Companies House software filing from April 2028
Prepare for mandatory Companies House software filing from April 2028 with cleaner records, accounts data packs and approval workflows.
Companies House filing is becoming more software-led, and accounts preparation needs to be clean before the filing window opens. The filing method is changing, but the practical challenge is the quality of the accounts data before it reaches the software. This guide covers software filing readiness for UK companies that want fewer surprises at approval and submission.
For wider context, use Year-end and annual accounts . If the topic affects a filing deadline, software choice or tax treatment, confirm the live position before acting. The workflow below is designed to keep the evidence in one place so the owner, bookkeeper and accountant can all review the same record.
Official point to verify
Companies House announced that from April 2028 all companies will need to file accounts through commercial software, and that small companies and micro-entities will file profit and loss accounts with an opt out from publication. Check the current wording in Companies House April 2028 accounts filing announcement before making a binding filing, software or tax decision.
What to control
| Area | Control | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Software route | Confirm how accounts will be filed after April 2028 | Manual or older filing habits may no longer fit |
| Trial balance | Reconcile accounts before production starts | Software filing does not fix bad ledgers |
| Approval | Keep director approval evidence with the final accounts | Submission should follow approval, not replace it |
| Receipts | Store Companies House acceptance evidence | The filing receipt closes the control loop |
Review routine
Treat the accounts file as a controlled data pack. Reconcile the trial balance, agree disclosures, confirm director approval, keep filing evidence and make sure the same figures can support HMRC, Companies House, shareholders and the accountant.
A useful review note should answer three questions: what source evidence was used, what judgement was applied, and who approved the treatment. Keep that note beside the transaction or period report rather than in a separate inbox.
Common mistakes
- Assuming WebFiling habits will continue unchanged
- Leaving accounts production until the deadline month
- Using software without checking accountant access
The best prevention is a short, repeated checklist. If a control is too complicated to run every month or quarter, it will probably fail when the deadline is close.
How ReAI helps
ReAI supports the handover from bookkeeping to accounts production by keeping reconciliations, journals and review evidence together. That reduces the need to rebuild annual accounts from disconnected exports. For hands-on help with setup, see Accounting Assistance for Small Businesses .
Summary
Treat Companies House software filing from April 2028 as a recurring accounting control, not a one-off admin task. Put the source data, review owner, exception list and submission evidence in the same system before the deadline arrives. That makes compliance work easier to check and much less dependent on memory.