores it.
Is dormant for Companies House the same as dormant for HMRC?
No, they're separate bodies with different definitions. Companies House cares about significant accounting transactions; HMRC cares about whether the company is active for Corporation Tax (trading, investing, earning interest, employing anyone). A company can be dormant for one and not the other. Filing dormant accounts with Companies House does not tell HMRC anything. You notify HMRC separately.