EM8016 - Companies: Rights and Obligations: Penalties for Late Delivery of a CT Return

FA98/SCH18/PARA 17

FA98/SCH18/PARA 18

A company that fails to deliver the company tax return by the filing date is liable to

• a flat-rate penalty of £100, or £200 if the return is not delivered within 3 months after the filing date, increased to £500 and £1,000 respectively for a third successive failure, and
• a fixed percentage tax-related penalty if the return is not delivered within 18 months after the end of the Return Period, or by the filing date if later, of 10% of the tax unpaid, or 20% if not delivered within 2 years.

Guidance on the law and practice is in the Company Taxation Manual CTM94000+.

If a notice to file a company tax return has not been given to the company but a voluntary return is made and accepted by HMRC a late filing penalty cannot be charged as it will always be delivered by the filing date.

For more information on filing dates see CTM93000+.