Do small companies have to file a profit and loss account at Companies House?
No. Under the Companies Act 2006 as it stands, a small company may leave the profit and loss account and the directors' report out of the accounts it files at Companies House, and a micro-entity may leave out the profit and loss account. A planned requirement to file it was paused on 23 October 2026.
Key facts
| Small company | May file without the profit and loss account and the directors' report (Companies Act 2006, s444) |
|---|---|
| Micro-entity | May file without the profit and loss account; it prepares no directors' report |
| Medium-sized and large | Must file the full accounts and reports (Companies Act 2006, s445) |
| Planned change (ECCTA 2023, sections 53 and 54) | Enacted but not in force; paused on 23 October 2026 |
| Software-only filing | Goes ahead from 1 April 2028; abridged and filleted accounts remain |
As at 25 October 2026.
Filleted accounts
The members receive the full annual accounts. The copy delivered to Companies House may leave out the profit and loss account (and, for a small company, the directors' report). This is often called filing "filleted" accounts. The balance sheet and notes that are filed must be a copy of those in the annual accounts.
What the filed balance sheet must state
- That the annual accounts and reports have been delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
- For a small company that does not file its profit and loss account, that fact; and, if the accounts are audited, the auditor's details.
- A micro-entity does not need the statement that the profit and loss account was not filed.
The paused change
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 would require micro-entities and small companies to file their profit and loss account, and small companies their directors' report. Those sections have not come into force. On 23 October 2026 the government said it will continue to allow abridged and filleted accounts; the move to software-only filing from 1 April 2028 goes ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Do the members still receive the full accounts?
Yes. Filleting only affects the copy filed at Companies House. The members receive the full annual accounts, including the profit and loss account and, for a small company, the directors' report.
Will small companies have to file their profit and loss account from 2028?
Not under current plans. The requirement was paused on 23 October 2026, and the government said abridged and filleted accounts remain available after software-only filing starts on 1 April 2028.
Does HMRC still see the profit and loss account?
Yes. The Corporation Tax return includes the company's statutory accounts and tax computation, so HMRC receives the profit and loss account even when Companies House does not.
Sources
- Companies Act 2006, section 444
- Companies Act 2006, section 445
- Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, section 53
- Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, section 54
- Companies House: update to accounts filing from April 2028 (23 October 2026)
- Companies House: preparing and filing Companies House 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.