From April 2028, companies within the small company and micro-entity regimes will face important changes to the way they file accounts with Companies House. For established SMEs, this is not just a filing change. It is a prompt to review whether the accounts process, software and internal records are ready for fuller digital reporting.

Accounts filings made on or after 1 April 2028 will need to be submitted using commercial software in iXBRL format. Companies House web and paper routes will close for accounts filings, although they will remain available for other statutory filings.

Small companies and micro-entities will also need to file a profit and loss account as part of their annual accounts. However, they are expected to have the option to opt out of publishing that profit and loss account on the public register. Details of how that opt-out will work are still to be confirmed.

For directors used to filing reduced information at Companies House, this is more than an administrative change, this is more than an administrative change. It affects how accounts are prepared, how much information is filed, and how comfortable the business is with the financial story its accounts present.

Companies House has set out the latest position in its guidance on changes to accounts filing from April 2028.

Why this issue matters for smaller companies

For many smaller businesses, Companies House filing has traditionally been seen as a routine year-end task.

That is changing.

The public register is increasingly treated as a source of financial information that other people rely on. Lenders, credit agencies, suppliers, customers and prospective buyers may all review filed accounts when assessing a company.

The reforms are intended to improve the quality, consistency and usefulness of financial information held at Companies House. For small companies and micro-entities, the practical effect is that the accounts filing process will need more planning, better systems and clearer internal records.

This does not mean every smaller company should be concerned about public disclosure in the same way. The expected profit and loss publication opt-out is important. But the accounts will still need to be filed with Companies House, and Companies House, HMRC and law enforcement will still have access to that information.

That makes accuracy, consistency and readiness more important.

What is changing from April 2028

The key changes for many smaller companies are expected to include:

• Accounts filing by commercial software only.
• Accounts to be filed in iXBRL format.
• Closure of Companies House web and paper routes for accounts filings.
• Small companies and micro-entities having to file a profit and loss account.
• The option for small companies and micro-entities to opt out of publishing the profit and loss account on the public register.
• The removal of abridged accounts.
• A strengthened eligibility statement for companies claiming audit exemption.

These changes are summarised in Companies House’s latest guidance and remain subject to further detail, particularly around how the profit and loss publication opt-out will operate in practice.

For directors, the immediate priority is not to wait until 2028. It is to understand how accounts are currently prepared and whether the business is ready for software-based filing and fuller submission requirements.

Software-only filing needs early preparation

The move to software-only filing may be straightforward for companies already using suitable accounting software.

For others, it could require changes to systems, processes or adviser involvement.

Some smaller companies still rely on manual records, spreadsheets, paper filing or basic year-end preparation. Those methods may not fit comfortably with iXBRL filing if the underlying information is not well organised.

Before the change takes effect, directors should consider:

• Whether the company already uses accounting software that can support Companies House filing.
• Whether the software can produce accounts in the required format.
• Whether internal records are complete and reconciled before year end.
• Who will be responsible for submitting the accounts.
• Whether the current process leaves enough time to resolve filing issues before the deadline.

The aim is not simply to buy software. It is to make sure the accounts process is controlled, reliable and ready for the new filing route.

More information will need to be filed

The profit and loss account is often one of the most commercially sensitive parts of a company’s accounts.

For small companies and micro-entities, the ability to opt out of publication should help address concerns about competitors, suppliers or customers seeing detailed profit information. But that does not remove the need to prepare and file the information correctly.

There is an important distinction between information being filed and information being published.

Where a company opts out of publishing its profit and loss account, the information is still expected to be available to Companies House, HMRC and law enforcement. That means the numbers need to be supported, consistent and capable of being explained.

For growing businesses, this matters beyond compliance. Filed accounts may influence how a company is viewed by lenders, investors, funders or a future buyer.

Common issues to address early

Most filing problems are easier to solve before the deadline is close.

Common issues include:

• Accounting records not being fully reconciled.
• Year-end adjustments being left too late.
• Management accounts, statutory accounts and tax records telling slightly different stories.
• Directors being unclear on what will be filed and what may be published.
• The business relying on abridged accounts or filing options that will no longer be available.
• Accounting software not being ready for Companies House filing.
• Internal responsibilities for filing not being clearly assigned.
• Advisers receiving information too late to review the position properly.

None of these issues necessarily means the business is poorly run. They usually mean the filing process has not kept pace with the company’s needs.

Questions directors should ask before the deadline

A short review of the current accounts process can help directors understand what needs to change.

Useful questions include:

• Are our accounts prepared early enough to avoid deadline pressure?
• Do we currently use software that can support iXBRL filing?
• Are our balance sheet reconciliations completed regularly?
• Do our management accounts, statutory accounts and tax records align?
• Do we understand what will need to be filed from April 2028?
• Are we clear on what may appear on the public register?
• Who is responsible for reviewing the accounts before they are filed?
• Would our filed accounts make sense to a lender, supplier or future buyer?

These questions are practical rather than technical. They help directors move the filing process away from a year-end scramble and towards a more controlled reporting cycle.

Why senior review still matters

Smaller company accounts are sometimes treated as a compliance exercise.

That approach can be risky when more information is being filed and the quality of public data is under greater scrutiny.

Senior review can help ensure the accounts are not only technically compliant, but also consistent with the wider position of the business.

That may include reviewing:

• Whether the accounts reflect the business accurately.
• Whether key balances are properly supported.
• Whether accounting judgements have been documented.
• Whether any unusual movement needs to be explained.
• Whether the filing approach is suitable under the new rules.
• Whether the board is comfortable with the information being filed.

This does not mean making the process unnecessarily complex. It means giving directors confidence that the accounts are reliable before they are submitted.

How this supports better decision-making

The filing reforms should not be viewed only as a Companies House requirement.

Preparing fuller, more reliable accounts can also improve the information available to management.

A better accounts process may highlight:

• Weaknesses in reconciliations.
• Gaps in financial controls.
• Inconsistent reporting between internal and statutory figures.
• Cash-flow pressure.
• Margin movements.
• Areas where the board needs clearer information.

A company that understands its accounts is usually better placed when speaking to lenders, applying for finance, negotiating with suppliers or preparing for investment or sale.

The business does not need perfect accounts. It does need accounts that are accurate, supported and understandable.

Final thought

The April 2028 Companies House filing changes are not just a technical update. They are part of a wider move towards more reliable, standardised and usable company information.

For small companies and micro-entities, the sensible response is to prepare early. Directors should understand what will need to be filed, check whether their software and records are ready, and make sure the accounts process gives them enough time to review the figures properly.

The profit and loss publication opt-out should help address some concerns about public disclosure, but it does not remove the need for accurate and well-supported accounts.

Accendo supports established SMEs with accounts preparation, corporation tax and advisory work where clear records, reliable reporting and practical judgement matter. For companies affected by the April 2028 filing changes, an early review of the accounts process, software and year-end timetable can help reduce uncertainty before the new requirements take effect.

This article is for general information only and reflects the Companies House position at the date of publication. It should not be treated as legal, accounting, tax, transaction, investment or governance advice. You should obtain specific advice based on your organisation’s circumstances.