On 9 June 2026 the government confirmed how Companies House accounts filing will change under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. The start date moved from April 2027 to April 2028, which gives companies more time to prepare.
What changes in April 2028
Software-only filing
All companies must file annual accounts using commercial software. The Companies House web filing service and paper filing for accounts will close. Confirmation statements and director updates stay on the Companies House service.
Profit and loss accounts
Small companies and micro-entities will have to file a profit and loss account, not just a balance sheet. Abridged accounts will no longer be available. Companies will be able to opt out of the profit and loss account being published, though Companies House, law enforcement and HMRC will still see it.
What it means for you
If your accountant files for you, there is little to do beyond making sure they use compliant software. If you file yourself through WebFiling, you will need software that produces accounts in iXBRL format before your first filing after the changeover.
The bigger point is privacy. Many small companies have kept their profit figures private by filing a balance sheet only. From 2028 that depends on the opt-out, so it is worth asking what is published about you.
What to do now
- Check which accounts framework applies to you (micro-entity, small company or dormant).
- Make sure your bookkeeping gives clean profit and loss figures.
- Confirm your accountant's software will file direct to Companies House.
We prepare and file accounts for our clients using compliant software, so nothing changes on your side. If you currently file yourself, we can take that over.
This is general information, not personal advice. Further detail on the opt-out is still to be confirmed.
