Registrar of Companies Warns Businesses of Sanctions for Failure to File Annual Returns by April 30
The Office of the Registrar of Companies has cautioned that thousands of businesses risk sanctions and possible delisting from the Companies Register if they fail to submit their Annual Returns by April 30, 2026.
In a public notice, the Registrar urged business owners, company directors, secretaries and partners of incorporated partnerships to comply with the filing requirements, particularly entities whose financial year ended on December 31. Such entities are required to lodge their Annual Returns with the requisite financial statements or renew their business names before the stipulated deadline.
The directive is grounded in Section 126(1) of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992), as well as relevant provisions under the Incorporated Partnerships Act and the Business Names Act.
The Registrar indicated that companies that default on filing their Annual Returns will be classified as non-compliant and subject to statutory penalties in addition to the applicable filing fees. Firms that have failed to file for five years or more will incur a penalty of GH¢2,000, while those in arrears between one and four years will be liable to pay GH¢1,000.
It further warned that continued non-compliance attracts a daily fine of 25 penalty units and could ultimately lead to the striking off of the company from the register, rendering its operations unlawful.
Business names that are not renewed within the required period will expire and may be removed from the register.
The Registrar also reiterated that Annual Returns are to be filed within 18 months of incorporation and thereafter annually, with updated particulars on directors, shareholders and capital structure, accompanied by the company’s financial statements.
