Companies House Accounts Filing Reform 2028: What UK Companies Must Do Before April 2028

What the reform covers

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 includes a package of reforms to how UK companies report financial information to Companies House. The government has now confirmed the implementation details following a pause for stakeholder consultation.

There are three core changes. First, all companies must file their annual accounts using commercial software from 1 April 2028 - the current web filing service (WebFiling) and paper filing routes will close for accounts on that date. Second, small companies and micro-entities, which previously had exemptions allowing them to file abbreviated or abridged accounts, will now be required to file full profit and loss accounts alongside their balance sheets. Third, a series of smaller technical amendments to accounts regulations will take effect alongside the main changes.

The requirement to file profit and loss accounts is significant because it means financial performance data for small companies, which has historically been shielded from the public register, will in future be visible to creditors, competitors and customers - unless the company opts out of publication under the new mechanism being developed by Companies House.

Which companies are affected

The mandatory software filing requirement applies to all UK companies registered at Companies House, regardless of size. This includes micro-entities (turnover under 632,000 GBP, balance sheet under 316,000 GBP, fewer than 10 employees), small companies (turnover under 10.2 million GBP, balance sheet under 5.1 million GBP, fewer than 50 employees), medium companies and large companies.

The profit and loss filing requirement is the most significant change for smaller companies. Under the previous regime, micro-entities could file a simplified balance sheet with no profit and loss, and small companies could file abridged accounts omitting the profit and loss from the public register. Both exemptions are removed from April 2028.

Overseas companies registered in the UK and branches of foreign entities registered at Companies House should check with their advisers as to whether and how these changes apply to their specific registration type.

The profit and loss opt-out

In response to concerns from small business groups about financial privacy, the government has confirmed that small companies and micro-entities will be able to opt out of having their profit and loss accounts published on the public Companies House register. The accounts will still need to be filed with Companies House - the opt-out relates only to public publication, not to the filing obligation itself.

The mechanism for opting out has not yet been confirmed. Companies House has stated that details will be published in due course. Businesses that wish to protect their financial performance data from public view should monitor Companies House guidance as the implementation date approaches.

It is worth noting that even with the opt-out, accounts filed with Companies House may be accessible to credit reference agencies and other authorised third parties. The scope of the opt-out will be clearer once Companies House publishes the full implementation guidance.

What software filing requires

Companies that do not currently file accounts via software or a third-party agent will need to take several steps before April 2028. Companies House requires a presenter account to file digitally. This is separate from a standard Companies House account and must be applied for through the Companies House website.

The accounts must be filed using software that is compatible with the Companies House filing API. Companies House operates a software finder tool at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk that lists compatible software packages by account type. Not all accounting software is currently compatible - verify that your chosen package supports the specific account type your company files (micro-entity accounts, small company accounts, full statutory accounts and so on).

For companies with an accountant or agent already handling their accounts, the agent will typically handle the software filing. Confirm with your agent that their practice software is compatible with Companies House digital filing requirements and that they are set up to file on your behalf under the new rules.

Timeline and preparation steps

Companies House has confirmed a 21-month notice period running from the announcement to the 1 April 2028 implementation date. This is structured as one full accounting year plus nine months, giving companies time to complete a full accounts cycle under their existing process before the software filing requirement takes effect.

For companies with a standard 31 December year end, the last accounts that can be filed via web or paper are the accounts for the year ending 31 December 2026, filed by 30 September 2027. Accounts for the year ending 31 December 2027 will need to be filed via software by 30 September 2028 - after the April 2028 deadline.

For companies with a 31 March year end, the accounts for the year ending 31 March 2028 will be the first set required to be filed via software, with a filing deadline of 31 December 2028.

Companies House has indicated it will publish further guidance and support materials throughout the notice period. The official resource for updates is the Changes to UK Company Law pages on GOV.UK.

Impact on accounting software buyers

The mandatory software filing requirement creates a significant forced adoption event for accounting software across the UK's 5.5 million registered companies. Businesses that currently manage accounts in spreadsheets or use paper-based processes have a defined deadline by which they must move to compatible software.

When evaluating accounting software ahead of April 2028, the key compatibility questions are whether the package supports Companies House digital filing for your specific account type, whether it supports Making Tax Digital for VAT (if applicable) and ITSA (from 2026 onwards for larger sole traders and landlords), and whether it can produce iXBRL-tagged accounts in the format Companies House requires.

HMRC's Making Tax Digital programme and the Companies House software filing requirement are separate systems - software that supports one does not automatically support the other. Verify both requirements with your software provider.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to act now or can I wait until closer to April 2028?

Companies House recommends acting as early as possible. For businesses not currently on software filing, selecting a software package, setting up a presenter account and familiarising staff with the new process takes time. Waiting until 2027 or later risks a rushed transition. For companies with accountants or agents, confirm now that they are prepared for the change.

Will my existing accounting software work for Companies House filing?

Not necessarily. Filing accounts with Companies House requires specific API integration that not all accounting software has. Use the Companies House software finder tool to check whether your current package is listed as compatible with your account type. If it is not, you will need to either switch software or use a separate compliance tool that can produce and submit the required filing.

What is the difference between the profit and loss filing requirement and the opt-out?

All small companies and micro-entities must file profit and loss accounts with Companies House from April 2028 - this is a legal requirement with no exemption. The opt-out is only from public publication on the register. Filing is mandatory; publication is optional under the new regime.

Does this affect sole traders and partnerships?

The Companies House accounts reform applies specifically to companies registered at Companies House under the Companies Act. Sole traders and most partnerships are not registered at Companies House and are not affected by this change. Limited liability partnerships (LLPs) registered at Companies House are subject to separate filing requirements and should seek specific advice.

What happens if my company misses the April 2028 deadline?

Companies House can impose automatic penalties for late filing, which currently range from 150 GBP to 1,500 GBP for private companies depending on how late the accounts are filed. Filing via an incompatible method after the deadline is closed would result in the accounts not being accepted - meaning the company would be in default. Persistent failure to file is a criminal offence and can result in Companies House striking the company off the register.