Not every limited company needs to file a full set of accounts at Companies House. If your company qualifies as small or as a micro-entity, you can file simplified accounts that contain far less detail than the full statutory accounts. This means less of your financial information is on the public record.
The terminology can be confusing – “abbreviated”, “abridged”, “filleted” and “micro-entity” accounts all refer to different things. This guide explains the options available and which one is right for your company.
From 1 April 2028 all accounts must be filed with Companies House through commercial software. The plan to make small companies and micro-entities file a profit and loss account was paused in October 2026, and abridged and filleted accounts remain available; see Companies House accounts filing changes from April 2028.
The old abbreviated accounts
Before January 2016, small companies could file abbreviated accounts at Companies House. These contained a simplified balance sheet and limited notes, but no profit and loss account.
Abbreviated accounts no longer exist for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016. They have been replaced by two alternatives:
- Abridged accounts (for small companies)
- Micro-entity accounts (for the smallest companies)
If you hear someone refer to “abbreviated accounts”, they usually mean one of these newer options.
Small company thresholds
To file simplified accounts, your company must qualify as small. You need to meet at least two of these three criteria for two consecutive years (or in your first year):
| Criterion | Small company | Micro-entity |
|---|---|---|
| Annual turnover | Up to £15 million | Up to £1 million |
| Balance sheet total | Up to £7.5 million | Up to £500,000 |
| Average number of employees | Up to 50 | Up to 10 |
These thresholds apply to financial years beginning on or after 6 April 2025. Most UK limited companies qualify as small. According to Companies House data, over 99% of companies registered in the UK meet the small company thresholds.
Option 1: Filleted accounts (most common)
The simplest approach for small companies is to file filleted accounts. This means you prepare full statutory accounts for your shareholders and HMRC, but you file a reduced version at Companies House that leaves out:
- The profit and loss account (income statement)
- The directors’ report
What you do file:
- Balance sheet (signed by a director)
- Notes to the accounts (accounting policies, key breakdowns)
- An exemption statement on the balance sheet confirming the company is entitled to the small companies exemption
This is the most popular option because it keeps your revenue and profit figures off the public register while still meeting your filing obligations. Your full accounts are still prepared and given to shareholders and HMRC – only the Companies House filing is reduced.
Option 2: Abridged accounts
Abridged accounts go a step further. Instead of simply removing the profit and loss account, you can also simplify the balance sheet and notes by combining certain line items.
For example, instead of showing separate figures for debtors, prepayments and accrued income, you can combine them into a single “debtors” figure.
To file abridged accounts, all shareholders must agree. If you are the sole shareholder and director, this is a formality. If there are multiple shareholders, you need written consent from all of them.
| Feature | Filleted accounts | Abridged accounts |
|---|---|---|
| Profit and loss account | Not filed | Not filed |
| Balance sheet detail | Full | Simplified (combined line items) |
| Notes | Full | Reduced |
| Shareholder consent needed | No | Yes (all shareholders) |
| Directors’ report | Not filed | Not filed |
Option 3: Micro-entity accounts
If your company qualifies as a micro-entity, you can file even simpler accounts. Micro-entity accounts under FRS 105 are the most stripped-down option available:
- Simplified balance sheet with very few line items
- No profit and loss account
- No notes to the accounts (apart from a few mandatory disclosures)
- No directors’ report
- No audit required
The balance sheet only needs to show:
| Line item | Required? |
|---|---|
| Fixed assets | Yes |
| Current assets | Yes |
| Creditors due within one year | Yes |
| Net current assets | Yes |
| Total assets less current liabilities | Yes |
| Creditors due after more than one year | Yes |
| Net assets | Yes |
| Capital and reserves | Yes |
| Called-up share capital | Yes |
| Profit and loss account reserve | Yes |
Micro-entity accounts contain the least public information of any option, which is why many very small companies prefer them.
Which option should you choose?
| Company size | Recommended option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover under £1 million, fewer than 10 employees | Micro-entity accounts (FRS 105) | Least disclosure, simplest to prepare |
| Turnover £1 million to £15 million | Filleted accounts | Keeps profit figures private with minimal effort |
| Company with multiple shareholders wanting maximum simplicity | Abridged accounts | Simplifies the balance sheet further |
For most small companies, filleted accounts are the default choice. They require no shareholder consent and achieve the main goal of keeping your profit and loss account off the public register.
What you still need to prepare
Regardless of which simplified option you file at Companies House, you still need to prepare full statutory accounts for:
- HMRC – your Corporation Tax return (CT600) must be accompanied by full accounts in iXBRL format
- Shareholders – the Companies Act requires you to send full accounts to every shareholder
- Your own records – you need complete financial statements for business planning and decision-making
The simplified filing only affects what goes on the public register at Companies House. Your internal accounts and HMRC filing must still show the full picture.
Preparing the accounts
Accounting standards
Micro-entities use FRS 105 (simplified rules, no fair value accounting). Small companies use FRS 102 Section 1A (full recognition rules, reduced disclosure). If your company has complex financial arrangements, FRS 102 may be more appropriate even if you qualify as a micro-entity.
Most accounting software can generate accounts in the correct format and file directly with Companies House through their API. You can also file online through WebFiling (free) or on paper (£33 charge).
Audit exemption
Small companies are exempt from audit unless:
- The company is part of a group that exceeds the small company thresholds
- The company’s articles of association require an audit
- Shareholders holding at least 10% of shares request an audit
The audit exemption saves significant costs. A statutory audit for a small company typically costs £3,000 to £10,000, so the exemption is valuable. If you qualify, include the audit exemption statement on your balance sheet.
Deadlines and penalties
The filing deadline is the same regardless of which option you choose:
| Filing | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Annual accounts at Companies House | 9 months after year end |
| First accounts (new companies) | 21 months after incorporation |
Late filing penalties are automatic and cannot be appealed on the grounds that the accounts were “nearly ready” or that the company is small:
| How late | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 month | £150 |
| 1 to 3 months | £375 |
| 3 to 6 months | £750 |
| Over 6 months | £1,500 |
These penalties double if the accounts are late for a second consecutive year.
Switching between options
You can change which type of accounts you file from one year to the next. If your company grows beyond the micro-entity thresholds, you must switch to small company accounts (or full accounts if you exceed the small company limits).
Similarly, if your company shrinks, you can move from full accounts to filleted or micro-entity accounts. The thresholds are assessed over two consecutive years, so a single year above or below the limits does not trigger an immediate change (except in the company’s first year, where a single year’s figures determine eligibility).