Small companies will not have to file a profit and loss account from April 2028, because the government paused that plan on 23 October 2026, but the move to software-only accounts filing is still going ahead. If your company files its own accounts through WebFiling, that is the change that will affect you. Here is what has changed, what has not, and what to do before then.
Key takeaways
- The requirement for small companies and micro-entities to file a profit and loss account is paused, not cancelled.
- Abridged accounts stay, and smaller companies can still leave out ("fillet") profit and loss information.
- From April 2028, accounts must be filed in iXBRL using commercial software. Web and paper routes close for accounts.
- Audit exemption statements, filing the parts of accounts together, and limits on shortening a year end are also still planned.
What are filleted and abridged accounts?
Filleted accounts are a company's accounts with the profit and loss account and directors' report left out of the version sent to Companies House. Shareholders still receive the full set, but the public record shows far less. Abridged accounts are different: they condense certain figures rather than removing a whole statement, and all members must agree to them. Many small owner-managed companies use one of these options because they would rather not publish their margins for customers and competitors to read.
That is why this announcement matters. Earlier plans would have ended the ability to keep this information off the filed accounts, and a June 2026 update proposed filing it with an option to opt out of publication. The Companies House update of 23 October 2026 now pauses that requirement. It follows recommendations from the Small Business Regulatory Taskforce.
What is changing, paused or staying the same
| Item | Status at 23 October 2026 | What it means for a small company |
|---|---|---|
| Filing a profit and loss account | Paused | No new requirement for now, but keep an eye on future announcements |
| Abridged accounts and filleting | Staying | You can carry on with your current style of filed accounts |
| Software-only filing in iXBRL | Going ahead, April 2028 | WebFiling and paper end for accounts, so you need software or an agent |
| Audit exemption statement | Going ahead, April 2028 | A stronger statement of eligibility on accounts claiming exemption |
| Filing all parts of accounts together | Going ahead, April 2028 | No sending component parts separately |
| Shortening your accounting period | Limit going ahead, April 2028 | Fewer chances to move your year end by shortening it |
Details and timing can still move, so check the current Companies House accounts guidance on GOV.UK before acting on any of this.
What to do now: a five-point readiness check
- Find out how your last accounts were filed. If the answer is WebFiling or paper, you are in the group that must change.
- Map your filing dates. Add nine months to each coming year end and note which accounts you expect to file after 1 April 2028. Our accounts deadlines guide explains the calculation.
- Choose a route. Either buy accounts production software that can file iXBRL with Companies House, or use an accountant who does.
- Review any planned year-end change. If you were thinking of shortening your accounting period, take advice early, because a limit is on the way. See our guide to changing your year end.
- Check your audit exemption wording. If you claim small company audit exemption, expect a stronger statement to sign, and make sure you can honestly stand behind it.
Worked example: which year end is affected?
"Larkfield Interiors Ltd" is an illustrative example, not a real company. It has a 31 July year end and its director files filleted accounts through WebFiling each spring.
Accounts for the year to 31 July 2026 are due by 30 April 2027, so nothing changes for that filing. Accounts for the year to 31 July 2027 are due by 30 April 2028, after the April 2028 change. The director could use WebFiling only if the rules still allow it on the actual filing date, and should not count on that. The sensible plan is to choose software or an accountant during 2027 rather than discover the problem in April 2028, three weeks before a deadline.
The good news is that Larkfield's accounts can stay filleted under the paused rules, so the director does not have to publish a turnover or profit figure as a result of this reform. A company with a 31 March year end would file its year to 31 March 2027 accounts by 31 December 2027, so its first affected filing would come a year later.
Common mistakes
- Relying on old articles. Plenty of web pages still say that every small company must publish its profit and loss from 2027. That date and requirement have both moved.
- Assuming "paused" means gone. The government has paused it, not ruled it out, so review the position each year.
- Leaving software until the deadline. A first iXBRL filing takes longer than repeating a familiar online form.
- Mixing up Companies House and HMRC. Your company tax return is a separate filing with its own rules and deadline.
- Forgetting late filing costs. Automatic penalties for late company accounts apply whichever filing method you use.
How we can help
Company accounts start from £350/year on a fixed fee. If you currently file your own accounts, we can tell you when your first affected filing falls and what to change. See our company accounts service, check our pricing, or contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do small companies have to file a profit and loss account from April 2028?
No, not under the position announced on 23 October 2026. The government has paused that requirement for small companies and micro-entities. Paused is not the same as scrapped, so it could return, but for now smaller companies can keep leaving this information out of what they file.
Can I still use Companies House WebFiling for my accounts?
You can until the change takes effect. Companies House says its web and paper systems will close for accounts filings from April 2028. WebFiling remains for other filings, such as confirmation statements and changes to director details, so you will not lose access to it altogether.
What is iXBRL and do I need to understand it?
iXBRL is a tagged file format that lets software read the figures in a set of accounts. You do not need to learn it yourself. Commercial accounts software or your accountant's software produces the file, but you should confirm that whoever prepares your accounts can file this way.
Does the software requirement apply if my accountant files for me?
Yes. Companies House says the requirement covers all UK registered companies, including those using agents or accountants. In practice, your accountant handles the file, but it is worth asking now which software they use and whether it is ready for Companies House filing from April 2028.
Will my accounts deadline change because of these reforms?
The announcement does not change your filing deadline. Private companies normally have nine months from the end of their financial year to file accounts. What the reforms do limit is how often a company can shorten its accounting reference period, so plan any year-end change with care.
Related reading
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Schedule a consultation →Written by the Berber Accounts & Tax team, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom.
Last reviewed: 31 October 2026.
This article is general information, not personal tax advice. Speak to a qualified accountant about your own circumstances before acting on it.