Filing your Companies House accounts
How to prepare and file annual accounts with Companies House for your UK registered company.
Documents
Details
This guidance covers the rules for filing accounts each year at Companies House for UK registered companies.
All companies must file annual accounts with Companies House - even if you’re dormant or not trading.
File your accounts on time to avoid a penalty
How to file your accounts
You’ll need your company authentication code.
In the future, you’ll only be able to file accounts with Companies House using third party software. Read about changes to accounts.
For now, you can also file your company accounts online or send paper accounts to Companies House by post.
The online accounts and Company Tax Return service will close on 31 March 2026.
| Type of accounts | Options |
|---|---|
| Unaudited abridged | Software, CATO, Find and update company information |
| Dormant | Software, CATO, WebFiling (if not previously traded) |
| Micro entity | Software, CATO, WebFiling |
| Full unaudited | Software, CATO |
| Audited abridged | Software |
| Full audited | Software |
| Small audited | Software |
| Medium audited | Software |
| Group | Software |
| Interim | Software |
| Initial | Software |
You can also file certain iXBRL package accounts with Companies House. The accounts must be in a ZIP file format and iXBRL tagged using software. These are:
- UKSEF accounts for listed companies
- Welsh accounts with an English translation
- group package accounts - section 400, parent incorporated under UK law
- group package accounts - section 401, parent incorporated under non-UK law
- community interest companies (CIC) accounts
- audit exempt subsidiary accounts
- dormant exempt subsidiary accounts
- limited partnership accounts
For full details, see File your company’s annual accounts with Companies House.
Updates to this page
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New company thresholds for accounting periods starting 6 April 2025. You can now file certain iXBRL package accounts with Companies House. The online accounts and Company Tax Return service is closing on 31 March 2026.
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Micro entities profit and loss exemption statement updated - "These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the micro entity provisions and have been delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime."
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You can file interim and initial accounts using software (2023 FRC suite of taxonomies) from 5 April 2023.
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We can accept certain digital signatures on paper accounts – updated guidance with a link to our policy on digital signatures
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The automatic extensions granted by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act have come to an end.
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The automatic extensions granted by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act will come to an end for filing deadlines that fall after 5 April 2021.
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Updated guidance in accordance with the end of UK transition. Removed any references to SEs, EEIGs, EC Directives.
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CICs guidance updated
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Video added.
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Updated exemptions from audit as a small company
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CIC accounts guidance updated.
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Table added with accounts options for online filing.
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Link to accounts podcast added.
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Guidance updated.
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Note added to section 7.
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Welsh guidance added
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The Companies, Partnerships & Groups (Accounts & Reports) Regulations 2015 introduced a number of changes to accounts filing requirements. This revised version of the guidance covers these changes and streamlines the guidance by removing information that is outdated or no longer relevant.
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New version relating to changes brought in by the The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act.
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Guidance updated to version 4.5
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Guidance updated from version 4.3 to version 4.4
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Welsh translation added.
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First published.