It is essential that you keep your company's statutory records up-to-date. Do not underestimate the importance of these records - they are definitive proof of the company's legal existence and its members, and include:
Register of members
Register of directors
Register of directors' residential addresses
Register of mortgages and charges
Register of debentures
Minutes of board meetings
Minutes of general meetings
Directors service contracts
Annual returns and accounts
A company's accounts and annual return must be filed annually with the Registrar of Companies. Non-compliance will render the company liable to dissolution with liabilities subsequent to the dissolution being the responsibility of the directors.
Penalties
The Companies Act 2006 provides for the Registrar of Companies to charge penalties and fines, including:
£150-£15,000 penalty for late filing of accounts (the amount depends on the status of the company and the degree of lateness)
£5,000 maximum fine for failure to submit accounts
£5,000 maximum fine for failure to file the annual return
£5,000 maximum fine for failure to notify any changes of officer, etc.
How we can help
As part of our service to client companies, we undertake on receipt of written instructions to keep the company's statutory records up-to-date and forward the annual return and accounts to the company for approval before submitting them to the Registrar of Companies.
