The quick answer
Do small companies now have to file their
profit and loss accounts?
The planned April 2028 requirement has been paused.
Eligible small companies and micro-entities can continue
to use the filing exemptions available under the current rules.
You must still prepare the accounts your company needs,
meet its tax obligations and file the required information
on time.
The separate move to
software-only accounts filing remains planned for April 2028.
What has the government announced?
The government has paused the requirement for small
companies and micro-entities to file profit and loss
accounts at Companies House from April 2028.
The announcement on 23 October 2026 forms part of
the government’s wider ambition to reduce duplication
in the information businesses provide to government.
It does not set out a replacement start date.
Directors should therefore continue watching for
further details before changing future filing arrangements.
Two changes. Different positions.
Paused
P&L filing requirement.
The planned requirement for small companies
and micro-entities to deliver profit and loss
accounts from April 2028 is on hold.
Still planned
Software-only filing.
The separate move to software-only accounts
filing remains planned for April 2028.
Check your arrangements with your accountant
or software provider.
What had previously been planned?
Earlier plans would have required small companies and
micro-entities to deliver their profit and loss accounts
to Companies House from April 2028, with an option
to prevent publication of that information.
The latest announcement pauses that filing requirement.
Preparing accounts, delivering them to Companies House
and making information publicly available are separate issues.
The important distinction
Your accounts still need preparing.
A filing exemption does not remove your company’s
underlying accounts preparation responsibilities.
Eligible companies may omit their profit and loss
account from their Companies House filing under
current rules. They must still meet their obligations
to members and HMRC, including providing the accounts
required with their Company Tax Return.
What does this mean in practice?
Four things to do now.
1
Keep your next deadline in view.
Continue preparing and filing your accounts on
the existing timetable. The pause does not
give your company extra time.
2
Check which exemptions apply.
Confirm that your company qualifies for the
reporting and filing exemptions you intend to
use. Eligibility depends on the rules and
your company’s circumstances.
3
Plan for software-only filing.
Ask how your accounts are currently filed and
whether your accountant or software provider
will support the planned April 2028 requirements.
4
Keep using your figures.
Review your income, costs and profitability regularly.
Your profit and loss account remains useful for
managing the business, whatever information you
must file publicly.
What does RiverView recommend?
Keep your current accounts work moving, check
which rules apply to your company and continue
planning for software-only filing.
Changing announcements can make it difficult to
know what needs your attention. Our team can
help you understand the requirements and keep
your company’s accounts on track.
Frequently asked questions.
Has small company profit and loss filing been scrapped?
The government has announced a pause to the
requirement planned for April 2028. It has
not announced permanent cancellation or
a replacement start date.
Do I still need to prepare a profit and loss account?
The pause does not remove existing accounts
preparation responsibilities. Eligible companies
may omit their profit and loss account from
their Companies House filing, but must still
meet their obligations to members and HMRC.
Has my accounts filing deadline changed?
No. The announcement does not extend existing
accounts filing deadlines. Continue working
towards your company’s current deadline.
Is software-only accounts filing still planned?
Yes. The separate move to software-only accounts
filing remains planned for April 2028.
Check your arrangements with your accountant
or software provider.
Does this change what I send to HMRC?
The announcement concerns the planned Companies
House filing requirement. It does not remove
your Company Tax Return obligations or the
requirement to provide the supporting accounts
HMRC needs.
