Companies House Reforms – What is Coming Next?

As a follow on to our previous artilce entitled Companies House Identity Verification Rules Explained, this artciles looks to the future, and focuses on the additional changes proposed to be implemented in April 2028!

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 has given Companies House significantly greater responsibilities and powers. The reforms represent some of the biggest changes to the UK company registration framework for generations.

Identity verification for company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) has understandably attracted much of the attention so far. However, identity verification is only one part of a much wider programme of reform.

Some changes are already in force. Others are being introduced gradually. And some of the most significant changes for small limited companies – particularly changes to annual accounts and software filing – are currently scheduled for April 2028.

So, what comes next?

In this guide, we look at:

• What Companies House reforms are coming after identity verification?
• Who will be affected?
• When the changes are expected?
• Why the reforms are being introduced?
• And why working with your accountant early could make the transition considerably easier?

For limited company directors, the key message is simple: Companies House compliance is becoming more digital, more transparent and subject to greater scrutiny.

 

Companies House Has Already Started to Change

It is important to put the next stage of the reforms into context.

The transformation of Companies House has already begun.

The reforms originate principally from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, often abbreviated to ECCTA. Companies House describes the legislation as introducing the biggest changes to the organisation since corporate registrations were established in 1844.

The objective is not simply to introduce more filing requirements.

Companies House is moving from a relatively passive registrar towards a more active gatekeeper of information held on the UK companies register.

Since March 2024, Companies House has gained enhanced powers to query information, reject information that appears incorrect or fraudulent, remove certain inaccurate information and share more information with law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies.

Companies must also now maintain an appropriate registered office address and provide a registered email address. Companies are required to confirm that their intended activities are lawful.

Identity verification then represented another major step.

From November 2025, identity verification became compulsory for new directors and PSCs as part of new incorporations and appointments. A 12-month transition period also began for existing directors and PSCs.

But that is not the end of the reform programme.

The next stages will increasingly affect how information is submitted, who is permitted to submit it, and how company accounts are filed and disclosed.

 

What Companies House Reforms Are Being Proposed After Identity Verification?

There are several important areas for limited company directors to understand.

 

1. Accounts Will Have to Be Filed Using Commercial Software

Perhaps the most significant practical change for ordinary limited companies is the move towards mandatory software filing.

From April 2028, all UK registered companies will be required to file their annual accounts with Companies House using commercial software.

The accounts will need to be filed in Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL) format.

This requirement will apply whether:

• the company prepares and files its own accounts; or
• an accountant or other professional files the accounts on its behalf.

Companies House has confirmed that its existing web and paper-based routes for accounts filing will close from this date.

This is significant.  A small owner-managed company that currently prepares its accounts independently and enters figures directly into the Companies House web service will no longer be able to continue doing so after the change takes effect.

Suitable commercial software will be required.

There will also be no transition period after April 2028 for accounts filing. Accounts that need to be filed from that date will need to comply with the new software requirements.

Businesses therefore need to think about their accounting systems well before the deadline.

Companies already using modern accounting software and an accountant who files accounts digitally may experience relatively little disruption.

Businesses relying on spreadsheets, paper records or manual year-end processes may have considerably more work to do.

 

2. Small Companies and Micro-Entities Will File More Financial Information

Another major change concerns the amount of financial information small companies and micro-entities provide to Companies House.

Currently, qualifying small companies can take advantage of reduced filing requirements.

Under the reforms, small companies and micro-entities will be required to file profit and loss accounts with Companies House, bringing the information filed closer to the accounts the company has actually prepared.

However, following consultation and stakeholder engagement, the government confirmed in June 2026 that small companies and micro-entities will have the option to prevent their profit and loss account from being published on the public Companies House register.

That distinction is important.  The requirement to file the information does not necessarily mean that the profit and loss account will automatically become publicly visible.

Nevertheless, Companies House will receive more detailed financial information than it has historically received from many small businesses.

For directors who have become accustomed to submitting very limited financial information, this represents a substantial change in the filing framework.

 

3. Abridged Accounts Will Be Removed

The reforms will also remove the option for companies to file abridged accounts.

At present, qualifying small companies can, subject to the necessary conditions, prepare and file abridged accounts containing less detailed information.

That option is due to disappear as part of the April 2028 reforms.

The broader direction of travel is clear: Companies House wants more consistent, structured and reliable financial information.

For directors, this makes it increasingly important to understand exactly what type of accounts their company prepares, what exemptions it relies upon and what information will need to be submitted.

 

4. Audit Exemption Statements Will Be Strengthened

Many small limited companies qualify for exemption from statutory audit.

That exemption is not disappearing under these reforms.

