Statutory accounts for UK companies
Statutory accounts are the annual accounts every UK company must prepare for its members and file at Companies House under the Companies Act 2006. They contain at least a balance sheet, a profit and loss account and notes. The board approves them, a director signs the balance sheet, and a private company files them within nine months of its year end.
Key facts
| Law | Companies Act 2006, Part 15; SI 2008/409 (small) and SI 2008/410 (medium-sized and large) |
|---|---|
| Accounting standards | FRS 105 (micro-entities), FRS 102 Section 1A (small), full FRS 102 (medium-sized and large) |
| Approval | By the board of directors; a director signs the balance sheet (Companies Act 2006, s414) |
| Filing deadline | 9 months after the end of the accounting reference period (private), 6 months (public) |
| Late filing penalty | £150 to £1,500 for a private company, doubled if the previous year was also late |
| Filing method | Online, by software or on paper today; software only (iXBRL) from 1 April 2028 |
As at 25 October 2026.
What the accounts contain, by company size
| Document | Micro-entity | Small | Medium-sized | Large |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance sheet and profit and loss account | Yes (micro formats) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Notes | At the foot of the balance sheet | FRS 102 Section 1A minimum | Full FRS 102 | Full FRS 102 |
| Statement of cash flows | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Directors' report | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Strategic report | No | No | Yes | Yes, with the section 172(1) statement |
| Auditor's report | Only if not exempt | Only if not exempt | Yes, unless exempt | Yes, unless exempt |
The size class comes from turnover, balance sheet total and average employees: see company size. The accounting standard follows from it: see UK GAAP frameworks.
Prepared for members, filed at Companies House
The company prepares one set of annual accounts for its members. What goes on the public register can be shorter: a small company may leave the profit and loss account and the directors' report out of the copy it files, and a micro-entity may leave out the profit and loss account (Companies Act 2006, s444). Medium-sized and large companies file their full accounts and reports.
On 23 October 2026 the government paused the planned requirement for small and micro companies to file their profit and loss account, and confirmed that abridged and filleted accounts remain available. From 1 April 2028 every company must file its accounts with commercial software in iXBRL.
Approval, signature and statements
- The board approves the accounts and a director signs the balance sheet; the filed copy must show the printed name of the signatory.
- A small company's balance sheet states, above the signature, that the accounts are prepared under the provisions for companies subject to the small companies regime; a micro-entity states that it uses the micro-entity provisions.
- A company that claims audit exemption puts the exemption statements of Companies Act 2006, s475 on the balance sheet, above the signature.
Frequently asked questions
Are statutory accounts the same as a Corporation Tax return?
No. Statutory accounts go to the members and to Companies House. The Corporation Tax return (CT600) goes to HMRC, with the accounts and a tax computation in iXBRL, within 12 months of the end of the accounting period.
Who signs the statutory accounts?
The board approves them and one director signs the balance sheet on its behalf. The directors' report is signed by a director or the company secretary.
Does a small company need an audit?
Usually not. A small company is exempt from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 unless it is excluded, for example as a public company, or members holding at least 10% of the shares require an audit.
What happens if the accounts are filed late?
Companies House charges a late filing penalty from £150 for a private company that is up to one month late, rising to £1,500 after six months, and doubles it if the previous year's accounts were also late. Late filing is also an offence for the directors.
Sources
- Companies Act 2006, section 414
- Companies Act 2006, section 442
- Companies Act 2006, section 444
- Companies Act 2006, section 475
- Companies Act 2006, section 477
- Companies Act 2006, section 453
- Companies House: preparing and filing Companies House accounts
- Companies House: update to accounts filing from April 2028 (23 October 2026)
Prepare your statutory accounts
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Join the waitlistGeneral information about UK company law and tax, not legal or tax advice. The directors remain responsible for the accounts and returns they approve and file.