The Registrar General’s Department (RGD) says it is extending the deadline for the filing of annual returns from April 30th, 2020 to July 31st, 2020 for all companies whose Financial Year ended by 31st December 2019.

The Department said “All other Companies who’s Financial Year ended any time before 30th June 2020 are expected to file by 31st December 2020.
According to the Registrar General’s Department, the extension “has become necessary due to the increasing number of Coronavirus cases in the country, which has resulted in the inability of most Companies to hold their Annual General Meetings as scheduled.”

In a statement on Wednesday, RGD said, “Companies are therefore expected to take advantage of the extended period to file their Annual Returns, as they would be required to pay an increased flat penalty rate of GHS 450 for noncompliance effective Monday, August 3, 2020.”

The Department added that “To be in good standing in our database and prevent being taken off the Register, Business Names would have to pay for the number of years they have not renewed up to date BUT are not expected to pay any penalty.

“All Businesses who wish to be in good standing in our Register for Business purposes should make every effort to comply timeously with these directives,” the statement added.