CIC Annual Requirements: Filing Deadlines & Compliance Guide

Introduction

If you're running a Community Interest Company, you have ongoing legal obligations. This guide is for existing CIC directors who need to understand exactly what they must file, when, and how.

The good news: CIC compliance is much lighter than charity compliance. There are essentially three things you need to file each year, and none of them is particularly complicated.

The bad news: Miss a deadline and you'll face automatic penalties, potential striking off, and in serious cases, personal liability as a director.

Quick Reference: Annual Filing Deadlines

Here's what you need to file and when:

Key Dates to Know

• Your accounting reference date (year end) — Usually the last day of the month you incorporated
• Your confirmation statement date — The anniversary of your incorporation

The Confirmation Statement

What It Is

Formerly called the "annual return", the confirmation statement is a snapshot confirming your company details are correct with Companies House.

What It Covers

• Registered office address
• Directors and their details
• People with Significant Control (PSCs)
• SIC code (your business activity classification)
• Statement of capital (if you're a CIC limited by shares)

Deadline

Within 14 days of your confirmation statement date (anniversary of incorporation). You can file early — many CICs file on or just before their anniversary.

How to File

1. Log in to Companies House WebFiling
2. Select your company
3. Choose "File confirmation statement"
4. Check all details are correct
5. Pay £34 and submit

Takes about 15 minutes if nothing has changed.

Annual Accounts

What They Are

Financial statements showing your CIC's financial position — what you own, what you owe, your income, and your expenditure.

Deadline

• First accounts: 21 months from incorporation
• Subsequent accounts: 9 months after your accounting reference date (year end)

Example: If your year end is 31 March 2026, accounts are due by 31 December 2026.

Types of Accounts

Micro-entity accounts (simplest)

You qualify if you meet 2 of these 3 criteria:

• Turnover up to £632,000
• Assets up to £316,000
• Up to 10 employees

Most small CICs qualify. These are very simple — just a basic balance sheet with limited notes.

Do You Need an Accountant?

Not legally required for small CICs. Many directors prepare their own accounts using Companies House templates, accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks), or spreadsheets.

However, if your finances are complex or you're not confident, an accountant is worth the cost (typically £300-800/year for a small CIC).

Penalties for Late Filing

The CIC34 Report — Community Interest Report

What It Is

The CIC34 is unique to Community Interest Companies. It's your annual report on how you've benefited the community — the thing that makes you a CIC rather than an ordinary company.

What It Covers

1. General description of activities — What has your CIC actually done this year?
2. Community benefit — How have these activities benefited the community? Who has benefited?
3. Stakeholder consultation — How have you engaged with beneficiaries and the community?
4. Director remuneration — If any directors have been paid, declare amounts and purposes
5. Dividends (if applicable) — For CICs limited by shares
6. Asset transfers — Any transfers to other CICs or asset-locked bodies

Deadline

Filed together with your annual accounts — same 9-month deadline.

How to File

1. Download the CIC34 form from gov.uk
2. Complete the form (it's a Word document)
3. Submit with your accounts to Companies House
4. Cost: Free

Common Mistakes

Corporation Tax

What It Is

CICs pay Corporation Tax on profits, just like any other limited company. Unlike charities, CICs don't get tax exemptions.

Deadlines

• Register for Corporation Tax: Within 3 months of starting to trade
• File Corporation Tax return: Within 12 months of your accounting period end
• Pay any tax due: Within 9 months and 1 day of your accounting period end

Key Points

• Filed with HMRC, not Companies House (separate system)
• Even if you make no profit, you must file a return
• Current rate: 19-25% depending on profit level
• You can offset legitimate business expenses

Do you need an accountant? Recommended for Corporation Tax, even if you do your own Companies House accounts. Tax rules are complex and mistakes are costly.

Other Ongoing Requirements

Keeping Registers Up to Date

You must maintain:

• Register of directors
• Register of members
• Register of people with significant control (PSCs)

Update these whenever there are changes. They can be kept at your registered office or on Companies House (recommended — it's free and automatic).

Notifying Changes

You must tell Companies House about:

• Director appointments/resignations: Within 14 days
• Change of registered office: Within 14 days
• Changes to PSC information: Within 14 days
• Changes to company name: Requires special resolution

Record Keeping

Keep records for at least 6 years:

• Financial records and receipts
• Board meeting minutes
• Contracts and agreements
• Employment records

Insurance Review

Not a filing requirement, but review annually:

• Public liability insurance — Essential for most CICs
• Employers' liability — Required by law if you have employees
• Professional indemnity — If giving advice or professional services
• Directors & officers insurance — Protects board members personally

Annual Compliance Calendar

Create your own calendar based on your year end. Here's an example for a March year end:

Our Recommendations

• Don't wait until the deadline — aim to file 2-3 months early
• Set calendar reminders for each task
• Keep records throughout the year — don't leave everything to year end
• Use software to track deadlines — it's too easy to forget

What Happens If You Miss a Deadline?

Late Accounts

• Automatic penalty: £150-£1,500 depending on how late
• No appeal for "I forgot" or "I was busy"
• Penalty doubles for repeat offenders
• Persistent failure: Company can be struck off

Late Confirmation Statement

• Reminder letters from Companies House
• Eventually, striking off process begins
• Your company ceases to exist
• Assets transfer to the Crown (bona vacantia)

Late/Missing CIC34

• CIC Regulator may request information
• Persistent failure leads to investigation
• Potential removal of CIC status
• Company continues but loses CIC benefits and identity

How to Fix Late Filings

1. File immediately — even late filing is better than no filing
2. Pay any penalties promptly — they don't go away
3. Set up systems to prevent it happening again
4. Consider using software or an accountant

Conclusion

Running a CIC means accepting some admin responsibilities. But they're genuinely manageable:

• Confirmation Statement: 15 minutes once a year, £34
• Accounts: A few hours (or hand to accountant), free to file
• CIC34: Time to reflect on your impact, free to file
• Corporation Tax: Usually handled by accountant

The key is staying organised. Put dates in your calendar, keep records throughout the year, and don't leave everything to the last minute.

Miss deadlines and you face penalties, potential striking off, and damage to your CIC's reputation. Stay on top of things and it's genuinely straightforward.

Over 34,000 CICs manage this every year. You can too.