If you run a UK limited company, you will usually have financial reporting obligations to both Companies House and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Although the two organisations may receive information based on the same accounting records, their requirements serve different purposes.

Companies House accounts are prepared to meet a company’s statutory reporting obligations, while HMRC uses accounts and tax calculations to establish its Corporation Tax position. The difference affects what you submit, which figures you report, whether the information becomes public and when you must file.

For startup founders and international entrepreneurs, the distinction can be confusing. Filing annual accounts with Companies House does not automatically mean the company has submitted its Corporation Tax Return to HMRC. Nor does a company necessarily pay tax on the exact profit shown in its published accounts. This guide explains how the two processes work, how their deadlines differ, and what directors should do to keep a UK limited company compliant.

What Are Companies House Accounts?

Companies House accounts are the annual financial statements a limited company prepares and files to meet its obligations under UK company law. Companies House maintains the official register of UK companies. The accounts submitted to it provide information about a company’s financial position and, where required, its financial performance. Depending on the company’s size and reporting obligations, annual accounts may include:

• Balance sheet: a snapshot of the company’s assets, liabilities and equity at the end of the financial year.
• Profit and loss account: a summary of income, expenses and profit or loss over the accounting period.
• Notes to the accounts: additional explanations of relevant figures and accounting policies.
• Directors’ report: a report required for certain companies, subject to applicable exemptions.

Not every company must file every component publicly. Eligible small companies and micro-entities can generally use simplified reporting provisions, subject to the relevant rules.

Who needs to file accounts with Companies House?

Most UK limited companies must prepare annual accounts and deliver the required version to Companies House, even if they have made no profit or have not traded. A company may qualify to file dormant accounts if it meets the relevant conditions. Other companies may qualify for small-company or micro-entity reporting provisions.

Sole traders and ordinary partnerships generally do not file annual accounts with Companies House in the same way as registered limited companies, although they have their own tax and record-keeping obligations.

Are Companies House accounts public?

Generally, yes. The information filed becomes available on the public register, subject to the disclosure rules that apply to the company. Under current arrangements, eligible small companies and micro-entities can generally omit their profit and loss account from the version filed publicly. This does not remove their obligation to prepare appropriate accounts for their members or meet their tax-reporting requirements.

Companies House is also introducing changes to accounts filing. From 1 April 2028, small companies and micro-entities are expected to submit a profit and loss account, with an option to opt out of public disclosure under the announced reforms. Businesses should check the latest official guidance as implementation approaches.

What Are HMRC Accounts?

“HMRC accounts” is a commonly used phrase for the accounts and financial information submitted to HM Revenue and Customs as part of a limited company’s Corporation Tax reporting. It is not the formal name of a separate set of statutory accounts that every company must prepare from scratch.

A company that is required to file a Company Tax Return will generally submit form CT600, together with the accounts and tax computations required for its circumstances. HMRC uses this information to determine the company’s taxable profits and Corporation Tax liability. Its requirements are therefore tax-focused rather than primarily concerned with publishing information about the company. A Corporation Tax submission may include:

• The company’s statutory accounts.
• A Corporation Tax computation showing adjustments from accounting profit to taxable profit.
• The CT600 Company Tax Return.
• Details of relevant tax reliefs, allowances and losses.
• Supporting information required by the applicable rules.

The exact requirements depend on the company’s circumstances and the accounting period being reported.

Why does HMRC need tax calculations?

Accounting profit and taxable profit are not always the same. Accounting standards determine how income and expenses are recorded in the financial statements, while tax legislation determines which amounts are taxable or deductible for Corporation Tax purposes.

For example, depreciation on equipment is normally recorded as an expense in the accounts. For Corporation Tax purposes, depreciation is generally added back in the tax computation, while qualifying capital allowances may be claimed instead. Some expenses may also be disallowed or restricted for tax purposes. HMRC therefore needs the relevant calculations to establish the company’s taxable profit rather than relying solely on the final profit figure in the accounts.

