Filing your Companies House accounts
How to prepare and file annual accounts with Companies House for your UK registered company.
Documents
Details
This guidance covers the rules for filing accounts each year at Companies House 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 your accounts
You’ll need your company authentication code.
In the future, you’ll only be able to file accounts with Companies House using commercial software. Read about changes to accounts.
For now, you can also file your company accounts online or send paper accounts to Companies House by post.
The online accounts and Company Tax Return service will close on 31 March 2026.
| 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 |
You can also file certain iXBRL package accounts with Companies House. The accounts must be in a ZIP file format and iXBRL tagged using software. These are:
- UKSEF accounts for listed companies
- Welsh accounts with an English translation
- group package accounts - section 400, parent incorporated under UK law
- group package accounts - section 401, parent incorporated under non-UK law
- community interest companies (CIC) accounts
- audit exempt subsidiary accounts
- dormant exempt subsidiary accounts
- limited partnership accounts
For full details, see File your company’s annual accounts with Companies House.
Updates to this page
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How to change a company’s ARD – Added more information about changing a company's accounting reference date when you have a filing extension.
Update history
2025-12-05 14:04
Guidance added for clarity. You’ll need to send your amended CIC accounts to Companies House on paper. You cannot file amended CIC accounts online or using software.
2025-08-18 14:13
How to change a company’s ARD – Added more information about changing a company’s accounting reference date when you have a filing extension.
2025-07-01 12:09
Updated guidance to include changes to accounts under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 that will come into effect on 1 April 2027.
2025-04-02 00:01
New company thresholds for accounting periods starting 6 April 2025. You can now file certain iXBRL package accounts with Companies House. The online accounts and Company Tax Return service is closing on 31 March 2026.
2024-10-01 10:06
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.”
2023-04-05 09:00
You can file interim and initial accounts using software (2023 FRC suite of taxonomies) from 5 April 2023.
2022-03-24 11:23
We can accept certain digital signatures on paper accounts – updated guidance with a link to our policy on digital signatures