Written by Sharaz Zaman, Founder of GM Professional Accountants, AAT Member with 15+ years London accounting experience.
Every UK limited company must file annual accounts with Companies House within 9 months of its financial year end, and submit a Corporation Tax return to HMRC within 12 months. Miss either deadline and automatic penalties start at £150 and rise fast. At GM Professional Accountants, we prepare HMRC-compliant annual accounts for businesses across London, Ilford, Wimbledon, Old Street, East London and Essex, so you never face an avoidable fine.

Annual Accounts London: Simple, Accurate and HMRC Compliant

DEFINITION Annual accounts (also called statutory accounts) are the formal financial statements that every UK limited company must prepare each year, covering its balance sheet, profit and loss account, and supporting notes, to be filed with both Companies House and HMRC in line with the Companies Act 2006.
Key Takeaways
Annual accounts must reach Companies House within 9 months of your financial year end.
Your Corporation Tax return (CT600) is due to HMRC within 12 months of the period end. Payment is due at 9 months and 1 day.
Late filing penalties start at £150 and double if you file late two years running.
Micro-entities (turnover under £632,000) qualify for simplified filing under FRS 105.
Companies House proposed mandatory software-only filing from April 2027, but those reforms have since been delayed and are currently under review.
317,985 Companies penalised by Companies House for late accounts in 2024 to 2025 £34.4m Total fines issued by Companies House in the 2023 to 2024 tax year alone 9 months Deadline to file accounts at Companies House after your financial year end £1,500 Maximum Companies House late filing penalty for accounts over 6 months overdue

What Are Annual Accounts and Who Has to File Them?

If your business is registered as a limited company at Companies House, you are legally required to prepare annual accounts for every financial year, whether the company is actively trading or dormant. Sole traders and partnerships do not file accounts with Companies House, but still need accurate year-end figures to complete their Self Assessment tax returns. Annual accounts are also known as statutory accounts. They must be prepared in line with the Companies Act 2006 and the relevant UK accounting standards, and they are sent to two separate places: Companies House (which makes a public record) and HMRC (alongside your Corporation Tax return, the CT600). GM Professional Accountants prepares and files annual accounts for limited companies, sole traders, and partnerships across London and Essex, with offices in Ilford, Wimbledon and Old Street to serve clients locally.

What Do Annual Accounts Contain?

The contents of your annual accounts depend on your company size. The table below sets out what is typically required:
ComponentMicro-Entity (FRS 105)Small Company (FRS 102 S.1A)Larger Company (FRS 102)
Balance SheetYesYesYes
Profit and Loss AccountSimplifiedYesYes
Notes to the AccountsMinimalYesFull
Directors ReportNot requiredOptionalYes
Audit RequiredNoUsually NoYes (above thresholds)
Turnover ThresholdUp to £632,000Up to £15.6mAbove £15.6m

Am I a Micro-Entity, Small Company or Something Else?

For accounting periods starting on or after 6 April 2025, a company qualifies as small if it meets at least two of these three conditions: turnover of no more than £15.6 million, a balance sheet total of no more than £7.8 million, and no more than 50 employees. A micro-entity qualifies under FRS 105 if it meets at least two of: turnover under £632,000, balance sheet under £316,000, and no more than 10 employees. Most of the small businesses we work with in Ilford, East London and Essex qualify as micro-entities or small companies, which means a simpler, faster process with less paperwork to manage.

When Are Annual Accounts Due? Deadlines You Must Know

There are two separate deadlines to understand, and missing either one triggers independent penalties:
ObligationWho Receives ItDeadline
Annual AccountsCompanies House9 months after financial year end
Corporation Tax PaymentHMRC9 months and 1 day after period end
CT600 Corporation Tax ReturnHMRC12 months after period end
First Set of Accounts (new companies)Companies House21 months from date of incorporation
Example: if your financial year ends on 31 March 2025, your Companies House accounts are due by 31 December 2025, your Corporation Tax payment is due by 1 January 2026, and your CT600 is due by 31 March 2026. Filing accounts with Companies House does not automatically satisfy HMRC. These are entirely separate obligations and penalties from each body are applied independently. Our team in Ilford and across London manages both submissions for clients so nothing slips through.