Companies House Accounts vs HMRC Accounts: What’s the Difference?

If you run a UK limited company, you will usually have financial reporting obligations to both Companies House and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Although the two organisations may receive information based on the same accounting records, their requirements serve different purposes.

Companies House accounts are prepared to meet a company’s statutory reporting obligations, while HMRC uses accounts and tax calculations to establish its Corporation Tax position. The difference affects what you submit, which figures you report, whether the information becomes public and when you must file.

For startup founders and international entrepreneurs, the distinction can be confusing. Filing annual accounts with Companies House does not automatically mean the company has submitted its Corporation Tax Return to HMRC. Nor does a company necessarily pay tax on the exact profit shown in its published accounts. This guide explains how the two processes work, how their deadlines differ, and what directors should do to keep a UK limited company compliant.

What Are Companies House Accounts?

Companies House accounts are the annual financial statements a limited company prepares and files to meet its obligations under UK company law. Companies House maintains the official register of UK companies. The accounts submitted to it provide information about a company’s financial position and, where required, its financial performance. Depending on the company’s size and reporting obligations, annual accounts may include:

• Balance sheet: a snapshot of the company’s assets, liabilities and equity at the end of the financial year.
• Profit and loss account: a summary of income, expenses and profit or loss over the accounting period.
• Notes to the accounts: additional explanations of relevant figures and accounting policies.
• Directors’ report: a report required for certain companies, subject to applicable exemptions.

Not every company must file every component publicly. Eligible small companies and micro-entities can generally use simplified reporting provisions, subject to the relevant rules.

Who needs to file accounts with Companies House?

Most UK limited companies must prepare annual accounts and deliver the required version to Companies House, even if they have made no profit or have not traded. A company may qualify to file dormant accounts if it meets the relevant conditions. Other companies may qualify for small-company or micro-entity reporting provisions.

Sole traders and ordinary partnerships generally do not file annual accounts with Companies House in the same way as registered limited companies, although they have their own tax and record-keeping obligations.

Are Companies House accounts public?

Generally, yes. The information filed becomes available on the public register, subject to the disclosure rules that apply to the company. Under current arrangements, eligible small companies and micro-entities can generally omit their profit and loss account from the version filed publicly. This does not remove their obligation to prepare appropriate accounts for their members or meet their tax-reporting requirements.

Companies House is also introducing changes to accounts filing. From 1 April 2028, small companies and micro-entities are expected to submit a profit and loss account, with an option to opt out of public disclosure under the announced reforms. Businesses should check the latest official guidance as implementation approaches.

What Are HMRC Accounts?

“HMRC accounts” is a commonly used phrase for the accounts and financial information submitted to HM Revenue and Customs as part of a limited company’s Corporation Tax reporting. It is not the formal name of a separate set of statutory accounts that every company must prepare from scratch.

A company that is required to file a Company Tax Return will generally submit form CT600, together with the accounts and tax computations required for its circumstances. HMRC uses this information to determine the company’s taxable profits and Corporation Tax liability. Its requirements are therefore tax-focused rather than primarily concerned with publishing information about the company. A Corporation Tax submission may include:

• The company’s statutory accounts.
• A Corporation Tax computation showing adjustments from accounting profit to taxable profit.
• The CT600 Company Tax Return.
• Details of relevant tax reliefs, allowances and losses.
• Supporting information required by the applicable rules.

The exact requirements depend on the company’s circumstances and the accounting period being reported.

Why does HMRC need tax calculations?

Accounting profit and taxable profit are not always the same. Accounting standards determine how income and expenses are recorded in the financial statements, while tax legislation determines which amounts are taxable or deductible for Corporation Tax purposes.

