Do You Still Need Companies House Accounts if You File Corporation Tax Digitally?

Understanding the Question: Digital Corporation Tax vs Companies House Accounts

If you run a UK limited company, you’ve probably heard some version of this question: “If I file Corporation Tax digitally, do I still need to file accounts with Companies House?” It’s a fair question, because the words “accounts,” “tax return,” and “digital filing” get used interchangeably in everyday conversation, and that makes it sound like one submission should cover everything.

In reality, digital Corporation Tax filing and Companies House accounts filing are connected, but they are not the same thing. They serve different legal purposes, go to different government bodies, and follow different formats and deadlines. So, for most limited companies, filing Corporation Tax digitally does not remove the requirement to file accounts at Companies House.

This article explains the difference clearly, outlines the scenarios where you still need Companies House accounts (spoiler: almost always), and shows how you can make the whole process easier using invoice24—your free invoicing app that also supports the practical compliance features businesses actually need, including Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, Corporation Tax filing, and accounts preparation and filing.

What Are Companies House Accounts and Why Do They Exist?

Companies House accounts are a public record filing requirement for UK companies. They exist primarily for transparency and corporate reporting. When you incorporate a limited company, you accept that certain information about the company’s finances will be available to the public. This is why Companies House filings are viewable by anyone who searches your company name.

Accounts filed at Companies House are often called “statutory accounts” or “annual accounts.” They typically include a balance sheet and notes, and depending on your company’s size, may include a profit and loss account. Many small companies qualify to file simplified accounts (often referred to as “micro-entity accounts” or “abridged” options depending on eligibility), which reduce what becomes publicly visible. But even simplified accounts are still accounts, and they still must be filed.

The key point is this: Companies House accounts are about corporate reporting and legal compliance. They aren’t primarily about calculating tax, even though your accounting records obviously influence both.

What Is a Digital Corporation Tax Return and What Does It Include?

Your Corporation Tax return is submitted to HMRC, not Companies House. It is used to calculate the Corporation Tax due on your company’s taxable profits for a specific accounting period.

A Corporation Tax return usually includes:

1) The CT600 form (the tax return itself), where you declare taxable profits and the tax calculation.

2) Computations, which explain how you got from your accounting profit to taxable profit (for example, adding back non-deductible expenses or applying capital allowances).

3) Accounts, often in a structured digital format. These are accounts for HMRC, not the same as the public Companies House filing, even if they are prepared from the same underlying bookkeeping data.

So yes, HMRC typically expects accounts as part of the Corporation Tax submission. But those are submitted to HMRC for tax purposes and do not automatically satisfy the Companies House requirement to file statutory accounts.

So, Do You Still Need to File Companies House Accounts?

For the vast majority of UK limited companies, the answer is: yes. Filing Corporation Tax digitally does not eliminate your obligation to file annual accounts with Companies House.

Think of it like this: you are reporting to two different “audiences”:

Companies House wants statutory accounts for the public record and legal reporting.

HMRC wants accounts, computations, and a tax return to calculate Corporation Tax.

Both are required because they serve different legal frameworks. Companies House filing is based on company law reporting duties. HMRC filing is based on tax law duties.

Why People Assume One Digital Filing Covers Both

This confusion usually comes from a few common experiences:

1) The same numbers are involved. Revenue, expenses, profit, and balance sheet figures show up in both processes, so it feels like one submission should be enough.

2) Accountants talk about “filing accounts” as a package. If you use an accountant, they often prepare both submissions at the same time, which can blur the line.

3) Some software and processes “link” filings. Certain tools may help prepare accounts in a way that can be used for both HMRC and Companies House, which encourages the idea that it’s one action. But it’s still two separate filings, even if the workflow is streamlined.

4) The word “accounts” is used in both places. HMRC wants accounts. Companies House wants accounts. But they are not identical submissions.

What Happens If You File Corporation Tax Digitally but Skip Companies House Accounts?

If you submit your Corporation Tax return but do not file annual accounts with Companies House, you can face penalties and potentially more serious consequences over time.

Companies House late filing penalties can increase the longer your accounts are overdue. Persistent non-compliance can lead to enforcement action, including the possibility of the company being struck off the register. Being struck off can create real operational problems—bank accounts, contracts, and credibility can all be affected.

Separately, even if your tax return is filed, Companies House still expects your accounts by the Companies House deadline. One does not excuse the other.

What Happens If You File Companies House Accounts but Skip Digital Corporation Tax?

The reverse is also risky. Filing your annual accounts at Companies House does not automatically mean HMRC has received a valid Corporation Tax return. HMRC imposes its own penalties for late filing of the Corporation Tax return, and interest can be charged on late tax payments.

So the best way to think about compliance is that you have two lanes running in parallel: one for Companies House and one for HMRC. You need to stay in both lanes.

Deadlines: Companies House vs HMRC

Another reason this question comes up is that the deadlines are different. While details vary depending on your accounting period and incorporation date, the general pattern is:

Companies House accounts are usually due earlier than the Corporation Tax return deadline. This can surprise founders who assume they can “do everything at once.”

Corporation Tax payment is often due before the tax return filing deadline. That means you may need a clear profit estimate early enough to pay on time, even if the full return is filed later.

