Minister Humphreys welcomes move on Annual Filing Obligations for companies

The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD today announced that the Registrar of Companies has decided that all annual returns due to be filed by any Company now and up to 30 June 2020 will be deemed to have been filed on time if all elements of the annual return are completed and filed by that date. This will enable businesses and their financial advisers to focus on the more immediate financial challenges facing them at this time. The situation will be kept under review and the date of 30 June may be extended depending on the situation as it develops.

In welcoming this development, Minister Humphreys said:

"This is a very difficult, worrying and upsetting time for many businesses and we are doing everything we can to support them. I am in constant contact with our business sectors and stakeholders and we are assessing the situation constantly. I have also written to all of our companies registered with the CRO outlining the many supports that are available from the government. If practical and immediate action can be taken to assist business then that will be done. Working together we can make the decisions and take the actions which will ensure that we minimise the worst impacts of this disruption, and that we are best placed to return to normality when it passes.”

If you are due to complete your annual return filing at any time up to 30 June your annual return will be deemed to have been filed on time if you capture the B1 form, upload your financial statements, pay the fee and submit it online and then deliver the signature page as normal to the CRO by that date. You may also complete the filing as normal using Revenue Online Services (ROS) signatures instead of a signature page.

Please continue to file as normal during this period if you are in a position to do so. Annual returns may not be processed within the usual timeframes, however, anything received will be queued and processed as soon as possible.

Further information can be found at www.cro.ie, on the CRO Twitter account @CRO_ie or by phoning 1890 220 226.

ENDS

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) plays a key role in implementing the government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an environment which supports job creation and maintenance. The department has lead responsibility for Irish policy on global trade and inward investment and a remit to promote fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers.

For further information please contact Press Office, D/Business, Enterprise and Innovation, press.office@dbei.gov.ie or (01) 631-2200.