Companies House software filing in 2028: what small companies need to know

From 1 April 2028, UK companies will need commercial software to file their annual accounts with Companies House. If you currently enter your figures through the Companies House website, this is a change to plan for before your next filing cycle reaches that date. The filing service confirms the start date.

For a small Ltd, the practical questions are straightforward: how will you send the accounts, what extra information will be required, and who will be able to see it?

What changes in April 2028?

The new requirement applies to accounts filed on or after 1 April 2028. That makes the submission date important: accounts covering an earlier financial year can still fall under the new filing route.

Accounts will use iXBRL, a format that makes financial information readable by both people and software. The change applies whether you file yourself or use an accountant. Companies House explains the scope of the reform.

If you have seen references to April 2027, those reflect an earlier timetable. The government announced the revised April 2028 date in June 2026. Read the announcement.

Will your company’s profit become public?

Small companies and micro-entities will have to submit a profit and loss account to Companies House. They will also be able to opt out of having that information published on the public register.

That distinction matters. Opting out concerns public visibility; the information will still be available to Companies House, HMRC and law enforcement. The detailed process for choosing this option has not yet been confirmed in the published guidance. See the official explanation of the publication option.

The wider reforms also remove abridged accounts and strengthen the declaration directors make when claiming an audit exemption. See the other accounts changes.

Will everything move away from WebFiling?

The change concerns annual accounts. Companies House says its web services will remain available for other filings, including confirmation statements and updates to director details. See which services remain available.

What should a small company do now?

Start with three checks:

• How do you file today? If you use the Companies House website, identify the software route you will use for accounts from April 2028.
• Does your software support your accounts? Ask your provider about your accounts type and the new iXBRL requirements. Having software for another business task does not establish that it can handle this filing.
• Who will make the submission? If an accountant handles it, confirm their plan. If you file yourself, allow time to learn the process before the deadline.

These steps follow Companies House’s preparation guidance.

Keep Companies House and HMRC on your checklist

Annual accounts filed with Companies House and a Company Tax Return filed with HMRC are separate obligations. Their deadlines can differ, so keep both in your calendar as you prepare for the change. Check the official software-filing guidance.

For the Corporation Tax part, filefast helps you prepare and submit your CT600 to HMRC. Start your return.

Guidance checked on 1 October 2026.

Matvei Kostiuchenko, Founder of filefast. Not an accountant. This article is general information, not a substitute for regulated tax advice.