CIC Annual Accounts
Every Community Interest Company must prepare annual accounts and file them at Companies House each year, together with its CIC34 community interest company report.
Bowdon Accounting prepares and files annual accounts for CICs across the UK. We look after the accounts, the CIC34 and the corporation tax return together, so your year-end is handled in one place, on time and at a fixed fee agreed in advance.
What Does a CIC Need to File Each Year?
A CIC is a limited company, so it has the same core filing duties as any other company, plus one extra report that only CICs file.
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Companies House
Annual Accounts
Statutory accounts prepared under company law, usually as micro-entity or small company accounts.
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CIC Regulator
CIC34 Report
The community interest company report, filed with the accounts, explaining how the CIC has benefited the community.
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HMRC
Corporation Tax Return
A CT600 return where required, reflecting the tax treatment of the CIC's trading income, grants and other funding.
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Companies House
Confirmation Statement
An annual check that the CIC's directors, shareholders or guarantors and registered details are up to date.
Key CIC Filing Deadlines
Missing a Companies House deadline leads to an automatic late filing penalty, so we plan your year-end well ahead of these dates.
| What | Deadline |
|---|---|
| First annual accounts and CIC34 | 21 months after the CIC was incorporated |
| Annual accounts and CIC34 (after the first year) | 9 months after the end of the financial year |
| Corporation tax payment | 9 months and 1 day after the end of the accounting period |
| Corporation tax return (CT600) | 12 months after the end of the accounting period |
| Confirmation statement | Within 14 days of the end of each 12-month review period |
Late accounts attract automatic Companies House penalties starting at £150 and rising to £1,500, and the penalty doubles if accounts are late two years in a row. Talk to us if a deadline is close.
Deadlines last checked September 2026. See GOV.UK: Filing your Companies House accounts.
Our CIC Annual Accounts Service
A complete year-end service for Community Interest Companies, from your records to filed accounts.
- Preparation of statutory annual accounts in the right format for your CIC
- Preparation of the CIC34 report, filed alongside your accounts (more on CIC34 reporting)
- Filing with Companies House using approved software
- Corporation tax computation and CT600 return where required
- Review of how grants, donations and trading income are treated
- Clear explanation of the figures for directors and funders
- Deadline tracking and reminders so nothing is filed late
- Support for new CICs preparing their first accounts
How It Works
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Fixed-Fee Quote
Tell us about your CIC and its records. We agree a fixed fee before any work starts.
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Information Request
We send a clear checklist of the bank statements, invoices, grant letters and records we need.
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Accounts & CIC34 Drafted
We prepare the accounts, CIC34 report and tax return, and go through them with you.
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Approval & Filing
Once the directors approve, we file with Companies House and HMRC and confirm when it's done.
Why CIC Accounts Need a Specialist
CIC accounts look similar to those of any small company, but the context is different. A CIC has an asset lock, may be subject to a cap on dividends, and must show each year that its activities benefit the community it was set up to serve.
Many CICs also combine trading income with grants and donations, which can raise questions about restricted funding, how income is recognised, and how it is treated for corporation tax.
Because we work with charities and CICs every day, we understand these issues and can make sure your accounts and CIC34 report tell a consistent story to Companies House, the CIC Regulator, HMRC and your funders.
CIC Annual Accounts: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a CIC have to file annual accounts?
Yes. Every CIC is a limited company and must file annual accounts at Companies House, together with its CIC34 community interest company report, even if it has had little or no activity during the year.
When are a CIC's accounts due?
A CIC's first accounts are normally due 21 months after incorporation. After that, accounts and the CIC34 report are due 9 months after the end of each financial year.
Can a CIC file its accounts through Companies House WebFiling?
No. Because the CIC34 report has to be filed with the accounts, CIC accounts are filed through approved commercial software or on paper. We file using approved software as part of our service.
Does a CIC pay corporation tax?
Often, yes. CICs do not have charitable tax exemptions, so trading profits are usually taxable. The treatment of grants and donations depends on their terms, which is why we review your income as part of the year-end.
Can you help if our CIC's accounts are already late?
Yes. Contact us as soon as possible. We can prioritise overdue accounts and help you get your filings back up to date.
Related CIC Services
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CIC34 Reporting
Preparation of your annual CIC34 community interest company report, filed alongside your accounts.
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Corporation Tax
Preparation and submission of corporation tax returns, including the tax treatment of your CIC's activities.
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Bookkeeping
Ongoing cloud bookkeeping that keeps your records accurate and makes year-end quicker.
Straightforward, Transparent Fees
We believe specialist accounting support should be affordable.
Wherever possible, we agree a fixed fee in advance so you know exactly what your accounting support will cost.
Our fees reflect the size and complexity of your organisation and the quality of the accounting records provided.
Looking for Specialist Accounting Support?
Tell us a little about your organisation and the support you need. We'll come back to you to discuss your requirements and provide a clear quotation.
Email Address
Office Base
66 Paul Street London, England, EC2A 4NA
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