Prepare annual accounts for a private limited company

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Overview

Your company’s annual accounts - called ‘statutory accounts’ - are prepared from the company’s financial records at the end of your company’s financial year.

You must always send copies of the statutory accounts to:

  • all shareholders
  • people who can go to the company’s general meetings
  • Companies House
  • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as part of your Company Tax Return

You have different deadlines for sending your accounts to Companies House and your tax return to HMRC, but you may be able send them at the same time.

If your company is small, a micro entity or dormant, you might be able to send simpler (‘abridged’) accounts.

How to put together statutory accounts

Statutory accounts must include:

  • a ‘balance sheet’, which shows the value of everything the company owns, owes and is owed on the last day of the financial year
  • a ‘profit and loss account’, which shows the company’s sales, running costs and the profit or loss it has made over the financial year
  • notes about the accounts
  • a director’s report (unless you’re a ‘micro-entity’)

You might have to include an auditor’s report - this depends on the size of your company.

The balance sheet must have the name of a director printed on it and must be signed by a director.

Accounting standards

Your statutory accounts must meet either:

  • International Financial Reporting Standards
  • New UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice

Search online to find out more about the standards, or ask your accountant or tax adviser. You can find an accountant accredited in the UK.