Guide
File your company accounts with Companies House
How to prepare and file annual accounts for your limited company, including filing deadlines, size thresholds for simplified accounts, audit exemption rules, and late filing penalties under the Companies Act 2006.
Every limited company registered in the UK must file annual accounts with Companies House. This is a legal requirement under the Companies Act 2006, regardless of whether your company is trading, dormant, or making a loss.
As a director, you are personally responsible for ensuring accounts are filed on time. Late filing results in automatic penalties, and persistent failure to file can lead to the company being struck off and you being disqualified as a director.
Who must file accounts
All UK limited companies must file accounts, including:
- Private limited companies (Ltd)
- Public limited companies (PLC)
- Community interest companies (CIC)
- Dormant companies with no trading activity
- Newly incorporated companies that have not yet traded
Sole traders and partnerships do not file accounts with Companies House - they report to HMRC through Self Assessment instead.
Limited company directors must file accounts
This guide applies to limited company directors. If you are a sole trader or partner in an ordinary partnership, you report your business income through Self Assessment to HMRC, not Companies House.
For LLPs, designated members must file LLP accounts with Companies House under similar (but separate) rules.
Filing deadlines
Your filing deadline depends on whether your company is private or public, and whether it is your first accounting period.
Your company's financial year ends on its accounting reference date (ARD). This is normally the last day of the month in which the anniversary of incorporation falls. For example, if your company was incorporated on 15 March 2024, your ARD is 31 March.
You can change your accounting reference date by notifying Companies House, but you cannot extend your accounting period to more than 18 months, and you can only extend once every 5 years (unless aligning with a parent company or in administration).
First accounting period
Your first accounting period runs from incorporation until your first ARD. This can be up to 18 months. For your first accounts, private companies have 21 months from incorporation to file, while public companies have 18 months.
Example: A private company incorporated on 15 June 2024 with an ARD of 30 June 2025 must file its first accounts by 15 March 2026 (21 months from incorporation).
Company size classification
Your company's size determines what type of accounts you can file and whether you need an audit. Size is determined by meeting 2 of 3 threshold criteria for 2 consecutive years.
Micro-entity simplified accounts
If your company qualifies as a micro-entity (turnover up to £1 million, balance sheet up to £500,000, up to 10 employees - meeting 2 of 3), you can file simplified micro-entity accounts containing only a basic balance sheet with limited notes.
Micro-entities do not need to file a profit and loss account or directors' report with Companies House (though you must still prepare them for members). You are also exempt from audit unless your members request one.
Small company abbreviated accounts
If your company qualifies as small (turnover up to £15 million, balance sheet up to £7.5 million, up to 50 employees - meeting 2 of 3), you can file abbreviated accounts containing an abridged balance sheet without a profit and loss statement.
Small companies are exempt from statutory audit, unless they are public companies, part of a group requiring audit, or regulated (banking, insurance, financial services).
Important - April 2027 change: From 1 April 2027, small companies will be required to file profit and loss accounts and directors' reports. The option to file abridged accounts without these will be removed.
Medium and large company requirements
If your company exceeds the small company thresholds, you must file full accounts including balance sheet, profit and loss account, notes, directors' report, and (for large companies) a strategic report.
Medium and large companies must have a statutory audit by a registered auditor. The auditor's report must be filed with the accounts.
Large companies (turnover over £54 million or balance sheet over £27 million) have additional reporting requirements including a section 172 statement on stakeholder considerations.
Audit exemption
Most small companies are exempt from the requirement to have their accounts audited. To claim the exemption, you must include specific statements on the balance sheet.
Companies that cannot claim audit exemption
Even if your company is small, you cannot claim audit exemption if it is:
- A public company (PLC)
- An authorised insurance company, banking company, or e-money issuer
- A MiFID investment firm or UCITS management company
- A company carrying on insurance market activity
- Part of a group that requires audit (unless subsidiary exemption applies)
Members' right to require audit
Even if your company qualifies for audit exemption, members (shareholders) holding at least 10% of issued share capital can require an audit. They must make this request at least one month before the end of the financial year.
Audit exemption statements
To claim audit exemption, you must include statements on the balance sheet confirming:
- The company qualifies for exemption
- No members have required an audit under section 476
- Directors acknowledge their responsibility for keeping adequate accounting records and preparing accounts
Dormant company accounts
A company is dormant if it has had no significant accounting transactions during the period. Dormant companies still need to file accounts, but can use simplified dormant company accounts.
Transactions that do not count (you can ignore these and still be dormant):
- Shares taken by subscribers on formation
- Fees paid to Companies House (filing fees, penalties)
- Late filing penalties
- Payment for company name change or re-registration
If you have any other transactions - including bank interest, rent payments, or trading income - your company is not dormant and must file trading accounts.
Filing dormant accounts
Dormant companies that have never traded can file accounts using Companies House WebFiling for free. If your company has previously traded, you will need to use software filing or the Company Accounts and Tax Online (CATO) service.
Late filing penalties
If you file your accounts late, Companies House will automatically impose a civil penalty. These penalties are fixed amounts that increase the later you file.
Public company penalties are higher
Public companies (PLCs) face higher late filing penalties:
- Up to 1 month late - £750
- 1 to 3 months late - £1,500
- 3 to 6 months late - £3,000
- Over 6 months late - £7,500
Penalties double if you file late two years in succession.
Consequences of not filing
Beyond the financial penalty, persistent failure to file accounts has serious consequences:
- Criminal offence: Directors can be prosecuted under section 451 of the Companies Act 2006. The maximum penalty is an unlimited fine.
- Company strike-off: Companies House may strike off the company, dissolving it and transferring its assets to the Crown.
- Director disqualification: Persistent failure to file can lead to disqualification under section 3 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.
Late filing penalties are not tax-deductible - your company cannot claim them as a business expense.
How to file your accounts
There are several ways to file your accounts with Companies House:
1. WebFiling
Companies House's free online service. Suitable for micro-entities and small companies filing simplified accounts. You will need your company authentication code (sent by post when you set up a Companies House account).
2. Software filing
Most accounting software can generate accounts in the correct format (iXBRL from April 2027) and file directly with Companies House. This is the most efficient option for companies using accounting software.
3. Using an accountant
Your accountant can prepare and file accounts on your behalf. They can also advise on which exemptions you qualify for and ensure your accounts meet legal requirements.
From April 2027: All accounts must be filed in iXBRL (inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language) format. PDF filing will no longer be accepted. Most accounting software will generate iXBRL automatically.
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Check your filing deadline
Find your accounting reference date and calculate your deadline (9 months for private companies, 6 months for PLCs). Set calendar reminders well in advance.
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Determine your company size
Check if you meet 2 of 3 thresholds for micro-entity or small company status. This affects what accounts you must file and whether you need an audit.
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Prepare your accounts
Use accounting software, prepare accounts manually, or instruct an accountant. Ensure accounts comply with UK GAAP or IFRS accounting standards.
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Include required statements
If claiming audit exemption, include the required balance sheet statements. Ensure director's signature appears on the balance sheet.
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File with Companies House
Submit via WebFiling, software, or through your accountant. Keep confirmation of submission.
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File with HMRC
Your Company Tax Return (CT600) must be filed within 12 months of your accounting period end. The accounts filed with HMRC can be the same as those filed with Companies House, but may include additional detail.