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Guidance

Academies accounts return: guide to using the online form

Information for academy trusts and their auditors on how to complete an academies accounts return.

From:
Department for Education
Published:
22 October 2019
Last updated:
27 October 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Academies accounts return 2025 to 2026: how to complete the online form

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Details

The academies accounts return (AR) 2025 to 2026 is live.

The submission deadline is 26 January 2027.

For further details, read the academies accounts return.

Updates to this page

Last updated:
27 October 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated the guidance now that AR 2025 to 2026 is live. Removed information about AR 2024 to 2025 as this is no longer available to view in read only mode.

  2. Updated for the academies accounts return (AR) 2025 to 2026.

  3. Updated the home page to reflect that the academies accounts return 2024/25 has closed.

  4. Updated as the academies accounts return 2024 to 2025 submission deadline has now passed.

  5. Updated the 'Balance sheet funds and other disclosures' section to clarify how the ‘Agency arrangements’ table should be completed.

  6. Updated the guidance to help academy trusts complete their academies accounts return for 2024 to 2025. You can now submit your return. The submission deadline is 28 January 2026.

  7. Section 1.2 has been updated to show changes for 2023 to 2024 academies accounts return. Updated section 2.1 and 2.2 to update the process for DfE Sign-in.

  8. Academies accounts return 2022/23: guide to completing the online form - Section 14. Privacy notices has been added

  9. The accounts return deadline has passed.

  10. We've updated the guidance videos for hard and soft validations clearance and the general overview validation video

  11. The Academies accounts return (AR) for 2022/23 went live on Tuesday 12 September 2023 with a submission deadline of Tuesday 30 January 2024. The AR 2021/22 is now in read-only mode.

  12. The accounts return guidance has been updated for the 2022/23 return.

  13. The Academies accounts return (AR) 2021/22 is now in read-only mode. The AR for 2022/23 will go live on Tuesday 12 September 2023 with a submission deadline of Tuesday 30 January 2024.

  14. The deadline to submit the academies accounts return (AR) 2021/22 has now passed.

  15. We have update the SAT Benchmarking Tables - Closing balances in the guide to complete the online form.

  16. We have updated this page with guidance and resources to help academy trusts complete their academies accounts return 2021/22

  17. We have updated this page with the guide to completing the online form for the academies accounts return 2020/21.

  18. We have published the key dates for the academies accounts return. The online form will be available from 4 November 2021.

  19. We have updated this page with the guide for academy trust completing the online form for the academies accounts return 2019/20.

  20. We have added some new tutorial videos to help users complete the accounts return.

  21. We have published a quick guide to help users understand the new accounts return form. The deadline to complete the accounts return form is the 20 January 2020.

  22. First published.

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