Generate a B1 Form to File an Annual Return
Use the B1 form to file a company's annual return to the Companies Registration Office (CRO) in Ireland.
Before you start
Ensure that Diligent Entities has been set up for electronic filing for Ireland and that all the mandatory steps outlined in Set up Electronic Filing for Ireland have been completed.
Before generating and e-filing an annual return, make sure to enter Financial Period Start and End Dates in the company record under Compliance > Accounts.
To file an annual return, the following data libraries are required:
- Create an Annual Return (Ireland) 2020 Data Library
- Create a Form Attachments (Ireland) Data Library
You can create these data libraries before or while you complete the Annual Return wizard.
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Go to the required company record and select Company > Wizards > Documents > Annual Return.
Alternatively, select Compliance > Annual Return > Wizards > Annual Return.
The Annual Return wizard displays.
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On the Annual Return page, provide the date for the annual return and select the applicable options.
If this is the company's first annual return, the Last Return field is not populated.
To retain the existing anniversary date for the annual return leave the Do you want to retain the anniversary of the existing ARD for next year? checkbox selected. To use the made-up-to-date of this annual return once it was completed and submitted as the next anniversary date, clear the checkbox.
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(Optional) Select Open for Confirm/Update B1 Details and for Confirm B1 Attachments to review the data already captured in the related Annual Return (Ireland) 2020 and Form Attachments (Ireland) data library on a separate page. Select Next.
Note
If no data library records exist, you can create a new one here.
Review, amend, or add the necessary details, then select Finish to save the record. Alternatively, you can open the relevant record in the Data Library and make changes there. Refer to Create an Annual Return (Ireland) 2020 Data Library and Create a Form Attachments (Ireland) Data Library for more information.
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(Optional) Complete the Annual Return Extension page if you want to request an extension, then select Next.
Select the Extend Annual Return Date? option and provide a proposed return date.
Note
If you request an extension, a B73 form is generated at the end of the Annual Return wizard for review and record purposes.
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On the Members Schedule page, leave the Include Member Schedule option selected to list the company's current shareholders on the form. Select Next.
If you want to submit the list by other means to the CRO, clear the checkbox.
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On the Sign and File page, enter the date the form is signed and the date the form is filed. Select Next.
Note
These fields are used by Diligent Entities to calculate the next annual return due and overdue dates. If these dates are unknown, leave the fields blank, save the event as pending, and enter them at a later time.
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On the Action page, select an action and select Next.
It is recommended that the Save as pending, then validate event option is selected when preparing forms to file electronically. The option allows for quick and easy regeneration of forms if they fail the validation checks or are rejected by the CRO.
Note
If the Select Signatory for documents and forms option is selected, the Signatory page displays to allow for a signatory to be selected. If not, the Documents page displays. Refer to Enable Signatory Page in Event Wizards to learn more.
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On the Documents page, make sure the B1 form is selected. Select Next.
Note
If a pending option was selected on the previous page, none of the documents listed on the Documents page are automatically selected and thus generated.
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On the Finish page, select Finish to complete the wizard.
If event details need to be amended later, the pending event can be edited, and the documents can be reproduced. It is recommended that the event remains in a pending status until confirmation of the document's acceptance by the CRO has been received.
What's next?
You can now e-file the form to the CRO. Refer to E-file Forms to CRO Ireland for more information.
The CRO have compiled a list of the most common Form B1 errors resulting in a rejected submission to provide additional guidance with the filing of annual returns.
