Guidance

Filing your Companies House accounts

Rules and requirements on filing annual accounts at Companies House for companies registered in the UK.

From:
Companies House
Published
1 August 2014
Last updated
1 October 2024 — See all updates

Documents

Companies House accounts guidance

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Details

This guidance is for directors, secretaries and persons acting as advisers to UK registered companies. It covers the rules governing the filing of accounts 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 accounts online

You’ll need a Companies House password and authentication code to file your company’s accounts online.

If you have a private limited company that does not need an auditor, you could use the company accounts and tax online (CATO) service to file your Companies House accounts and HMRC company tax return together.

You can send us most types of accounts using third-party software.

It takes longer to process paper documents sent by post.

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
Audit exemption subsidiary Paper only

See Filing your Companies House information online for more information.

Updates to this page

Published 1 August 2014
Last updated 1 October 2024 + show all updates

  1. 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."

  2. You can file interim and initial accounts using software (2023 FRC suite of taxonomies) from 5 April 2023.

  3. We can accept certain digital signatures on paper accounts – updated guidance with a link to our policy on digital signatures

  4. The automatic extensions granted by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act have come to an end.

  5. 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.

  6. Updated guidance in accordance with the end of UK transition. Removed any references to SEs, EEIGs, EC Directives.

  7. CICs guidance updated

  8. Video added.

  9. Updated exemptions from audit as a small company

  10. CIC accounts guidance updated.

  11. Table added with accounts options for online filing.

  12. Link to accounts podcast added.

  13. Guidance updated.

  14. Note added to section 7.

  15. Welsh guidance added

  16. 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.

  17. New version relating to changes brought in by the The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act.

  18. Guidance updated to version 4.5

  19. Guidance updated from version 4.3 to version 4.4

  20. Welsh translation added.

  21. First published.

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