UK Company Accounts — Filing Requirements and Types

Company Accounts

Financial statements that UK companies must prepare and file with Companies House, ranging from micro-entity to full accounts depending on company size.

All UK companies must file annual accounts with Companies House, regardless of size or trading status. The type of accounts required depends on the company's classification: micro-entity, small, medium, or large — determined by turnover, balance sheet total, and number of employees.

Micro-entities (turnover under £632,000, balance sheet under £316,000, fewer than 10 employees) can file the simplest accounts with just a balance sheet and limited notes. Small companies can file abbreviated accounts. Medium and large companies must file full accounts with a profit and loss statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, and detailed notes.

Filing deadlines are 9 months after the accounting reference date for private companies and 6 months for public companies. Late filing incurs automatic penalties: £150 for up to 1 month late (private), escalating to £1,500 for over 6 months late. Repeated late filing doubles the penalties.

BORSCH.AI processes Companies House accounts data for 6.07 million filings, extracting financial signals including accounts category, filing dates, late filing indicators, and employee count brackets for risk assessment and financial benchmarking.

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Company Accounts Signals

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the penalties for late filing of accounts?

Private companies: £150 (1 month late), £375 (1-3 months), £750 (3-6 months), £1,500 (6+ months). Public companies: double these amounts. Penalties are automatic and cannot be appealed except in very limited circumstances.

Do dormant companies need to file accounts?

Yes, but dormant companies can file simplified 'dormant company accounts' containing only a balance sheet and a note confirming the company has been dormant throughout the period. There is no exemption from filing.

What is the difference between micro-entity and small company accounts?

Micro-entities (turnover <£632K) file only a balance sheet. Small companies (turnover <£10.2M) can file a balance sheet plus limited notes but no profit and loss account. The thresholds are based on turnover, balance sheet total, and employee count.

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Data sourced from 53 official UK government and regulatory bodies including Companies House, FCA, HMRC, and Land Registry. Updated daily.