Academies financial returns
Further information about the financial returns that academy trusts must submit to DfE.
Applies to England
Introduction
The Department for Education (DfE) collects a variety of data from academy trusts to perform a number of compliance, legal and parliamentary functions. These cover the preparation of:
- sector annual report and accounts (SARA)
- spending review and HM Treasury requirements
- assurance to Parliament on the oversight of the academy sector
- other legal requirements, such as accounting standards or new legislation
DfE must ensure sector compliance with the academy trust handbook accountability and assurance framework, as well as offering support to academy trusts that need it.
Land and buildings collection tool
The land and buildings collection tool (LBCT) will not be published in autumn 2026, as previously planned.
We may collect some or all of this information in future, either through the LBCT or another process.
We will update you on our plans for the LBCT by the end of 2026. The LBCT guidance page explains more about the:
- good estates management guide
- LBCT collection
- education estates strategy
Budget forecast return
The budget forecast return (BFR) collects unaudited data annually, which is split by academic and financial years over the next 3 years.
The BFR collects the data for revenue income and expenditure, capital income and expenditure, pupil numbers, and other financial data such as the details of any loans, investments or cash. The BFR also shows how your trust’s reserves are forecasted to profile over the next 3 years. This should reflect the budgets that your trustees have signed off.
Why we ask for this information
Collecting the BFR gives DfE an insight into academy trusts’ future solvency, forecasts, pupil numbers and helps us identify any academy trusts who could need some support. It also provides the department with assurance about financial governance through compliance with part 2 of the academy trust handbook.
We use your BFR data as part of our own reporting requirements to HM Treasury and as part of the spending review assessments that help influence future academy budgets. We also use it extensively to analyse trends and forecasts to help with new policy formation, as well as for general analytical review work.
Deadlines
The BFR form went live on 13 July 2026 and has a submission deadline of 24 September 2026.
More information about BFR submission
You can read detailed guidance about the academies budget forecast return, which contains the link to the online form.
Academies accounts return
Academy trusts are required to submit an annual accounts return to DfE each year. The accounts return (AR) requires an independent auditor’s sign-off as part of the submission to DfE.
The AR must be completed by all academy trusts that received funding for any part of the academic year they were open, even if they closed part-way through the year.
Why we ask for this information
The AR is used for the academies consolidated annual report and accounts, which consolidates academy trust accounts for the year ending 31 August annually.
The consolidated accounts are a requirement of government, and we must lay these in Parliament each year for scrutiny.
A separate AR is required, as the accounting standards DfE must follow are different to the accounting standards set out in the academy accounts direction that academy trusts must follow.
The AR also helps DfE to produce benchmarking data that is comparable with other academies and with maintained schools.
Deadlines
The accounts return for 2025 to 2026 will go live by early November 2026 and has a submission deadline of 26 January 2027.
More information about the academies accounts return
You can read the guide to completing the academies returns.
Academies chart of accounts
The academies chart of accounts (CoA) is DfE’s standard reporting framework for financial reporting and underpins academy trusts’ statutory financial returns.
DfE will not offer automation functionality to complete the accounts return 2025 to 2026. We are reviewing how we collect data from academy trusts.
DfE will continue to develop and support the academies chart of accounts as the sector’s standard for financial reporting. We encourage trusts to adopt the standard academies CoA to improve the efficiency of completing financial returns and data quality.
The academies chart of accounts page has more information.
Academies accounts direction and financial statements
Why we ask for this information
Timely submission of accounts to DfE is essential for giving assurance to Parliament that academy trusts have used public money for the purposes intended.
The academies accounts direction is used by academy trusts, their auditors and reporting accountants to prepare and audit financial statements for the accounting period ending on 31 August annually.
Deadlines
Academy trusts must submit the following by 31 December 2026:
- audited accounts
- the audit findings report
- an accounts submission cover
- an annual internal scrutiny report
By 31 January 2027, trusts must publish accounts in full on their website.
By 31 May 2027, trusts must file accounts with Companies House.
The academies accounts direction sets out in detail what trusts must submit.
More information about the academies accounts direction
Read the guidance on the academies accounts direction and submitting your audited financial statements for further information.
How to contact us
If you have any questions about financial returns, you can contact us via the customer help portal.
Keep up to date
We communicate key actions and reminders, along with the latest information, through DfE Update. You can register to receive regular bulletins.