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How do I apply for an extension to Companies House?

The application is made via the Companies House website, and only takes a few minutes to complete. Companies House have indicated that the extension is “automatic and immediate” and will be for three months.

Having said that the extension is “automatic”, their website also says that Companies that have already extended their filing deadline, or shortened their accounting reference period, may not be eligible for an extension.

If an extension is granted, it will not affect the due date for filing accounts in future years – so the deadline will revert to the usual date for the next accounting period.

Related FAQs

Should you rely upon Statutory Demands issued after 1 March to present a Winding Up petition?

No. No action need be taken in relation to the demand but we would advise against presentation of a petition based upon any Statutory Demand issued between 1 March 2020 and the end of the restrictions. As you may be aware, with Winding Up there is no requirement to issue a Statutory Demand notice before proceeding so this is unlikely to create too many issues – click here to see whether you should issue petitions on other grounds.

There is nothing to prevent statutory demands being served at this time. However, there may be limited benefit as it cannot form the basis of a future winding up petition.

My reserved matters application is due to be submitted, can I delay this?

The Business and Planning Act 2020 entered the statute books on 22 July 2020. Section 18 of the Act includes provisions for the extension of the date by which a reserved matters application must be submitted where the original date falls between 23 March 2020 and 31 December 2020. Where the original time limit for the submission of reserved matters is on or after 19 August 2020, the relevant conditions will be automatically read as requiring the reserved matters application to be submitted by 1 May 2021.

Where the original time limit for the submission of reserved matters is before 19 August 2020, an application will need to be made to the LPA for an Additional Environmental Approval (“AEA”), which the LPA must determine within 28 days otherwise the approval is deemed to be provided. The purpose of the AEA is to consider whether the environmental assessments carried out at the time of the original outline determination remain valid and up to date, and where that is not the case, the AEA will be refused. In such circumstances a new planning application will be required where an application is now out of time to comply with the original date for submission of reserved matters.

The Government

Government’s Covid-19 landing page

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Covid-19 recovery strategy

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-plan-to-rebuild-the-uk-governments-covid-19-recovery-strategy

Working safely during Covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Working safely during Covid-19: construction and other outdoor work

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/construction-and-other-outdoor-work

Working safely during Covid-19: factories, plants and warehouses

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/factories-plants-and-warehouses

Working safely during Covid-19: labs and research facilities

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/labs-and-research-facilities

Working safely during Covid-19: offices and contact centres

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/offices-and-contact-centres

Working safely during Covid-19: other people’s homes

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/homes

Working safely during Covid-19: restaurants offering takeaway or delivery

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/restaurants-offering-takeaway-or-delivery

Working safely during Covid-19: shops and branches

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/shops-and-branches

Working safely during Covid-19: vehicles

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/vehicles

Business support: loans, tax relief and grants for businesses, employees and self-employed people

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support

Education and childcare

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare

Housing and accommodation: renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities

Housing and accommodation: moving home

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

Housing and accommodation: planning inspections

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-planning-inspectorate-guidance

Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: NHS guidance for people working in healthcare

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/

Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: PPE hub

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-ppe

Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: adult social care guidance

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-social-care-guidance

Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: adult social care guidance

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-social-care-guidance#guidance-for-unpaid-carers

Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: health, care and volunteer workers parking pass and concessions

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-health-care-and-volunteer-workers-parking-pass-and-concessions

International travel and immigration: travel advice for British citizens travelling abroad

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus

International travel and immigration: foreign travel advice for each country

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

International travel and immigration: waiting to return to the UK

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-where-you-are-if-you-cannot-return-to-the-uk

International travel and immigration: essential international travel guidance

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-essential-international-travel-guidance

International travel and immigration: advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents

Government’s financial support for businesses

This page help businesses find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply.
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/

Rishi Sunak

The Twitter feed of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, where he has published various responses to some FAQs from the public.
https://twitter.com/RishiSunak

Can I require my staff to inform me should their circumstances be such that they need to self-isolate?

Yes.

Workers (and agency workers) who are aware of the requirement to self-isolate and are due to work during their isolation period at a place other than their designated place (see below) must, as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event before they are next due to start work within the isolation period, tell their employer that they are self-isolating, and set out the start and end dates of their isolation period.

Clear communication to all workers about their obligation to do this is strongly recommended.

What guidance has the Government given in relation to contracts in relation to Covid-19?

On 7 May the Government published guidance on how contracting parties can act responsibly in order to assist the effort to deal with Covid-19. The guidance seeks to persuade contracting parties to act reasonably and recognise the impact of Covid-19 on contractual counterparties. This will continue to be relevant as business begins to emerge from lockdown.