Limited Company Accounts
Every limited company must prepare annual statutory accounts and file them with both Companies House and HMRC. These accounts are a legal requirement, not an optional extra, and they form the basis of your Corporation Tax return. Our London accountants prepare clear, accurate, fully compliant limited company accounts and file them on your behalf — well before the deadline.
What limited company accounts include
Your annual accounts are a formal financial statement showing your company’s performance and position over the financial year. They typically include a balance sheet, a profit and loss account, notes to the accounts, and — depending on your company’s size — a directors’ report. Small companies can usually file abbreviated accounts with Companies House while submitting full accounts to HMRC.
The accounts must be prepared in line with UK accounting standards and filed in iXBRL format, a machine-readable tagging system HMRC requires for electronic filing. We handle the technical formatting so you do not have to.
How we prepare your accounts
After your financial year ends, we compile your bookkeeping records, draft the accounts for your review, and explain the figures in plain English so you understand exactly how your company has performed. Once you approve them, we file the accounts with Companies House and submit them to HMRC alongside your Corporation Tax return.
Filing on time matters: late accounts trigger an automatic penalty from Companies House that increases the longer the accounts are overdue, and persistent lateness can lead to prosecution or the company being struck off. We track your deadline and file early so this never happens to you.
Accounts and Corporation Tax together
Your annual accounts and your Corporation Tax return are closely linked — the tax computation starts from the profit shown in your accounts. Preparing them together ensures consistency, captures every available relief and allowance, and keeps your overall tax bill as low as legally possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my company accounts due?
Accounts must be filed with Companies House within nine months of your financial year-end, and your Corporation Tax return within 12 months. We track both deadlines for you.
What happens if I file my accounts late?
Companies House imposes an automatic escalating penalty for late accounts. We file early so you never incur one.
Do small companies get any filing relief?
Yes — small companies can usually file abbreviated accounts publicly with Companies House, while still submitting full accounts to HMRC. We confirm what applies to your company.
Can you prepare accounts if my bookkeeping is behind?
Yes. We can bring your records up to date first, then prepare and file your accounts. The cleaner your books, the quicker and cheaper the process.
Will I understand my own accounts?
Absolutely. We walk you through the key figures in plain English so you understand your company’s performance, not just the compliance box being ticked.