Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-software-to-file-your-companys-information

Change description : 2025-07-02 10:39:00: Guidance updated with information on how to prepare for changes to accounts software filing. Guidance on developing software removed to be published as a separate guide. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-04-01 23:00:08.664160091 +00:00..2025-08-07 22:53:15.023737763 +00:00

Guidance

Using software to file your company's information

How to send information to Companies House using usingthird commercialparty software or by developing your own software.

From 1 April 2027, all companies must file annual accounts using commercial software.

About software filing

Software filing packages allow you to send information to Companies House through our extensible markup language (XML)(XML) gateway.

SomeUsing of the benefits of using software to file include:

  • nomight postagebe costs
  • it’shelpful cheaperif toyou file documents that have a fee
  • alot faster,of moredocuments securewith deliveryCompanies withHouse. immediateThe acknowledgementmore ofdocuments receipt
  • automaticyou confirmationfile, whenthe yourmore filingbenefit isyou acceptedare orlikely rejected
  • lessto chanceget offrom errorsusing andsoftware.

    It rejectedalso filings

  • acosts reducedless riskto offile latedocuments filingdigitally penalties
using software.

WhenYou youcan file companymost accountsinformation with commercialCompanies software,House weusing receive and process them in inline extensible reporting languagesoftware (iXBRL). format. This isincludes atypes worldwideof technicalcompany standardaccounts thatand combinesincorporations HTMLyou withcannot machinefile readablethrough ‘tags’.our Itweb allows documents to be read by both machines and humans.services.

FileHow companyto informationfile online using software

What

You’ll you will need

To fileto companyapply documentsto usingfile software,with you’llCompanies need:

account.

If you need to file charge (mortgage) documents for other companies, you must must register as a lender.

What

You informationcan:

accounts
  • find software to register or file changes to a company
  • You can filealso mostdevelop statutoryyour informationown withsoftware.

    Developing Companiesyour Houseown usingsoftware

    You’ll software.need Forexpertise example,in youXML. You can:

    Filing yourannual company’saccounts directorsin iXBRL format

    We can receive and secretaries

  • changeprocess yourcompany company’saccounts registeredproduced officein address
  • fileinline yourextensible confirmationreporting statements
  • updatelanguage your(iXBRL) company’sformat. shareMore capital
  • software package providers are making iXBRL format available.

    Some of the benefits include:

    • registerno informationmore aboutcovering charges (mortgage)letters
    • makeno changespostage tocosts
    • faster, yourmore company’ssecure peopledelivery with significantimmediate controlacknowledgement (PSCs)of receipt
    • changeautomatic yourconfirmation company’sof yearacceptance endor (accounting reference date)rejection
    • changereduced whererisk yourof company’slate registersfiling are heldpenalties

    You can alsoonly fileuse similarour informationiXBRL forservice ato limitedfile liabilityaccounts partnershipunder (LLP),the suchCompanies asAct updating2006.

    Previewing your LLP members.

    submission

    File

    If annualyou’re accountsdeveloping usingiXBRL software

    Fromto 1file Aprilaccounts 2027,online, allyou companiescan musttest fileyour theirsubmission accounts using commercialour software.validator.

    You Thisshould appliesuse tothe directors‘show whoimage’ filetool accountsto themselves,check andyour companiesiXBRL whosubmission. useThis awill professionalpreview (suchexactly ashow anyour accountant)image towill filelook theiron accounts.our system.

    FromYour thissubmission date,might ournot webdisplay andas paper-basedyou servicesexpect, willeven beif closedit’s forpassed accountsthe filings.validation Youprocess. willThis stillis bebecause ableof tothe usedifferent ourmethods webused services to filerender otherthe statutoryiXBRL.

    Validation information for your‘average company.

    number of employees’ in accounts notes

    ReadThe morenote about‘Average othernumber changesof toemployees accountsduring beingthe introducedperiod’ onis 1compulsory. AprilWe’ll 2027.

    Hirereject ayour professionalaccounts toif filethey fordo you

    not include this information.

    IfThe youvalidation dowill notapply wantto:

    • all tocompany buytypes commercial(except software,dormant)
    • financial youyears canbeginning hireon aor professionalafter (such1 asJanuary an2016

    If accountant)we toreceive filea onpublic yourcomplaint behalf.about Aa professionalcompany canwho helphas youfiled fileaccounts andbefore stay13 compliantOctober -2020 but you’redid stillnot legallyinclude responsiblethe fornote your- company’swe’ll accounts,write recordsto andthe performance.

    Ifcompany youand alreadysuggest usethey afile professional,amending checkaccounts they(under aresection prepared454 forof the upcomingCompanies changesAct to accounts2006.

    File). yourA owncompany could choose to file amending accounts

    You willvoluntarily needto to:prevent any complaints.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 November 2019
    Last updated 2 JulyApril 2025 + show all updates
    1. Added 2025 taxonomies and entry points.

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    Update history

    2025-07-02 10:39
    Guidance updated with information on how to prepare for changes to accounts software filing. Guidance on developing software removed to be published as a separate guide.

    2025-04-02 00:00
    Added 2025 taxonomies and entry points.

    2025-01-17 08:59
    Accounts taxonomies – added 2024 taxonomy entry points

    2024-12-05 09:47
    Removed 2019 taxonomy entry points – taxonomy retired.

    2023-07-04 11:45
    A new validator link for previewing your submission has been added.

    2023-04-05 09:00
    You can file accounts using the 2023 FRC suite of taxonomies from 5 April 2023.

    2022-04-01 08:00
    Users can now file iXBRL accounts using the FRC 2022 suite of taxonomies.