The Companies Registration Office (CRO) is to further extend the deadline for businesses to file their annual returns.
It follows complaints from accountants and other compliance professionals about problems with a new CRO filing system that was introduced on December 16.
Accountants claim that the new CORE systems has been beset by issues that have made it very difficult for them to complete their work.
This has been exacerbated by Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions which have caused further challenges for those trying to file returns.
The decision to extend the deadline follows steps taken last year to help ease the burden on firms filing annual returns.
In October the Registrar of Companies said a company with an annual return date from September 30 onwards would not have to complete and file all elements of their return until February 26.
"Due to the current Level 5 restrictions and the challenges of adjusting to a new IT system, the Registrar will extend the current filing arrangements for companies with an annual return date of 30th September or later until 28th May 2021," the CRO said in a tweet.
"All companies with an extension to file due to delayed AGMs until 26 February, 2021 will have a further extension to file until 28 May, 2021."
The CRO added that it is currently processing business names whose documents were received on the 7th of January.
A spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, under whose remit the CRO falls, confirmed there had been some technical issues with the new system as it beds down.
But they added that most have been resolved and have not generally impeded the filing of documents.
The new cloud-based IT platform is designed to provide an improved user experience for those filing returns and a fully paperless interaction with the CRO for certain transactions, including all the most common ones carried out by companies such as the filing of annual returns.
"I welcome the decision by the Registrar to extend the current arrangements, in recognition of the difficulties being experienced by some businesses and their professional advisers in relation to filing obligations," said Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy.
"For many, this will give much needed breathing space at a time when it is needed most."
