Companies House Changes 2025: What UK Businesses Need to Know
Chrissy Leach • 7 July 2025
New rules from Companies House are coming. Discover how these will affect your UK company.
Companies House are implementing some of the biggest changes in recent years for limited companies in the UK. These reforms aim to improve transparency, combat economic crime, and ensure greater accountability. As a business owner or director, you must understand how these updates affect you.
Here at CJL Accountancy Limited, we're helping clients across the UK stay compliant and ahead of the curve. Here's what you need to know.
1. New Identity Verification Rules for Company Directors
A key change is the mandatory identity verification for:
- All company directors
- People with significant control (PSCs)
- Anyone filing documents on behalf of a company
This is part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act and aims to prevent fraudulent company formations and misuse of the UK corporate register.
What this means for you:
If you're a director or PSC, you'll need to verify your identity through Companies House directly or via an authorised agent. Unverified individuals will not be allowed to act as directors or file information which may lead to late filing penalties and possibly legal action. There's no firm deadline for this at the moment but Companies House say it will be mandatory from the Autumn.
You can complete your ID verification now and you will be given a unique code which is personal to you and can be used for all of your companies.
2. Mandatory Filing via Software
Companies House will soon no longer accept paper forms or outdated digital filing methods. All filings - including confirmation statements, changes to company information, and annual accounts - must be submitted using approved software.
Why this matters:
You’ll need to use approved software that’s compatible with Companies House systems. If you currently file yourself or use basic digital forms, this may require an update.
Our solution:
At CJL Accountancy Limited, we already use compliant filing software to manage submissions for our clients, so you're covered.
3. Changes to Your Company’s Accounting Period
Companies House is tightening the rules on changing accounting reference dates. Right now, companies can routinely extend their financial year, but in the future, this flexibility will be restricted.
You will no longer be allowed to extend your accounting period multiple times in succession or for non-commercial reasons.
Plan ahead:
If you’re considering changing your company’s year-end, talk to us first. We’ll assess the pros, cons, and whether your change would be permitted under the new rules.
4. Filing Your Profit and Loss (P&L) Account
Perhaps the most impactful change is that small and micro companies will now have to file their Profit and Loss account at Companies House from 1 April 2027. At the time of writing, there are news articles suggesting that this requirement may change but the legislation allows for this to be implemented.
Previously, small and micro-entities could file abridged or filleted accounts to keep sensitive information private. These exemptions are being removed to improve transparency.
What’s changing:
- Micro and small companies will no longer be able to “fillet” accounts
- Your company’s turnover and profits will now be visible to the public
If you'd like limited liability then this will be a cost of achieving that. You may have other options such as operating as a sole trader, partnership or unlimited company. We can talk through these options with you.
How CJL Accountancy Can Help
The upcoming changes may feel overwhelming - but you don’t have to face them alone. At CJL Accountancy Limited, we specialise in helping limited companies stay compliant, reduce stress, and focus on growth.
✅ We file everything through approved software
✅ We ensure your accounts are prepared to the new standards
✅ We keep you informed of all deadlines and rule changes
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