We have received the following email from Companies house regarding changes that will come in to effect from April 2028. In summary ALL companies, including Small & Micro Companies, will then be required to file Profit & Loss accounts and to file using commercial software. However, small and micro-entities will be able to opt out of having their profit and loss accounts published on the public register. (Details of how to opt out to be confirmed in due course.)
Link to more info on the governemnt website: Companies House to bring in changes to accounts filing from April 2028 - GOV.UK
What do we think? Actually the reporting and checks on Companies House are very lax. They need to take steps to tighten things up and work to spot and close down fraud. We don't have a problem with filing the Profit & Loss accounts. They are generated anyway by our accountants. However, we will be using the opt out for public publication of them. Not that we have anything to hide - but just that that is out private information and so we will keep them private until we grow to such a size that we cannot do so.
Wording of the email:
"This is an official email from Companies House, sent to all registered email addresses. The information in this email is relevant to all companies registered in the UK. If you’re a third-party agent who has received this email on behalf of a company, please forward this message to the company directors of all companies you work with.
This email provides an update on changes to how companies will file their annual accounts from 1 April 2028. Companies will have received an email about these changes last year. Please read this update carefully as some details have changed.
The government has now confirmed how the Companies House accounts reforms measures set out in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Act 2023 will be implemented. Under the ECCT Act, the government will reform how companies report information and what information they report when filing their annual accounts with Companies House.
This update follows a pause in implementation last year and extensive engagement with stakeholders to consider their views around the impact some of the reforms may have on companies.
The government has taken the decision to proceed with the reforms. These include:
| requiring small companies and micro-entities to file profit and loss accounts, as other companies do |
| all companies having to file their accounts at Companies House via commercial software |
| other smaller technical amendments. |
However, to help address concerns, the government is introducing two changes:
| Opt out of profit and loss publication: small and micro-entities will be able to opt out of having their profit and loss accounts published on the public register. Details of how smaller companies can opt out of publication will be confirmed in due course.Postponed timings: these reforms will now come into effect on 1 April 2028, rather than 1 April 2027. This will give companies additional time to prepare, with one full accounting year plus nine months (a total of 21 months) to get ready. |
In line with the changes, our web and paper routes will be closed for accounts filings from 1 April 2028, but will remain open for other statutory filings."
