Companies House Is Ending Direct Filing in 2028: What It Means for Small Businesses

From April 2028, all companies will need commercial software to file accounts with Companies House. The web-based and paper routes are going away. Here is what to expect and what to do now.

Another major filing change is coming

Many companies are still adapting to the closure of HMRC's online Corporation Tax filing service. However, another significant change has already been announced.

From April 2028, Companies House plans to require all companies to file accounts using commercial software. This means existing web-based and paper filing routes for accounts will be removed.

Why is Companies House making the change?

The reform is part of wider changes introduced through the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. The goals include:

• Better quality financial data
• More consistent digital filing
• Improved validation of information
• Stronger protection against fraud and misuse

The move also aligns with the broader government direction of making company filings fully machine-readable, which supports Companies House in analysing and verifying the information it holds.

What changes in 2028?

Software becomes mandatory

Accounts will need to be submitted using commercial software. Manually entering figures into a Companies House web form will no longer be an option.

iXBRL becomes standard

Accounts will be filed in iXBRL, the same structured digital format already required for HMRC submissions. This allows Companies House systems to read, validate, and process the data automatically.

Filing processes become more consistent

The government wants company information to be easier to analyse and verify. Standardising on software-based filing is central to that goal.

What does this mean for micro-entities?

Micro-entities will still be able to use simplified accounting rules where eligible. The change does not affect which accounting standard you qualify for. It only changes how you submit.

However, you will need software to prepare and file those accounts. The current option of logging into a web form and entering figures directly will no longer exist.

Should you do anything now?

Yes. If you currently self-file, consider moving to software before 2028. Doing so gives you time to:

• Learn the process gradually, without deadline pressure
• Avoid a last-minute transition when the change takes effect
• Keep your filing approach consistent year on year

Companies that waited until the last moment to adapt to the CATO (Joint filing service from HMRC) closure faced a more difficult transition. Getting ahead of the 2028 change is straightforward if you start now.

The bigger picture

Taken together, the closure of CATO (Joint Filing Service from HMRC) in 2026 and the Companies House changes in 2028 point in one direction. UK company filing is becoming fully digital, and that process is now well underway.

Businesses that adopt software early are better placed to absorb future changes without disruption. Those that wait tend to find themselves making rushed decisions under deadline pressure.