Filing your Companies House accounts
Rules and requirements on filing annual accounts at Companies House for companies registered in the UK.
Documents
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 online
File your company’s accounts online.
It’s taking much longer than usual to process paper documents sent to us by post.
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 |
See our online filing guidance.
Last updated 24 March 2022 + show all updates
-
We can accept certain digital signatures on paper accounts – updated guidance with a link to our policy on digital signatures
-
The automatic extensions granted by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act have come to an end.
-
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.
-
Updated guidance in accordance with the end of UK transition. Removed any references to SEs, EEIGs, EC Directives.
-
CICs guidance updated
-
Video added.
-
Updated exemptions from audit as a small company
-
CIC accounts guidance updated.
-
Table added with accounts options for online filing.
-
Link to accounts podcast added.
-
Guidance updated.
-
Note added to section 7.
-
Welsh guidance added
-
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.
-
New version relating to changes brought in by the The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act.
-
Guidance updated to version 4.5
-
Guidance updated from version 4.3 to version 4.4
-
Welsh translation added.
-
First published.