Audit exemption for private limited companies:
You may not need to get an audit of your private limited company’s annual accounts. Most small private limited companies only need an audit if their articles of association say they must or the shareholders ask for one.
For financial years that begin on or after 1 January 2016
Your company may qualify for an audit exemption if it has at least 2 of the following:
- an annual turnover of no more than £10.2 million
- assets worth no more than £5.1 million
- 50 or fewer employees on average
For financial years beginning between 1 October 2012 and 31 December 2015
Your company may qualify for an audit exemption if it has at least 2 of the following:
- an annual turnover of no more than £6.5 million
- assets worth no more than £3.26 million
- 50 or fewer employees on average
Audit exemption statement
You must include the following statement on the balance sheet of your accounts if you’re using an audit exemption.
For the year ending [your company’s year end date], the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
If shareholders ask for an audit
- Even if your company’s usually exempt from an audit, you must get your accounts audited if shareholders who own at least 10% of shares (by number or value) ask you to. This can be an individual shareholder or a group of shareholders.
- They must make the request in writing and send it to the company’s registered office address.
- The request must arrive at least one month before the end of the financial year that the audit is being asked for.
Companies that must have an audit : Usually FCA registered Companies.
Your company must have an audit if at any time in the financial year it’s been:
- a public company (unless it’s dormant)
- a subsidiary company (unless it qualifies for an exception)
- an authorised insurance company or carrying out insurance market activity
- involved in banking or issuing e-money
- a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) investment firm or an Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) management company
- a corporate body and its shares have been traded on a regulated market in a European state
As per Section 384 of Companies act, The following companies must get the Audit done : Usually FCA registered companies.
(1)The small companies regime does not apply to a company that F1… was at any time within the financial year to which the accounts relate—
(a)a public company,
(b)a company that—
(i)is an authorised insurance company, a banking company, an e-money issuer, [F2a MiFID investment firm]or a UCITS management company, or
(ii)carries on insurance market activity, or
(c)a member of an ineligible group.
(2)A group is ineligible if any of its members is—
[F3(a)a traded company,]
(b)a body corporate (other than a company) whose shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market in an EEAState,
(c)a person (other than a small company) who has permission under Part 4 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8) to carry on a regulated activity,
[F4(ca)an e-money issuer,]
(d)a small company that is an authorised insurance company, a banking company, F5. . . [F6a MiFID investment firm]or a UCITS management company, or
(e)a person who carries on insurance market activity.
(3)A company is a small company for the purposes of subsection (2) if it qualified as small in relation to its last financial year ending on or before the end of the financial year to which the accounts relate.
Please let us know if you need to get an Audit done, we will get this done through our partner firm.