Companies House Is Changing How You File Accounts. Are You Ready for April 2028?

A Companies House update may not sound urgent when the deadline is still some way off. 

But if you run a limited company, this is the kind of change worth paying attention to early. 

From 1 April 2028, Companies House is changing how annual accounts must be filed. And for many businesses, the change will be more than a technical admin update. 

It could affect what you file, how you file it, what software you use, and how prepared you need to be well before the deadline arrives. 

At Naylor Accountancy Services, we think this is the kind of change that is easier to deal with calmly now than react to later under pressure. 

What is actually changing? 

The reforms come under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which is gradually changing how Companies House works and what information companies must provide. 

For annual accounts, the main changes confirmed so far are these: 

• all companies will need to file annual accounts using commercial software (all done if you are currently one of our clients ) 
• accounts filings will need to be made in iXBRL format (no need to worry about this if you are one of our clients) 
• Companies House web filing and paper filing routes for accounts will close from 1 April 2028 
• small companies and micro-entities will need to file profit and loss accounts as part of their annual accounts 
• small companies and micro-entities will be able to opt out of having those profit and loss accounts published on the public register 
• abridged accounts will be removed 
• there will also be other technical changes, including a strengthened eligibility statement for companies claiming audit exemption 

That is a meaningful shift, especially for smaller businesses that may still be used to simpler filing methods or may assume these kinds of changes only affect larger companies. 

Why this matters more than it first appears 

On paper, this can sound like a filing-method change. 

In practice, it is wider than that. 

If you already file through software as we do for all our Naylor Accountancy Services clients, the impact may be limited. But if you still rely on paper filing or HMRC online filing, this is a major change.  

If you are not fully clear about what type of accounts your company files, this is the sort of change that can create unnecessary stress later if left too long. 

This is also not just about sending accounts in a different way. 

It is about making sure: 

• your records are in good enough shape for software-based filing   
• you know what type of accounts your company files 
• your authentication details are available 
• your filing process is not overly dependent on last-minute admin 
• you are not caught out close to a deadline because the old route is no longer available 

That is where a seemingly technical update can turn into a real business headache. 

The profit and loss change will get attention 

For many small companies and micro-entities, the biggest talking point will be the requirement to file a profit and loss account. 

That is a noticeable change. 

The government has tried to address concerns by confirming that smaller companies will be able to opt out of having that profit and loss information published on the public register, although the detailed process for opting out has not yet been confirmed. 

That distinction matters. 

Companies House, HMRC, and law enforcement will still have access where relevant, but the public publication point has been softened for smaller companies. 

So this is not quite as simple as “your profit and loss will now be public”. But it is also not something to ignore. 

If you run a small company or micro-entity, this is worth understanding properly rather than relying on second-hand summaries. 

You do have more time, but that should not become a reason to delay 

One important part of the update is that the start date has been pushed back. 

The reforms will now take effect from 1 April 2028 rather than 1 April 2027. 

Companies House says this gives businesses one full accounting year plus 9 months to prepare, which is 21 months in total. 

That is helpful. 

But it does not mean nothing needs doing until 2028. 

For many businesses, the sensible move will be to treat this as a preparation window, not a reason to wait until the last minute. 

Because the businesses that usually feel the most pressure are not always the ones facing the biggest rule change. They are often the ones who leave practical changes too late. 

What should you do now? 

That depends on how you already file. 

If your accounts are already filed through software (which is true for all clients of Naylor Accountancy Services), or your accountant or agent is already handling this through the right systems, you may not need to do much beyond checking that your current process is fit for the change.  

If not, now is a good time to ask some practical questions: 

• What type of accounts does your company file? 
• Are you already using suitable software? 
• Do you have your company authentication code available? 
• Will your current filing process still work from April 2028? 
• Are your records and reporting processes strong enough to support a smoother move to software-only filing? 

Those are much better questions to deal with now rather than last minute as you are reaching your filing deadline. 

Where Naylor Accountancy Services can help 

For some businesses, this update will be straightforward, especially if you are already a client of Naylor Accountancy Services. 

For others, it will highlight wider issues around record-keeping, reporting, software, filing readiness, and how much of the compliance process is still being managed too reactively. 

That is often the bigger issue. 

A filing reform like this can expose where the business is still relying on old habits, weak processes, or admin that only works because someone keeps chasing it. 

At Naylor Accountancy Services, we can help you understand what these changes mean for your company, what action is actually needed, and whether your current accounts and filing process will still serve you well as the April 2028 deadline gets closer. 

To speak with our team, contact: 

Main office: 01892 807 001 

Chichester office: 01243 776088 

Bourne End office: 01628 530805 

Email: [email protected]