Meetings and filing requirements Extension of filing deadlines
This Act provides the Secretary of State with a power to make regulations to extend deadlines for certain filings which include: accounts, under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006; annual confirmation statements under Part 24 of that Act; notices of related relevant events under that Act; and registration of charges under Part 25 of that Act.
	The Secretary of State has a discretion to extend the period for filing accounts under section 442(5) of the Companies Act 2006 if there is a "special reason" and upon an application being made. During the period affected by COVID-19, demand for this type of extension has substantially increased.
	The power in section 39 is broader than the discretion to extend the deadline for the filing of accounts upon application because it gives the Secretary of State a power to extend the deadlines for the various filing requirements listed in section 40.
	If a deadline is extended using the power in section 39, it will apply to all relevant companies (which may include other entities, for example, Limited Liability Partnerships) without them needing to apply for the extension. There are maximum periods that may be provided in respect of each extended deadline.