The main Companies House accounts filing changes will take effect from April 2028, one year later than previously planned. The delay gives companies, accountants and software providers more time, but it does not remove the need to prepare for software-only filing and new information requirements.
The reforms form part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. They are intended to improve the quality of information on the register and make company data easier to check and analyse.
What changes in April 2028?
Commercial software becomes compulsory for annual accounts
Every company will need to file annual accounts using commercial software. This will apply whether the company submits its own accounts or an accountant files on its behalf. Accounts will need to be digitally tagged in iXBRL so the information can be read consistently by people and computer systems.
The Companies House web and paper routes for filing annual accounts will close. A business that currently posts accounts or enters figures into the online filing service will therefore need new software or an agent with compatible software.
Companies House is introducing software filing for different document types in stages. Its software filing guidance explains which services are currently available and what businesses should check with their software provider.
Small and micro companies will file a profit and loss account
Small companies and micro-entities will have to include a profit and loss account when filing with Companies House. Eligible companies will be able to opt out of having that document displayed publicly on the register.
The opt-out is about public display, not whether the information must be filed. Companies House, HMRC and law-enforcement bodies will still be able to access the profit and loss information. Directors should understand the difference before deciding how to communicate the change to shareholders, lenders or other stakeholders.
Abridged accounts will be removed
The option to prepare and file abridged accounts will end. Small and micro companies will instead follow the new filing framework that applies to their size. This makes it important to confirm the correct company-size criteria and accounting standard before accounts are prepared.
Audit-exempt companies will make a stronger statement
A company claiming an audit exemption will need to include an enhanced statement on its balance sheet. The directors will need to identify the exemption being used and confirm that the company qualifies for it. Accurate classification and supporting records will matter more than ever.
Accounts and reports must be filed together
All required parts of the accounts and associated reports will need to be submitted as a single filing. Companies House also plans to restrict how often a company can shorten its accounting reference period. These changes are designed to reduce gaps, inconsistencies and repeated changes on the register.
What the one-year delay means for businesses
The move from April 2027 to April 2028 is preparation time, not a reason to ignore the reforms. A company with weak bookkeeping or a manual year-end process may need several accounting periods to improve its records and test new software.
Businesses should continue filing under the current rules until Companies House confirms that a new requirement applies to them. Do not delay a current filing because of the future timetable. Late-filing penalties and directors’ responsibilities still apply.
A practical preparation plan
1. Confirm who will file the accounts
Decide whether the company or its accountant will make the software submission. If an agent files for you, ask which platform they will use and what records they need. Our accounting solutions team can help you review the filing process and year-end timetable.
2. Review your bookkeeping system
Clean, complete bookkeeping makes correctly tagged accounts easier to produce. Check that bank reconciliations are current, balances are supported and transactions are consistently coded. If the records rely on spreadsheets or paper, plan how they will move into a suitable digital workflow. Our bookkeeping and VAT service can support that transition.
3. Check software capability and cost
Ask the supplier whether the product will create and submit Companies House-compliant iXBRL accounts. Confirm the licence cost, number of users, data migration, training and support. A bookkeeping package may record transactions without preparing statutory accounts, so do not assume one subscription covers the full process.
4. Verify company information
Review the registered office, registered email address, accounting reference date, company officers and people with significant control. Companies House will use the registered email address for official communications, so make sure it is monitored and kept up to date.
5. Revisit company-size and audit-exemption decisions
Turnover, balance-sheet total and employee numbers can affect the accounts a company prepares. Groups and growing companies may have additional considerations. Check the position before the year end rather than discovering a different requirement when the filing deadline is close.
Companies House filing checklist
- Keep filing under the current rules until the new timetable applies.
- Confirm whether you or your accountant will use commercial filing software.
- Ask your provider about iXBRL accounts and implementation dates.
- Improve bookkeeping and reconcile key balances throughout the year.
- Check the registered email address and company record.
- Review eligibility for the small, micro and audit-exempt regimes.
- Budget for software, training and professional support.
- Monitor Companies House announcements as April 2028 approaches.
Companies House’s official announcement on the April 2028 accounts reforms provides the current timetable and scope. London Accountants can help your company choose a workable filing route, improve its records and prepare for software-only accounts filing.
