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Companies Act 1985

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Point in time view as at 06/04/2008.

Changes to legislation:

Companies Act 1985, Chapter I is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 28 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

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Chapter IU.K. Provisions Applying to Companies Generally

Accounting recordsU.K.

221 Duty to keep accounting records.E+W+S

F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

222 Where and for how long records to be kept.U.K.

F2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

A company’s financial year and accounting reference periodsE+W+S

223 A company’s financial year.E+W+S

F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

224 Accounting reference periods and accounting reference date.E+W+S

F4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

225 Alteration of accounting reference date.E+W+S

F5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Annual accountsU.K.

226 Duty to prepare individual accounts.E+W+S

F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

226ACompanies Act individual accountsU.K.

F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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226BIAS individual accountsU.K.

F8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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227 Duty to prepare group accounts.U.K.

F9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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227ACompanies Act group accountsU.K.

F10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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227BIAS group accountsU.K.

F11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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227CConsistency of accountsU.K.

F12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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228 Exemption for parent companies included in accounts of larger group.U.K.

F13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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228AExemption for parent companies included in non-EEA group accountsU.K.

F14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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229 Subsidiary undertakings included in the consolidation.E+W+S

F15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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230 Treatment of individual profit and loss account where group accounts prepared.E+W+S

F16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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231 Disclosure required in notes to accounts:related undertakings.E+W+S

F17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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231ADisclosure required in notes to annual accounts: particulars of staffU.K.

F18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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232 Disclosure required in notes to accounts: emoluments and other benefits of directors and others.E+W+S

F19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Approval and signing of accountsE+W+S

233 Approval and signing of accountsE+W+S

F20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

[F21Directors' report]U.K.

Textual Amendments

F21Cross-heading and ss. 234, 234ZZA, 234ZZB substituted for s. 234 and preceding cross-heading (22.3.2005) by The Companies Act 1985 (Operating and Financial Review and Directors' Report etc.) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1011), reg. 2

234 Duty to prepare directors' report.E+W+S

F22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

234ZZADirectors' report: general requirementsU.K.

F23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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234ZZBDirectors' report: business reviewU.K.

F24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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234ZAStatement as to disclosure of information to auditorsU.K.

F25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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234A Approval and signing of directors’ report.E+W+S

F26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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F27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W+S

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234AADuty to prepare operating and financial reviewE+W+S

F28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

234ABApproval and signing of operating and financial reviewE+W+S

F29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Quoted companies: directors’ remuneration reportU.K.

234BDuty to prepare directors’ remuneration reportU.K.

F30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

234CApproval and signing of directors’ remuneration reportU.K.

F31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Auditors’ reportE+W+S

235 Auditors’ report.E+W+S

F32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

236 Signature of auditors’ report.E+W+S

F33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

237 Duties of auditors.E+W+S

F34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Publication of accounts and reportsE+W+S

238 Persons entitled to receive copies of accounts and reports.E+W+S

F35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

[F36238ATime allowed for sending out copies of accounts and reportsE+W+S

F37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

239 Rights to demand copies of accounts and reports.E+W+S

F38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

240 Requirements in connection with publication of accounts.E+W+S

F39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Laying and delivering of accounts and reportsU.K.

241 Accounts and reports to be laid before company in general meeting.E+W+S

F40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F40S. 241 repealed (1.10.2007 with application to private companies) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 1295, 1300, Sch. 16; S.I. 2007/2194, art. 8, Sch. 2 Pt. 1 (with art. 12)

241AMembers’ approval of directors’ remuneration reportU.K.

F41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

242 Accounts and reports to be delivered to the registrar.E+W+S

F42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

242A Civil penalty for failure to deliver accounts.E+W+S

F43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F43S. 242A repealed (6.4.2008) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 1295, 1300, Sch. 16; S.I. 2007/3495, art. 8(a), Sch. 2 Pt. 1 (with arts. 7, 12, Sch. 4 paras. 9(2), 12(2)); table in s. 242A(2) expressed to be substituted and s. 242A(2A) expressed to be inserted (6.4.2008 with application in accordance with reg. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Companies (Late Filing Penalties) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Filing Periods and Late Filing Penalties) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/497), reg. 5 and {reg. 3} respectively

242B Delivery and publication of accounts in ECUsE+W+S

F44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

243 Accounts of subsidiary undertakings to be appended in certain cases.U.K.

F45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

244 Period allowed for laying and delivering accounts and reports.E+W+S

F46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Revision of defective accounts and reportsE+W+S

245 Voluntary revision of annual accounts or directors’ report.E+W+S

F47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

245A Secretary of State’s notice in respect of annual accounts.E+W+S

F48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

245B Application to court in respect of defective accounts.E+W+S

F49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

245C Other persons authorised to apply to court.E+W+S

F50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

245DDisclosure of information held by Inland Revenue to persons authorised to apply to courtE+W+S

F51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

245ERestrictions on use and further disclosure of information disclosed under section 245DE+W+S

F52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

245FPower of authorised persons to require documents, information and explanationsE+W+S

F53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

245GRestrictions on further disclosure of information obtained under section 245FE+W+S

F54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

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