Guidance

Filing your company's accounts

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

Published 1 August 2014
Last updated 6 September 2019 — see all updates
From:
Companies House

Documents

Company accounts guidance

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Podcast: how to avoid common mistakes on accounts

https://soundcloud.com/user-859571861/accounts-rejection-podcast

Details

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

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

See our guidance on the temporary changes to Companies House filing requirements.

What are annual accounts?

Send us your company’s accounts online.

What you can file online

You can use our Companies House Service, or WebFiling to send us some accounts types.

You’ll need a Companies House password and authentication code. You can register for online filing if you do not have them.

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.

Type of accounts Options
Unaudited abridged Software, CATO, Companies House Service
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 Paper only
Initial Paper only
Audit exemption subsidiary Paper only

You can find more information in our online filing guidance.

Published 1 August 2014
Last updated 6 September 2019 + show all updates

  1. CICs guidance updated

  2. Video added.

  3. Updated exemptions from audit as a small company

  4. CIC accounts guidance updated.

  5. Table added with accounts options for online filing.

  6. Link to accounts podcast added.

  7. Guidance updated.

  8. Note added to section 7.

  9. Welsh guidance added

  10. 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This revised version of the guidance covers these changes and streamlines the guidance by removing information that is outdated or no longer relevant.

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

  12. Guidance updated to version 4.5

  13. Guidance updated from version 4.3 to version 4.4

  14. Welsh translation added.

  15. First published.

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