Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021
147. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider extending the date for filing returns to the Companies Registration Office to the end of February 2022; if this request will take into account the current increased in Covid-19 cases and recent advice from Government that persons should again work from home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58855/21]
View answerThe Registrar of Companies is a statutory role and the Registrar has administrative independence in the exercise of this function.
Throughout the Covid-19 period, the Registrar has shown considerable flexibility in relation to the arrangements for filing annual returns, in recognition of the additional challenges facing companies as well as their professional advisers in meeting filing obligations. This includes extending the filing deadlines in respect of annual returns due during 2020 and also earlier this year in February and May, and suspending prosecutions and involuntary strike-offs for failure to file annual returns.
The Registrar is mindful of the particular problems raised by some small accountancy firms in meeting the current filing deadline for Annual Returns on behalf of their clients. Following consultation with stakeholders, the Registrar has taken the decision that a two week extension is appropriate and the deadline for filing has been extended to 9th December in order to assist those firms who have found themselves in serious difficulties.
