Best Accounting Software for Companies House Filing 2028: Digital Submission Compared

Why software compatibility matters for Companies House filing

The April 2028 deadline creates a specific software compatibility question that is separate from general accounting software quality. A package can be excellent for bookkeeping, invoicing and VAT returns while having no integration with the Companies House filing API. UK businesses need to verify two things: that their software can produce accounts in the iXBRL format that Companies House requires, and that the software is listed as compatible with the specific type of accounts the company files.

Companies House publishes a software finder tool that lists compatible packages by account type. The tool distinguishes between micro-entity accounts, small company accounts (abridged and full), dormant company accounts, and full statutory accounts for larger companies. Software that supports one type does not necessarily support all types. Verify your specific account type before assuming compatibility.

For the full regulatory background on what is changing and why, see the Companies House accounts filing reform 2028 guide on KaelTripton.com, which covers the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 requirements in detail.

Accounting software options for Companies House digital filing

The options below cover the main UK accounting software packages and their Companies House filing compatibility. One entry appears as a featured partner placement, clearly labelled. All other entries are independently assessed editorial content.

Xero

Cloud-based accounting platform with broad UK SME adoption. Xero supports Companies House digital filing for small company and micro-entity accounts via its integration with Companies House filing services. UK GDPR compliant, MTD for VAT supported, MTD for ITSA in development. GBP pricing. Integrates with over 1,000 third-party apps including payroll, CRM and inventory tools. Free trial available.

Sage 50 and Sage Business Cloud Accounting

Sage offers two main products for UK SMEs. Sage 50 is the desktop-based option with longstanding Companies House filing support via iXBRL tagging. Sage Business Cloud Accounting is the cloud product aimed at smaller businesses. Both support MTD for VAT. Companies House filing compatibility varies by product version - verify directly with Sage that your specific subscription tier supports digital accounts filing.

QuickBooks Online

US-headquartered platform with strong UK market penetration. QuickBooks Online supports MTD for VAT and ITSA. Companies House accounts filing compatibility should be verified directly - QuickBooks typically handles this via its accountant network rather than direct company filing. Businesses using QuickBooks via an accountant should confirm their accountant's practice software handles the Companies House submission.

FreeAgent

UK-founded cloud accounting platform popular with freelancers, contractors and small limited companies. FreeAgent supports Companies House accounts filing for small companies and supports MTD for VAT. Owned by NatWest Group but operates independently. Free access is available to NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland business banking customers.

IRIS Elements

Accountant-facing cloud platform from IRIS Software Group, one of the UK's largest accounting software providers. IRIS has deep Companies House filing integration across account types including micro-entity, small company abridged and full statutory accounts. Primarily sold to accountancy practices rather than directly to businesses - if your accountant uses IRIS, Companies House digital filing is well supported.

Dext (formerly Receipt Bank)

Dext is a bookkeeping and document capture platform rather than a full accounting package - it does not file accounts directly with Companies House. Dext is used alongside a primary accounting package (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage) to automate the capture and coding of receipts and invoices. If Companies House filing is a requirement, Dext needs to be paired with a compatible primary accounting platform.

BrightPay

UK payroll software with no direct Companies House accounts filing capability - BrightPay handles payroll and RTI submissions to HMRC rather than annual accounts. Relevant to the April 2028 changes only in that payroll data may feed into the accounts that are filed. Annual accounts filing requires a separate accounting package.

Crunch

UK online accounting service combining software with bookkeeping support, aimed at freelancers and small limited companies. Crunch handles Companies House confirmation statements and annual accounts filing as part of its service, making it relevant for small companies that want a managed approach to the April 2028 requirement rather than self-managing via standalone software.

What to check before choosing software for Companies House filing

The Companies House software finder tool is the starting point. Search for your account type and verify the package appears in the results. For small companies and micro-entities, confirm the software specifically supports profit and loss filing as well as balance sheet - this is a new requirement from April 2028 and older versions of some software may not yet support it.

Check whether the software requires a Companies House presenter account to be set up separately. Most software that integrates directly with Companies House requires one. Apply for a presenter account early - it requires a Companies House authentication code and identity verification that can take time to process.

If using an accountant or agent, confirm in writing that their practice software supports Companies House digital filing for your company type before April 2028. Do not assume this is in place without verification.

MTD and Companies House filing are separate requirements

A common point of confusion is the relationship between Making Tax Digital and the Companies House software filing requirement. MTD is an HMRC programme requiring businesses to keep digital records and submit VAT returns (and from April 2026, income tax returns for qualifying sole traders and landlords) via compatible software. Companies House accounts filing is a separate legal requirement under company law.

Software that is HMRC-recognised for MTD purposes is not automatically compatible with Companies House accounts filing. The two systems use different APIs, different data formats (MTD uses XML submissions; Companies House uses iXBRL-tagged accounts) and are governed by different legislation. Always verify both requirements separately with your software provider.

Frequently asked questions

Which accounting software is approved for Companies House filing?

Companies House does not maintain an official approved list in the same way HMRC does for MTD software. Instead, Companies House publishes a software finder tool at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk where you can search by account type to find compatible packages. The list is updated as new software integrations are added.

Can I still use a spreadsheet to prepare accounts after April 2028?

You can use a spreadsheet to prepare accounts internally, but you cannot submit accounts to Companies House via a spreadsheet from April 2028. The final submission must go through compatible software using the Companies House API. Some businesses use bridging software that can take spreadsheet data and submit it via the API - verify this approach with Companies House before relying on it.

Does my accountant need to do anything differently?

If your accountant already files your accounts digitally via practice software such as IRIS, CCH, Digita or Taxfiler, they may not need to change anything. Confirm with your accountant that their software supports the new profit and loss filing requirement for small companies and micro-entities, as this is a new data requirement even for practices already filing digitally.

What is an iXBRL filing and why does it matter?

iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language) is the structured data format that Companies House uses for digital accounts submissions. It embeds machine-readable tags within a human-readable HTML document, allowing Companies House to extract and process specific financial data points automatically. Software that supports Companies House filing generates iXBRL output automatically - you do not need to create the iXBRL markup yourself.

Is there a free option for Companies House software filing?

Companies House provides a free software tool for filing certain types of accounts - primarily dormant company accounts and some micro-entity accounts. For small company accounts including the new profit and loss requirement, most businesses will need commercial software or an accountant using practice software. FreeAgent is available free to NatWest and RBS business banking customers and supports Companies House filing for small limited companies.