For example, depreciation on equipment is normally recorded as an expense in the accounts. For Corporation Tax purposes, depreciation is generally added back in the tax computation, while qualifying capital allowances may be claimed instead. Some expenses may also be disallowed or restricted for tax purposes. HMRC therefore needs the relevant calculations to establish the company’s taxable profit rather than relying solely on the final profit figure in the accounts.

Companies House Accounts vs HMRC Accounts: Key Differences

The easiest way to understand the distinction is to compare the purpose, contents, deadlines and public availability of each submission.

These deadlines are the usual rules for a private limited company. First accounts, different accounting periods and other circumstances can affect the dates. The official GOV.UK guide to company accounts and tax returns explains the requirements.

Can You Use the Same Accounts for Companies House and HMRC?

Yes. In most cases, the company prepares one set of statutory accounts using its accounting records, then uses those accounts to support both submissions. However, the filing packages are not necessarily identical. Companies House receives the version of the annual accounts required under company law. Depending on the company’s eligibility, the version filed publicly may contain less information than the full accounts prepared for its members.

HMRC receives the accounts alongside the Corporation Tax computation and Company Tax Return. The tax computation reconciles the accounting result with the figure used for Corporation Tax.

Example: Why accounting profit and taxable profit differ

Suppose a company reports the following figures:

• Turnover: £200,000
• Operating expenses, including depreciation: £140,000
• Accounting profit before tax: £60,000

Assume £5,000 of the expenses represents depreciation on equipment. For this simplified example, the company adds the depreciation back for tax purposes and claims £8,000 in qualifying capital allowances.

The statutory accounts show an accounting profit of £60,000, while the illustrative taxable profit is £57,000. This is a simplified example. Actual tax computations can involve other adjustments, restrictions, reliefs and losses. The key point is that HMRC does not simply apply Corporation Tax to the final profit figure shown in the accounts.

Do Companies House and HMRC Have the Same Filing Deadlines?

No. Each organisation has separate requirements, and meeting one deadline does not automatically satisfy the other. For a typical private limited company, the standard deadlines are: Companies House annual accounts

9 months

Usually after the company’s financial year-end. Corporation Tax payment

9 months + 1 day

Usually after the end of the Corporation Tax accounting period. HMRC Company Tax Return

12 months

After the end of the Corporation Tax accounting period covered by the return.

Worked deadline example

Imagine a company’s financial year ends on 31 March 2026, and its Corporation Tax accounting period ends on the same date. Its usual deadlines would be:

• 31 December 2026: file annual accounts with Companies House.
• 1 January 2027: pay Corporation Tax, if due.
• 31 March 2027: submit the Company Tax Return to HMRC.

These dates assume the company’s accounting periods align and that no special deadline applies. A director who files the Companies House accounts in December has not necessarily completed the HMRC submission. The company must also file the required tax return and pay any Corporation Tax by their respective deadlines.

Can You File Both Submissions at the Same Time?

The former joint online service for filing company accounts and Corporation Tax returns closed on 31 March 2026. Companies must now use the appropriate filing methods for each organisation. HMRC requires commercial software for Company Tax Returns, while Companies House continues to offer its available filing routes until the planned software-only changes take effect in April 2028.

Some commercial accounting packages support both processes, allowing businesses to prepare the accounts and tax information using the same underlying records. Check that your chosen software supports the specific submissions your company needs. Using one software package can reduce duplicate data entry, but it does not remove the need to check that each submission is complete, accurate and sent to the correct organisation.

What Happens If You File One but Not the Other?

Because the obligations are separate, a company can meet one requirement while failing to meet the other.

Filing Companies House accounts but missing the HMRC return

If HMRC has issued a notice requiring a Company Tax Return, the company must generally submit it even if it made a loss or has no Corporation Tax to pay. Late filing can result in penalties.

Filing with HMRC but missing Companies House accounts

Submitting a Company Tax Return does not remove the obligation to deliver annual accounts to Companies House. Late accounts can trigger automatic penalties, and repeated non-compliance can have more serious consequences for the company.

