Companies House Filing Is Changing from April 2028 — What It Means for Your Company

Big changes are on the way for how UK companies file their annual accounts. Companies House has confirmed that, from 1 April 2028, all companies will need to file their accounts using commercial software, and small companies and micro-entities will have to file a profit and loss account for the first time. Here’s a plain-English rundown of what’s changing, when, and what you should be doing about it.

A Quick Bit of Background

These reforms come from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which is gradually overhauling Companies House to improve transparency and crack down on economic crime. The changes were originally due to land in April 2027, but following feedback from businesses and accountants, the government has pushed them back a year to 1 April 2028 — giving everyone one full accounting year plus nine months (21 months in total) to get ready.

What’s Changing from 1 April 2028?

• Small companies and micro-entities will need to file profit and loss accounts with Companies House — but with the option to opt out of having this information published on the public register.

• All companies will have to file their annual accounts using commercial software, in a digitally tagged format known as iXBRL. The current Companies House web filing and paper filing routes for accounts will close.

• Abridged accounts will be abolished — the option to file a reduced version of your accounts is being removed.

• A strengthened eligibility statement will be required from any company claiming an audit exemption.

• All component parts of the accounts and reports will need to be filed together, rather than separately.

• Companies will face limits on how many times they can shorten their accounting reference period.

The Profit and Loss Question — Will Everyone See My Numbers?

This is the change that’s caused the most concern among small business owners, and understandably so. The good news is that while small companies and micro-entities will need to file their profit and loss account with Companies House, they’ll be able to opt out of having it published on the public register. So your turnover and profit figures won’t automatically be visible to competitors, customers or curious neighbours.

The government hasn’t yet confirmed exactly how the opt-out will work — those details are expected in due course. It’s worth noting that even where a company opts out of publication, Companies House, HMRC and law enforcement will still have access to the information.

Software-Only Filing — Do I Need to Do Anything?

From April 2028, accounts can only be filed through commercial software. If your accounts are already filed using software — for example, by your accountant — you may not need to do anything at all. But it’s well worth checking, particularly if you currently file your own accounts directly through the Companies House website or on paper, as those routes are closing for accounts filings.

Other Companies House services, such as filing confirmation statements or updating director details, will still be available online as normal.

What Should You Do Now?

• Check how your accounts are currently filed — if it’s via software or through an accountant, you’re probably already covered.

• If you file directly with Companies House yourself, start planning your move to compliant software well before April 2028.

• Keep an eye out for an email from Companies House — they’ll be contacting all registered email addresses between 16 and 18 June 2026 with more details and links to guidance.

• If you’re a small company that values keeping your figures private, watch for the opt-out guidance when it’s published — we’ll keep you posted.

How Can Flow Help?

While April 2028 might feel a long way off, changes like these are always easier with a bit of forward planning — especially alongside other big shifts like Making Tax Digital. We can review how your accounts are currently prepared and filed, make sure you’ll be compliant under the new rules, and handle the filing for you so you don’t need to worry about any of it.

If you’d like to chat through what these changes mean for your company, you can book a free, no-obligation discovery call with our team here: https://calendly.com/flowaccandtax/discoverycall