However, companies claiming an audit exemption will face a strengthened statement requirement.

Directors will need to identify the exemption being relied upon and confirm that the company qualifies for it.

This may sound like a relatively minor administrative change, but it reflects a much wider theme running throughout the Companies House reforms.

Directors will increasingly be expected to take clear responsibility for the accuracy and basis of the information being filed.

Simply selecting an exemption without properly considering whether the company meets the relevant criteria could become increasingly risky.

Your accountant can help determine which reporting framework and exemptions apply to your business.

 

5. Accounts and Reports Will Need to Be Filed Together

Another April 2028 change will require the component parts of filed accounts and reports to be delivered together where applicable.

The aim is to improve the completeness and consistency of information received by Companies House.

For well-organised businesses using appropriate accounting software and professional support, this should be manageable.

For companies with fragmented accounting processes, however, it is another reason to improve financial record keeping.

 

6. Restrictions on Changing the Accounting Reference Period

Companies will also face restrictions on how often they can shorten their accounting reference period.

An accounting reference period determines the period covered by a company’s annual accounts.

Companies can currently change their accounting reference date, subject to various rules.

The reforms will reduce the number of times a company can shorten its accounting reference period.

This is intended to prevent inappropriate use of accounting reference period changes and improve the integrity of company filing information.

Businesses contemplating a change of year end should therefore discuss the commercial, accounting and tax consequences with their accountant rather than repeatedly changing dates as a short-term administrative solution.

 

7. Greater Controls Over Who Can File at Companies House

Identity verification does not stop with directors and PSCs.

Companies House intends eventually to extend verification requirements to the people who submit information to the register.

These individuals are often referred to as presenters.

Under the planned reforms, identity verification of presenters will become a compulsory part of filing documents. Third-party agents filing on behalf of companies will also need to be registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, or ACSP.  Although QAccounting, along with many other practices, have done this already to assist their clients with respect to identity verification.

Accountants and solicitors are obvious examples of organisations that may operate as ACSPs.

Companies House’s current transition plan states that these presenter measures will be introduced no earlier than November 2027, with at least six months’ notice before implementation.

This date has already been moved back, which demonstrates why directors should be careful about relying on old articles or earlier implementation timetables.

The eventual objective is straightforward: Companies House wants greater confidence not only in whose company it is, but also in who is submitting information to the register.

 

8. Companies House Will Continue Using Its Stronger Enforcement Powers

Not every Companies House reform is waiting until 2027 or 2028.

Companies House already has stronger powers to challenge information.

It can query and reject certain information where it suspects information may be wrong or fraudulent.

It can also remove more inaccurate information from the register and conduct greater analysis by comparing information with external datasets.

Companies House has also gained stronger data-sharing capabilities with law enforcement and regulatory organisations.

For legitimate businesses, this should ultimately improve the reliability of the companies register.

However, it also means directors should expect inconsistencies, unusual filings and potentially inaccurate information to attract greater attention.

 

Who Will Be Impacted by the Companies House Reforms?

The short answer is: almost every UK limited company will be affected to some extent.

But the nature of the impact will vary.

 

Small Limited Companies

Small owner-managed companies are likely to notice some of the biggest practical changes.

They may need to:

• move to compatible accounting software;
• change how their accounts are prepared and submitted;
• provide more financial information to Companies House;
• reconsider existing abridged-account arrangements;
• make clearer declarations when relying on audit exemption; and
• ensure directors, PSCs and eventually presenters comply with identity requirements.

For companies already working closely with an accountant and maintaining digital accounting records throughout the year, much of this transition may happen behind the scenes.

For companies that only organise their records once a year, the adjustment could be more significant.

 

Micro-Entities

Micro-entities are specifically included in the accounts reforms.

They too will have to file profit and loss information with Companies House from April 2028, although the confirmed reforms will allow them to opt out of publication of that profit and loss information on the public register.

Micro businesses should not assume that their size excludes them from the changes.

 

Larger Companies

Mandatory software filing applies to all companies, not simply small businesses.

Larger organisations may already have sophisticated financial reporting systems, but they will still need to ensure that their software and processes comply with the new Companies House requirements.

 

Company Directors and PSCs

Directors and people with significant control are already directly affected by identity verification.

They will also remain responsible for ensuring that their companies comply with statutory filing requirements.

Using an accountant does not remove a director’s legal responsibilities.

Professional advice can make compliance substantially easier, but directors should still understand what is being submitted on their company’s behalf.

 

Accountants and Other Company Agents

Professional advisers are also directly affected.

Companies House introduced the ACSP framework so authorised agents can carry out certain activities, including identity verification for clients.

The forthcoming presenter reforms will place further emphasis on who is permitted to file information for companies.

