Why does a CT600 sometimes cover two accounting periods?

By Unfiled_

My company's statutory accounts cover more than twelve months, but the Corporation Tax filing appears to require two returns. Why are the periods split and how should the dates be checked?

Accepted answer

By Unfiled_

A Corporation Tax accounting period cannot normally be longer than twelve months. If statutory accounts cover a longer period, such as a long first set of accounts or an extended financial year, the accounts may support two separate Company Tax Returns. Each return covers its own Corporation Tax accounting period, and each period can have its own payment calculation and deadline. This does not mean that two sets of Companies House accounts are necessarily required for the same long financial period. Check the accounting-period dates shown in the company's HMRC record and reconcile them to the statutory accounts before filing. If the dates are wrong, correct them with HMRC rather than forcing the figures into an unsuitable period. See GOV.UK accounting-period guidance.