Companies Act 2006 (c. 46)

Part 15 U.K. Accounts and reports

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 15 applied (with modifications) (8.12.2017) by The Risk Transformation Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1212), regs. 1(2), 162, 163 (with reg. 189)

C2 Pts. 1-39 modified (31.12.2020) by Regulation (EC) No. 2157/2001, Art. AAA1(3) (as inserted by The European Public Limited-Liability Company (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1298), regs. 1, 97 (with regs. 140-145) (as amended by S.I. 2020/523, regs. 1(2), 5(a)-(f)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1))

C3 Pt. 15 applied (with modifications) (6.4.2008) by The Bank Accounts Directive (Miscellaneous Banks) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/567), reg. 4, Sch. para. 1 (with Sch. para. 11)

C4 Pt. 15 applied (with modifications) (6.4.2008) by The Partnerships (Accounts) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/569), regs. 4, 7, Sch. Pt. 1

C5 Pt. 15 applied (with modifications) (1.10.2009) by The Unregistered Companies Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2436), regs. 3-5, Sch. 1 para. 16 (with transitional provisions and savings in regs. 7, 9, Sch. 2)

C6 Pts. 1-39 (except for Pt. 7 and ss. 662-669), 45-47 extended (12.5.2011) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1265), art. 5(1), Sch. 1 para. 2

Chapter 4 U.K. Annual accounts

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7 Pt. 15 Ch. 4 applied (with modifications) (6.4.2008) by The Insurance Accounts Directive (Miscellaneous Insurance Undertakings) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/565), reg. 3

C8 Pt. 15 Ch. 4 applied (with modifications) (31.7.2015) by The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1493), regs. 1(2), 7(1) (with reg. 11)

C9 Pt. 15 Ch. 4 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2008/565, reg. 3 (as substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 2(4) of the amending S.I.) by The Statutory Auditors Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1164), reg. 1(2)(3), Sch. 2 para. 3 (with reg. 2(6)(7)))

C10 Pt. 16 Ch. 1 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (1.10.2018) by The Occupational Pension Schemes (Master Trusts) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1030), regs. 1(2), 9(4)-(8)

Approval and signing of accounts U.K.

414 Approval and signing of accounts U.K.

(1) A company's annual accounts must be approved by the board of directors and signed on behalf of the board by a director of the company.

(2) The signature must be on the company's balance sheet.

[F1 (3) If the accounts are prepared in accordance with the small companies regime, the balance sheet must contain, in a prominent position above the signature—

(a) in the case of individual accounts prepared in accordance with the micro-entity provisions, a statement to that effect, or

(b) in the case of accounts not prepared as mentioned in paragraph (a), a statement to the effect that the accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.]

(4) If annual accounts are approved that do not comply with the requirements of this Act F2 ..., every director of the company who—

(a) knew that they did not comply, or was reckless as to whether they complied, and

(b) failed to take reasonable steps to secure compliance with those requirements or, as the case may be, to prevent the accounts from being approved,

commits an offence.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine;

(b) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 414(3) substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 2(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Small Companies (Micro-Entities' Accounts) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/3008), regs. 2(1), 5(4) (with reg. 3)

F2 Words in s. 414(4) omitted (31.12.2020 with effect in relation to financial years beginning on or after IP completion day) by virtue of The International Accounting Standards and European Public Limited-Liability Company (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/685), reg. 1(2)(3), Sch. 1 para. 12 (with reg. 1(4)-(8), Sch. 1 para. 64) (as amended by S.I. 2020/335, regs. 1, 3, 4 and S.I. 2020/523, regs. 1(2), 22, 25(b)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C11 S. 414 applied (with modifications) (6.4.2008) by The Companies (Revision of Defective Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/373), reg. 4

C12 S. 414 applied (with modifications) (1.10.2009) by The Overseas Companies Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1801), reg. 39 (with Sch. 8)

C13 S. 414 applied (with modifications) (1.10.2009) by The Overseas Companies Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1801), reg. 54 (with Sch. 8)

C14 Ss. 380-414 applied (with modifications) (1.10.2009) by S.I. 2009/2436, regs. 3-5, Sch 1 para. 10 (with reg. 7, Sch. 2) (and the said Sch. 1 para. 10 is amended (with application in accordance with reg. 1(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Unregistered Companies (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1972), regs. 1(2), 2(2)(a))

C15 S. 414 applied (with modifications) (1.10.2008) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts and Audit) (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1911), reg. 12 (as amended (with effect in accordance with reg. 2(2)-(5) of the amending S.I.) by The Limited Liability Partnerships, Partnerships and Groups (Accounts and Audit) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/575), regs. 2(1), 11)