This should make the choice of professional adviser increasingly important.

 

When Are the Companies House Changes Being Implemented?

One reason there has been confusion around Companies House reform is that there is not one single implementation date.

The reforms are being introduced in phases.

Some measures have already happened.

Enhanced Companies House powers began from March 2024.

The ACSP regime began during 2025.

Mandatory identity verification for new directors and PSCs began in November 2025, alongside the transition process for existing directors and PSCs.

The next stages are expected to include further measures affecting limited partnerships, data cross-checking and compliance activity.

Presenter identity verification and the requirement for third-party agents filing on behalf of companies to be registered as ACSPs are currently scheduled for no earlier than November 2027. Companies House says at least six months’ notice will be provided.

The major accounts reforms outlined in this article then take effect from April 2028.

However, Companies House has acknowledged that the wider programme is technically and operationally complex. Some reforms require secondary legislation and timetables can change.  Businesses should therefore monitor official Companies House announcements rather than relying on an implementation timetable downloaded several years earlier.

 

Why Are the Companies House Changes Being Made?

The reforms are not simply an exercise in digitising company accounts.

They form part of a much broader government response to concerns about corporate transparency and economic crime.

Historically, Companies House had relatively limited powers to verify or challenge information submitted to it.

The reforms are designed to change that.

Companies House now has statutory objectives that include ensuring that:

• people required to submit documents do so properly;
• information on the register is accurate;
• the register does not create a false or misleading impression; and
• companies and others do not carry out or facilitate unlawful activities.

This explains many of the individual reforms.

Identity verification makes it harder for someone to create or control companies using false identities.

Greater powers to query information allow Companies House to challenge suspicious or inconsistent filings.

ACSP regulation increases accountability for professional agents submitting information.

Software filing should create more structured and comparable financial information.

Additional accounts information should improve the quality of the financial data held on the register.

And greater data-sharing and cross-checking should help Companies House and other public bodies identify discrepancies and potentially suspicious activity.

For genuine businesses, there is another potential benefit.  A more accurate Companies House register should make it easier for lenders, suppliers, customers and other organisations to make informed decisions about the companies they deal with.  And reliable corporate information supports trust.

 

Working With Accountants Early

For many small limited companies, the Companies House reforms should not be viewed purely as another compliance burden.

They are also an opportunity to improve the quality of the company’s accounting systems.

A good accountant should do considerably more than submit annual accounts before a deadline.

Your accountant can help you review whether:

• your bookkeeping records are accurate and up to date;
• your accounting software is appropriate;
• your company qualifies for relevant accounting and audit exemptions;
• your accounts are prepared under the correct reporting framework;
• Companies House information is consistent with your accounting records;
• directors and PSCs understand their responsibilities;
• your year-end timetable gives enough time to resolve problems before filing; and
• your company is prepared for future digital filing requirements.

Starting early matters, and regular conversations with your accountant can help ensure the accounting arrangements develop alongside the business.

Businesses likely to find the transition easiest will be those that already maintain accurate digital accounting records, keep their Companies House information up to date and work with advisers who understand the changing requirements.

The businesses likely to face greater difficulties will be those that continue to treat bookkeeping and statutory compliance as an annual last-minute exercise.

 

Can QAccounting Help Me?

At QAccounting we work with limited company directors to make their accounting and tax obligations easier to understand and manage.

We can help you maintain appropriate accounting records, prepare annual statutory accounts, deal with Corporation Tax requirements and understand the Companies House obligations affecting your business.

More importantly, working with an accountant throughout the year gives you an opportunity to identify potential issues before they become filing problems.

The Companies House reforms are being introduced gradually, and some implementation details may continue to evolve.

But the overall direction is already clear.

Company information is becoming more transparent. Filing is becoming more digital. Companies House is becoming more proactive. And directors will increasingly need to ensure that the information submitted about their businesses is complete, accurate and properly supported.

If you are unsure whether your limited company is ready for the next stage of Companies House reform, speak to QAccounting about your accounting arrangements and the steps your business can take now.

We aim to be the UK’s Premier Online Accountancy and Tax Accountant, and we are here to help you every step of the way, whether you need to understand the rules in greater detail or need advice about next best steps.

Please give us a call (0116 243 7868), email us, or contact us ONLINE to speak to a member of our Accounting team without delay!

 

This Article Has Been Reviewed and Edited By: George Ian Hope BAcc(Hons), MSc(IT), FCCA, CGA, CPA

Managing Director – QAccounting Limited (www.qaccounting.com )

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gihope

Ian is a general practicing member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants with fellowship status (FCCA). He is also a member of the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada (CGA), and a member of Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA).

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