Quick Overview

Every UK limited company must prepare annual accounts summarising its financial performance and position for the year, and file them with Companies House (and separately with HMRC as part of the Corporation Tax return).

Who This Guide Is For

This guide is for directors approaching their company's first or upcoming year-end who want to understand what's involved.

What You May Need

  • Full financial records for the accounting period
  • Bank statements, invoices and expense records
  • Details of any assets, loans or liabilities

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Confirm your accounting reference date. This sets your company's financial year-end and filing deadlines.
  2. Gather your financial records for the full accounting period.
  3. Prepare the annual accounts, generally with support from an accountant.
  4. File accounts with Companies House — smaller companies can often file simplified accounts.
  5. Use the same accounts to support your Corporation Tax return to HMRC.

Important Considerations

Companies House accounts and the accounts submitted with your Corporation Tax return serve different purposes and have separate deadlines. Late filing with Companies House carries automatic penalties, so it's worth diarising deadlines well in advance.

This guide provides general information only and is not personalised accounting advice.