passed vs past

Please tell me which is the appropriate word to use in the following phrases:

"Passed/Past filing time limits" (for example, the time limit was 1 year, and now it is 15 months later)

"Passed/Past timely filing" (the same meaning as above, just worded differently)

Does "Past filing time limits" mean the time limits that were previously in effect, and "passed filing time limits" mean that the time limit has been exceeded?

This has quite a few people stumped. I have been using "passed" in both cases. I've been trying to think how the phrases "past due" and "passed away" and "past perfect" play into this, but it's no help.

Thanks!

Cheryl

[HotWombat]

Hi Cheryl,

I have answered this for you on another forum you posted to.

[Tdol]

It refers to time, so 'past' would make more sense here, imo. However, given that it is not a complete sentence, it could be interpreted in more than one way:

It is past the filing time limits.
It has passed the filing time limits.

In British English, people would more commonly say it 'is past its sell-by date', rather than it 'has passed its sell-by date'.

BTW- I don't like 'timely filing' much as a phrase.