What Happens If You File Annual Accounts Late?

Penalties from Companies House are automatic. There is no warning, no negotiation, and no extension except in genuine emergencies applied for before the deadline. The penalty ladder for private limited companies looks like this:
How LatePenalty (Private Ltd)Penalty if Late 2 Years Running
Up to 1 month late£150£300
1 to 3 months late£375£750
3 to 6 months late£750£1,500
More than 6 months late£1,500£3,000
Beyond fines, persistent late filing can lead Companies House to begin strike-off proceedings, which can result in the company being dissolved even if it is still trading. Directors of a struck-off company can face personal liability for company debts. On top of Companies House penalties, HMRC adds its own for late Corporation Tax returns: a £100 penalty the day after the deadline, another £100 after 3 months, and further charges of up to 10% of outstanding tax after 6 and 12 months. According to Uniwide Formations, between 2024 and 2025 Companies House issued 317,985 late filing penalties totalling £34.4 million in the 2023 to 2024 tax year alone. The majority of these were avoidable with the right support in place.

What Does GM Professional Accountants Do for Your Annual Accounts?

Our London-based team handles every part of the annual accounts process from start to finish:
Gathering and reviewing your records We work with your bookkeeping data, bank statements, invoices and receipts, structuring them into a clean set of accounts ready for submission.
Preparing statutory accounts under the correct accounting standard Whether you qualify under FRS 105, FRS 102 Section 1A, or full FRS 102, we prepare accounts that are accurate, complete and legally compliant.
Filing with Companies House and HMRC We file electronically with both Companies House and HMRC, tracking every deadline so you are never late and never face an avoidable fine.
Corporation Tax calculation (CT600) Your annual accounts form the basis of your Corporation Tax computation. We calculate your liability, identify allowable deductions, and prepare the CT600 for HMRC.
Year-round deadline tracking We monitor your Companies House and HMRC deadlines throughout the year and alert you in advance so you can provide the documents we need without rushing.
Tax efficiency advice We do not just tick the compliance box. We review your accounts for tax planning opportunities such as capital allowances, salary and dividend planning, and allowable expenses that reduce your Corporation Tax bill.
You can find out more about the full range of work we cover on our Annual Accounts Services page. GM Professional Accountants serves clients across London and Essex, with offices in Ilford, Wimbledon, Old Street and East London.

Which Types of Business Need Annual Accounts?

We regularly prepare annual accounts for the following types of clients across London and Essex:
Business TypeKey Consideration
Private limited company (Ltd)Mandatory annual accounts and CT600 every year
Dormant companyStill required to file dormant accounts with Companies House
Property SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle)Accounts must correctly reflect rental income, mortgage interest (post-Section 24), and Capital Gains Tax position
Sole traderNot filed at Companies House but required for Self Assessment
CIS subcontractor (limited company)Accounts must reflect CIS deductions suffered and reclaimable from HMRC
LLP (Limited Liability Partnership)Required to file annual accounts with Companies House

What HMRC Changes Are Coming in 2026 and 2027?

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD ITSA) from April 2026 From April 2026, self-employed individuals and landlords with gross income over £50,000 must move to Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA). This means keeping digital records and submitting quarterly updates to HMRC through approved software. From April 2027, the threshold drops to £30,000. If you are a sole trader or landlord approaching these thresholds, now is the time to set up compliant bookkeeping software and work with an accountant who is already MTD-ready.
Companies House Software-Only Filing (Update: Reforms Delayed) Companies House originally planned to require all companies to file accounts using commercial software from 1 April 2027, closing the web and paper routes. Following feedback from businesses and professional bodies, the government confirmed in early 2026 that these reforms have been delayed and are currently under review. There is no replacement date. The government has committed to giving at least 21 months notice before any changes are introduced. We will update clients as soon as a new date is confirmed.