Filing incorrect figures

Errors in the accounts or tax return can lead to the need for corrections. If accounting figures change, directors should establish whether the statutory accounts, the Corporation Tax computation, the tax return or several of these need to be amended.

What Should UK Startup Founders Do?

The most efficient approach is to treat Companies House and HMRC filings as two outputs from one well-maintained accounting process.

1. Maintain accurate records throughout the year. Record sales, expenses, payroll, loans, asset purchases and other transactions consistently.
2. Know your accounting dates. Keep track of the financial year-end and the Corporation Tax accounting period.
3. Reconcile the figures before filing. Check that the accounts agree with bank reconciliations, invoices and other supporting records.
4. Prepare a tax computation. Identify adjustments between accounting profit and taxable profit, including applicable capital allowances and other tax treatments.
5. Track deadlines separately. Set reminders for Companies House accounts, Corporation Tax payments and the Company Tax Return.
6. Keep supporting evidence. Retain invoices, receipts, bank statements, payroll records and tax calculations.
7. Check filing and disclosure requirements. Confirm whether your company qualifies for simplified accounts and monitor upcoming Companies House reforms.

International founders should pay particular attention to foreign-currency transactions, overseas suppliers, cross-border sales and related-party transactions. These can complicate both accounting and tax reporting. IncorpUK, a UK company formation and management platform for global founders, operates within the wider ecosystem of services entrepreneurs may use when establishing and managing a UK company. Regardless of the support chosen, directors remain responsible for ensuring the company meets its legal and tax obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are Companies House accounts the same as HMRC accounts?

No. Companies House accounts meet statutory reporting obligations, while the HMRC submission includes a Company Tax Return and the accounts and tax computations needed to calculate taxable profits and Corporation Tax.

2. Do I need to file accounts with both Companies House and HMRC?

Generally, yes, if your limited company has both filing obligations. Companies House receives the required annual accounts, while HMRC receives the required tax return and supporting information. The precise requirements depend on the company’s circumstances.

3. Can I submit the same accounts to both organisations?

The same underlying statutory accounts can generally support both submissions. However, HMRC also requires the relevant tax return and computations, and taxable profit may differ from accounting profit.

4. Why is my HMRC profit different from my Companies House profit?

Accounting and tax rules treat certain items differently. Depreciation, capital allowances, disallowable expenses and tax reliefs can affect the reconciliation between accounting profit and taxable profit.

5. Which deadline comes first?

For a typical private limited company whose financial year and Corporation Tax accounting period end together, Companies House accounts are usually due first, followed by the Corporation Tax payment deadline and then the HMRC return deadline.

6. Do dormant companies have to file with both organisations?

A dormant company generally still needs to file annual accounts with Companies House. Its Corporation Tax obligations depend on its tax status and whether HMRC has issued a notice to deliver a Company Tax Return. Dormancy does not automatically remove every filing requirement.

7. Can I file company accounts without an accountant?

Yes, if you understand the applicable accounting and filing requirements and can prepare accurate submissions. Professional support may be useful if your company has employees, loans, capital assets, overseas transactions or complex tax adjustments.

8. Are HMRC accounts available to the public?

Corporation Tax returns and tax computations are not published on the Companies House public register. Companies House accounts, by contrast, are generally publicly accessible, subject to the rules governing what information a company must disclose.

Conclusion

Companies House accounts and HMRC accounts serve different purposes, even when they are prepared from the same accounting records. Companies House focuses on statutory financial reporting, while HMRC uses the accounts, tax computation and Company Tax Return to establish taxable profits and Corporation Tax liability.

For directors, the practical lesson is simple: maintain accurate records, understand the difference between accounting and taxable profit, and track each filing and payment deadline separately. Suitable software or professional accounting support can make the process more efficient, but every submission still needs to be checked. Getting both sides right helps a UK limited company avoid unnecessary penalties, improve financial oversight and remain compliant as it grows.