Change your company’s year end
A company changes its year end (its accounting reference date) with form AA01. It can shorten the current or the previous year as often as it likes, but extend one only to 18 months at most, and only once in five years unless it lines up with a parent or subsidiary or is in administration. A year whose accounts are already overdue can’t be changed. Fileyear checks the rules, works out the new accounts and tax deadlines, and files the AA01.
- Prepared for you, checked by you
- Pay only when you’ve checked it
- Not HMRC or Companies House
How it works, start to finish
- The change happensA loan secured or repaid, a change of year end
- Fileyear prepares AA01The rules checked, the answers filled in
- You approveBefore the accounts for that year are due. Sent to Companies House through Fileyear, with your approval, using your company’s own logins
- Register updatedUsually within a few days
What’s included
Fileyear does
- The 18-month, five-year and overdue-accounts rules checked
- Your new accounts deadline, and the tax returns the new year needs
- Form AA01, filled in and checked
You do
- Choose the new year end
- Sent to Companies House through Fileyear, with your approval, using your company’s own logins
How it works
Choose the new date
For this year, or the year that has just ended.
See what changes
The new accounts deadline, and one or two tax returns.
Submit
Before the accounts for that year are due. No government fee.
The rules
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form | AA01 |
| Shortening | As often as you like |
| Extending | To 18 months at most, and once in five years |
| Exceptions to five years | Lining up with a UK parent or subsidiary, or administration |
| Too late | Not once the accounts for that year are overdue |
| Tax | A year over 12 months needs two Company Tax Returns |
| Government fee | None |
Questions directors ask
Why would I change my year end?
To line it up with the tax year, a busy season or a parent company, or to give yourself more time for the first accounts. Shortening it brings the accounts forward; extending it pushes them back.
What happens to my deadline?
Accounts are due 9 months after the new year end. A shortened year always gets at least 3 months from the day Companies House receives the change. Fileyear shows the exact date before you submit.
What about Corporation Tax?
A tax period can’t be longer than 12 months, so an extended year of up to 18 months needs two Company Tax Returns: the first 12 months, then the rest. Fileyear prepares both when you file the accounts.
Guides for this filing
Related filings
Change your company’s year end, prepared for you
Enter your company and Fileyear prepares it. You only pay once you’ve checked it.