Accounts & filing
Companies House transparency reform is removing the option to file filleted accounts without a profit and loss account. Here is what changes and how to prepare.
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar Member of ICAEW, Fellow of ACCA, Fellow of AAT, a double graduate and entrepreneur at heart, helping startups grow and serving thousands of businesses nationwide with an excellent team. Published by LimitedCompany.Accountants, 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Reviewed 12 September 2026 against 2026/27 UK rates and current Companies House and HMRC guidance.
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QuickBooks PartnerCertified ProAdvisor100+ yearsCombined team experienceFully insuredUp to £2m indemnityYes, in substance. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, small and micro companies will have to file a profit and loss account, ending the filleted accounts route that let companies publish only a balance sheet. Abridged accounts go the same way.
What filleting meant, and what replaces it
Practical consequences for owner-managed companies
Yes, in substance. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, small and micro companies will have to file a profit and loss account, ending the filleted accounts route that let companies publish only a balance sheet. Abridged accounts go the same way.
Filleting let a small company file accounts at Companies House without the profit and loss account or directors' report, so turnover and profit stayed private while the full set still went to HMRC and the shareholders. Under the reform, the profit and loss account becomes part of the public filing.
Companies claiming an audit exemption will also have to give a specific statement on the balance sheet identifying the exemption relied on. The move to software-only filing removes the paper and web filing routes entirely.
Turnover and profit become visible to competitors, customers, suppliers and staff. That changes negotiating positions, and it changes how carefully the presentation of the accounts needs to be handled, particularly directors' remuneration disclosure in small company accounts.
Commencement has been staged and pushed back more than once. Check the current Companies House timetable before making decisions based on a specific date, and plan on the assumption that public profit disclosure is coming rather than hoping otherwise.
Rates, thresholds and deadlines quoted here reflect the 2026/27 UK position and current Companies House and HMRC guidance. Check GOV.UK, or ask us, before relying on them for your own company.
Local help
We work with company directors across London and Surrey from our office at 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Pick your area, or send the form below and we will call you back.
Frequently asked
No. The change applies to future filings, not retrospectively to accounts already on the register.
Dormant accounts remain minimal, but making a trading company dormant to hide results is not a realistic plan.
No. HMRC has always received the full accounts, computations and CT600.
Keep bank statements, sales and platform reports, purchase invoices, payroll records, VAT workings, finance agreements and Companies House correspondence. We confirm the exact list at onboarding and identify gaps before a filing deadline becomes urgent.
The fee depends on transaction volume, record quality, VAT and payroll requirements, historic catch-up and the level of reporting needed. We agree a fixed scope and price before technical work starts, with published packages available on our fees page.
Yes. We request professional clearance, collect the prior records and authorities, check the next Companies House and HMRC deadlines, and give you one clear handover list. The process is normally completed remotely.
Yes. We work through secure cloud records, scheduled reviews and digital approvals, while keeping a named team available by phone, video call and email. Clients can also visit our Morden office by appointment.
We regularly work with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage and connected sales or expense apps. The right setup depends on transaction volume, integrations and the reports you need, not simply the software brand.
The relevant calendar may include annual accounts, Corporation Tax payment and return dates, confirmation statements, VAT returns, payroll submissions and Self Assessment. We map the dates from your company year end and registrations.
No. This page explains general UK rules and common accounting treatment. Your facts, contracts and wider tax position must be reviewed before you rely on a conclusion.
Included approach
Check the current rules
Deadlines, thresholds and filing rules change. GOV.UK and Companies House publish the current statutory position; advice should then be applied to your company’s circumstances.
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