Small company profit and loss filing from 2028
Get small company records ready for the 2028 profit and loss filing requirement and publication opt out details still to be confirmed.
Companies House filing is becoming more software-led, and accounts preparation needs to be clean before the filing window opens. Small companies should prepare the profit and loss with the same care as the balance sheet because it becomes part of the delivered accounts package. This guide covers profit and loss filing preparation 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
GOV.UK accounts guidance gives current Companies House filing duties and states that from 1 April 2028 small companies and micro-entities must deliver a profit and loss account, with opt out details for publication still to be confirmed. Check the current wording in GOV.UK preparing and filing company accounts guidance before making a binding filing, software or tax decision.
What to control
| Area | Control | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Disclosure plan | Track what will be filed and what may be publishable | Opt out details need checking when confirmed |
| P&L quality | Review income and expense classification early | Public or filed figures need confidence |
| Comparatives | Keep prior year mappings consistent | Accounts production needs clean comparative data |
| Board review | Explain the change to directors before approval | Directors should know what is being filed |
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 the old filleted accounts process will stay the same
- Leaving P&L mapping to the final export
- Not monitoring the opt out publication rules
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 Small company profit and loss filing from 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.