Companies House accounts filing is changing from April 2028 — what it means for your business
Companies House has confirmed a significant overhaul of how UK companies file their annual accounts. The changes come from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, and after a period of consultation and a pause last year, the government has now set out exactly what's coming — and when.
The headline for most small businesses: these reforms are now landing on 1 April 2028, a year later than the originally planned 2027 date. That gives companies a full accounting year plus nine months, around 21 months, to get ready.
Here's what's changing and what you'll need to think about.
Software-only filing — the web and paper routes are closing
From April 2028, every UK company will have to file its annual accounts using commercial software, in iXBRL format. Companies House is closing its web-based and paper accounts filing services for good.
This applies whether you currently file your own accounts or use an accountant or agent to do it for you. Confirmation statements, director updates and other statutory filings will still be available through the usual Companies House web services — it's specifically accounts filing that's moving to software only.
If Alera prepares and files your accounts, this is already how we work, so for most of our clients this part of the change happens quietly in the background.
Small companies and micro-entities will file profit and loss accounts
This is the bigger shift in principle. At present, small companies and micro-entities can file heavily simplified accounts and keep their profit and loss figures off the public record. From April 2028, they'll need to file a profit and loss account, just as larger companies do.
There is an important concession, though. Small companies and micro-entities will be able to opt out of publishing their profit and loss account on the public register. The figures will still reach Companies House, and remain available to HMRC and law enforcement, but they won't have to appear publicly for everyone (including competitors) to see.
This was the government's answer to widespread concern about the privacy and commercial risks of forcing the smallest companies to lay their margins bare. The detail of how the opt-out will actually work hasn't been published yet; we'll update clients once it is.
The end of abridged accounts and other technical changes
A few further changes are worth flagging:
Abridged accounts are being removed as a filing option.
Companies claiming audit exemption will need to provide a strengthened eligibility statement confirming they genuinely qualify.
The component parts of a set of accounts and reports will need to be filed together, rather than piecemeal.
There will be a limit on how often a company can shorten its accounting reference period — a route sometimes used to push back filing deadlines.
Individually these are modest, but together they're aimed at improving the accuracy and reliability of the public register and making life harder for those using companies to commit fraud.
What you need to do now
For most businesses, the honest answer is: not much just yet — but don't ignore it either.
If we file your accounts for you, you don't need to take any action. We already file via software and will make sure everything is ready well ahead of the deadline.
If you file your own accounts through the Companies House web service, you'll need to move to commercial software before April 2028. That means choosing a package, getting set up, and being comfortable using it in good time rather than in a last-minute rush.
If the privacy opt-out matters to you, it's worth a conversation about how it fits your wider position. For example, if you ever need to show accounts to a lender or investor, full publication can actually work in your favour.
How Alera can help
These reforms are a good moment to take stock of how your accounts are prepared and filed. If you currently file yourself and the move to software feels like a hassle, this is exactly the kind of thing we take off your plate.
If you have any questions about how the 2028 changes affect your company specifically — or you'd like us to handle your accounts filing ahead of the deadline — get in touch at hello@alera.uk and we'll talk it through.
This article is based on the Companies House announcement of 9 June 2026. You can read the original on GOV.UK: Companies House to bring in changes to accounts filing from April 2028. It is general information, not specific advice — please contact us about your own circumstances.