Companies House accounts: software-only filing from April 2028
From April 2028, every company will have to file its annual accounts with Companies House through commercial software, in iXBRL. Web and paper filing for accounts will stop. The change was planned for April 2027, and Companies House moved it back a year.
- From April 2028, accounts can only be filed through software, in iXBRL.
- Abridged accounts will no longer be allowed.
- Small companies and micro-entities will have to file a profit and loss account, with an option not to publish it on the public register.
- Other filings, like confirmation statements and director changes, can still be made on the Companies House website.
A4O Accounts files your accounts and CT600 from the same figures. Get started free, no card required.
What’s changing
Companies House announced the timetable on 9 June 2026. From April 2028:
- Software-only filing for accounts. All companies, dormant ones included, will file accounts through commercial software. The web and paper routes for accounts close.
- Accounts in iXBRL. The accounts have to be tagged in iXBRL so Companies House can read the figures directly.
- No more abridged accounts. Companies that file abridged accounts today will need to file fuller accounts.
- Profit and loss for small and micro companies. They’ll have to file a profit and loss account, as other companies already do, with an option not to publish it on the public register.
- A stronger audit exemption statement for every company that claims exemption from audit.
What isn’t changing
Companies House’s web filing stays open for filings other than accounts, such as confirmation statements and changes to directors’ details. Your filing deadline doesn’t change either: a private company still has 9 months from the end of its financial year.
Who it affects
Every company on the register, whether you file your own accounts or an accountant files them for you. If you use the Companies House website to file micro-entity or dormant accounts today, you’ll need to switch before your first deadline after April 2028.
How to get ready
- Check which accounts you file now. If they’re abridged, plan for fuller accounts, and for small or micro companies, a profit and loss account.
- Pick software that files accounts to Companies House. Companies House keeps a list of software providers on GOV.UK. Being on it isn’t a recommendation, so check it covers your type of accounts.
- Think about your Company Tax Return too. HMRC’s free online filing service closed on 31 March 2026, so your CT600 needs software already. One package that does both saves entering the same figures twice.
- Try it before the deadline. Filing one year early through software means you won’t be learning a new system under a deadline.
Late filing penalties
| How late (private company) | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 month | £150 |
| 1 to 3 months | £375 |
| 3 to 6 months | £750 |
| More than 6 months | £1,500 |
The penalty doubles if your accounts are late two years in a row.
File your accounts and Company Tax Return from one set of books
A4O Accounts prepares your accounts and CT600 from the same figures, tags them in iXBRL and files them with Companies House and HMRC. Free to get started, no card required.
Get started freeSources
- GOV.UK — Companies House to bring in changes to accounts filing from April 2028 (9 June 2026)
- GOV.UK — Late filing penalties for annual accounts
- GOV.UK — Using software to file your company’s information
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change, so check GOV.UK or ask an accountant about your company’s situation.