How Do You Prepare for Annual Accounts? A Practical Checklist

The smoother your records, the faster and cheaper the accounts process. Here is what to have ready when you hand over to your accountant:
1. Bank statements for all business accounts covering the full financial year
2. Sales invoices and evidence of all income received
3. Purchase invoices and receipts for all business costs incurred
4. Payroll records including PAYE submissions, payslips, and pension contributions
5. VAT returns filed during the year, if your business is VAT registered
6. Asset schedules showing any equipment, vehicles or property owned by the company
7. Loan agreements for any money the company has borrowed or lent
8. Director loan account balance if you have taken any personal drawings or made personal payments through the company
Looking for a specialist annual accounts service in London? Visit our dedicated service page for full details of how GM Professional Accountants handles accounts preparation, filing and Corporation Tax for London and Essex businesses. View Annual Accounts Services

Frequently Asked Questions About Annual Accounts

Do I need an accountant to file annual accounts?
You are not legally required to use an accountant, but Companies House and HMRC both require accounts to be accurate, compliant with UK accounting standards, and filed on time. Errors, omissions or late submissions all trigger penalties. Most limited company directors find that the cost of using an accountant is easily outweighed by the penalties, interest and tax overpayments avoided.
How much does it cost to have annual accounts prepared in London?
Cost depends on the size and complexity of your business, the state of your bookkeeping records, and the level of additional advice required. At GM Professional Accountants we offer transparent fixed-fee pricing based on your specific situation. Contact us for a no-obligation quote and we will give you a clear cost before any work begins.
Can I file annual accounts myself on Companies House?
Yes, you can currently file directly through the Companies House web service or by post. However, proposed reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 originally planned to require commercial software for all filings from April 2027. Those reforms have since been delayed. For now, existing filing routes remain open, and we will notify clients of any confirmed changes once a new date is set.
What is the difference between annual accounts and a tax return?
Annual accounts are the formal financial statements filed with Companies House showing your company’s income, assets and liabilities. A Corporation Tax return (CT600) is a separate document filed with HMRC that calculates your tax liability based on those accounts. Both are mandatory for limited companies, and they have different deadlines. Your accounts go to Companies House within 9 months of your year end; your CT600 goes to HMRC within 12 months.
Does a dormant company still need to file annual accounts?
Yes. Every limited company registered at Companies House must file annual accounts, even if it has had no trading activity during the year. Dormant companies can submit simplified dormant accounts, which are much shorter than full statutory accounts, but the filing obligation remains. Failing to file dormant accounts on time still attracts the same late filing penalties.
What is Making Tax Digital and does it affect my annual accounts?
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD ITSA) comes into effect from April 2026 for self-employed individuals and landlords earning over £50,000, and from April 2027 for those earning over £30,000. MTD ITSA requires digital record-keeping and quarterly updates to HMRC, but your end-of-year accounts submission remains. For limited companies, MTD for Corporation Tax has not yet been confirmed with a start date. We keep all our clients updated as HMRC publishes further details.
Can GM Professional Accountants help if my accounts are already overdue?
Yes. If your accounts are overdue, the most important step is to file as quickly as possible to stop the penalties from escalating. Our team in Ilford, Wimbledon and across London can take on overdue accounts at short notice, prepare and file them with Companies House and HMRC, and advise you on whether an appeal against the penalty is likely to succeed. Contact us and we will assess your situation the same day.
Get Your Annual Accounts Done Right Our London-based team prepares HMRC-compliant annual accounts for limited companies, sole traders and property investors across London and Essex. Fixed fees, clear timelines, no surprises. Book a free consultation today.
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Written and reviewed by the GM Professional Accountants Team. GM Professional Accountants is an AAT-regulated practice with offices in Ilford, Wimbledon, Old Street and East London, serving businesses across London and Essex. Information correct as of June 2026. This article is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional advice. Please contact us directly for advice specific to your circumstances.