Your company year-end marks the end of your accounting period. It's usually 12 months after the date you registered your company with Companies House, but you can change it to align with the calendar year, tax year, or your seasonality, whenever you want.

This date determines:

• When your annual accounts are due to Companies House
• When your Corporation Tax return (CT600) is due to HMRC
• The period covered by your company’s financial statements

At the end of your accounting period, you’ll need to prepare your statutory accounts - a formal set of financial statements that summarise your business performance for the year.

These include:

• Profit and loss account – showing income, expenses, and profit
• Balance sheet – showing your company’s assets, liabilities, and equity
• Notes to the accounts – giving context to your figures

These figures are then used to prepare your Corporation Tax return and calculate how much tax your company owes.

Getting organised before your company year-end can make the whole process smoother and ensure you’re claiming all the reliefs you’re entitled to. Here are some key pre-year-end checks you should consider:

• Check you've raised all sales invoices for work done
• Review your debtors list - chase any outstanding debts from customers and write off any bad debts

• Check all business expenses are included
• Include any business expenses you've personally paid

• Don't forget business mileage and travel not yet claimed

• Check that payroll is up to date
• Include any bonuses or benefits paid in the year

• Review your salary and dividend payments - are you optimising your pay strategy?
• Speak to your accountant if you're unsure how best to balance this

• Do you owe your company money? There are tax implications of this if it's over £10k, or if it's not repaid within 9 months of the year-end
• Speak to your accountant about a repayment strategy

• If you hold stock, complete a stock count as close to year-end as possible

• Have you bought any new equipment or assets that might qualify for capital allowances?
• If you need to invest in business equipment (like computers or machinery), doing so before your year-end could reduce your Corporation Tax bill through capital allowances.

• Have you made any pension contributions through the company?

• Have there been any changes in ownership, share structure or directors?
• Any large transactions or one-offs?
• Are you considering large purchases or investments?
• Are you planning for growth, investment or exit?
• Do you have surplus cash?

Speak to your accountant about these points so they can work with you towards your goals.

Once your year-end has passed, your accountant will prepare and file the following:

These are for your information as they show the company performance during the year and balances at the end of the year. They are also sent to HMRC with the corporation tax return, and are filed with Companies House (a filleted version if your company is small) within 9 months of the year-end.

This calculates the corporation tax due and is sent to HMRC, with a copy of the accounts within 12 months of the year end. The corporation tax payment is due 9 months and 1 day after the year-end (yes, before the tax return needs to be filed).

• Leaving bookkeeping until after year-end (this can delay your accounts and tax return)
• Missing allowable expenses that reduce taxable profits
• Forgetting to claim reliefs like AIA (Annual Investment Allowance)
• Letting your director’s loan account go overdrawn without planning repayment

An experienced accountant can do more than just file your accounts - they can help you plan ahead, stay compliant, and make informed financial decisions.

At CJL Accountancy, we work with limited company owners to:

• Complete pre-year-end reviews to maximise tax efficiency
• Prepare compliant statutory accounts and corporation tax returns
• Submit filings on time to Companies House and HMRC
• Advise on dividends, expenses, and salary planning

Your limited company year-end isn’t just about compliance - it’s an opportunity to take stock of your business, review performance, and plan for the future. With the right preparation and professional support, it can be a straightforward and valuable part of running your business.

CJL Accountancy can take care of everything from pre-year-end checks to filing your accounts and corporation tax return.

👉 Get in touch today to make your next year-end stress-free.