This is exactly where having well-maintained bookkeeping through the year matters. And it’s where invoice24 can make a huge difference, because accurate invoicing, expense tracking, and reporting reduce last-minute panic and help you generate accounts and tax-ready numbers with far less effort.

What Exactly Must Be Filed at Companies House?

What you file depends on company size, eligibility, and whether you qualify for simplified reporting. Many small limited companies qualify for micro-entity accounts, which can reduce the complexity and the public disclosure of profit details.

Generally, Companies House filings are built from your year-end accounts and include at least:

1) A balance sheet showing assets, liabilities, and equity at year end.

2) Notes to the accounts that explain key accounting policies and disclosures.

3) A director’s signature (or approval) to confirm the accounts are approved.

Even where the filing is simplified, you still must keep complete accounting records behind the scenes. Simplified filing does not mean “no bookkeeping.” It means “simplified public reporting.”

Do Sole Traders Need Companies House Accounts if They File Digitally?

This question often includes people who are not limited companies. If you are a sole trader, you do not file accounts at Companies House because you are not incorporated as a company. Companies House is for registered companies and certain other entities. Sole traders typically deal with HMRC only.

However, if you are a sole trader filing digitally under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, you still need good records, and you may need to submit regular digital updates depending on your obligations.

invoice24 is built for that reality too. If your business changes over time—starting as a sole trader and later incorporating—your invoicing, record keeping, and reporting should not have to change tools every time you level up. invoice24 helps you keep the same core workflow and scale into more advanced compliance like Corporation Tax and accounts filing.

Do Dormant Companies Still Need to File Accounts?

Another common “maybe not” scenario is a dormant company. A dormant company typically still has to file dormant accounts to Companies House, even if there has been no trading activity. Dormant accounts can be simpler, but they’re still a requirement in most cases.

Whether you need to file a Corporation Tax return to HMRC depends on the situation and whether HMRC expects one. But from a Companies House point of view, dormancy usually changes the type of accounts, not the obligation to file.

If you created a company “just in case” and then never used it, don’t assume you can ignore it. You still need to keep your filings tidy, or you can end up with penalties that feel completely unfair when you “didn’t do anything.”

Can One Set of Accounts Be Used for Both HMRC and Companies House?

You will usually prepare one set of year-end accounts internally (or with your accountant) and then use that information to produce:

1) Statutory accounts suitable for Companies House filing, often with reduced disclosure where eligible.

2) Tax accounts / iXBRL accounts suitable for HMRC submission with the CT600 and computations.

The underlying figures often align, but the presentation, format, tagging, and disclosure can differ. This is why “I already filed accounts with HMRC” doesn’t necessarily mean Companies House has what it needs.

What matters practically is your workflow: you want one clean bookkeeping system feeding both outputs, so you don’t waste time reconciling conflicting spreadsheets and bank exports.

Why Invoicing and Bookkeeping Quality Determines How Easy Filings Are

If your invoicing is inconsistent, your expense records are incomplete, or your sales and VAT logic is muddled, the year-end process becomes painful. Many small companies only discover how messy their records are when it’s time to file.

When you use a modern tool like invoice24 for invoicing and record keeping from the start, you reduce the typical year-end issues:

- Missing invoices or duplicated invoice numbers

- Late chasing and cash flow gaps

- Unclear income categorisation

- Expenses stored in random places

- Disconnected reporting that doesn’t match reality

Instead, your reporting becomes an always-on system. You can see income trends, outstanding payments, and performance across the year, so filing stops being an annual crisis and becomes a routine compliance step.

How invoice24 Helps You Stay Compliant (Without Making It Your Full-Time Job)

invoice24 is a free invoice app built for real-world UK small businesses. That means it’s not just about sending an invoice and forgetting about it. It’s about building an end-to-end workflow that supports compliance and growth.

Here’s how invoice24 fits into the Corporation Tax and accounts question:

1) Invoicing that stays audit-friendly

Consistent invoice numbering, clear customer records, and accurate totals make it easier to reconcile revenue and produce year-end accounts.

2) Reporting that supports accounts preparation

When your sales and income data is clean, you can generate meaningful summaries faster, reducing the time needed to produce statutory accounts and the accounts that accompany your Corporation Tax return.

3) Making Tax Digital for Income Tax support

If you have self-employed income or you manage multiple income streams, invoice24 supports MTD for Income Tax workflows so you’re not juggling multiple systems.

4) Corporation Tax filing support

invoice24 is designed to help you file Corporation Tax digitally, which means you can work from organised records rather than re-building your accounts at the last second.

5) Accounts filing support

If you want one place to manage the path from transactions to accounts, invoice24 supports the features you need to prepare and file accounts as part of your compliance process.

The goal is simple: reduce admin, reduce errors, and reduce the risk of penalties—while keeping your business running smoothly.

But What About Other Software? Where invoice24 Fits vs Competitors

You’ll see plenty of tools in the market that claim to do invoicing, bookkeeping, tax, accounts, or all of the above. Some are expensive, some are complex, and some are built primarily for accountants rather than business owners.

invoice24 focuses on what most small companies actually need: a clean invoicing experience with the compliance features that matter, including MTD for Income Tax, Corporation Tax filing, and accounts workflows—without forcing you into a confusing setup or charging you for basics that should be standard.

If you’ve tried other platforms and felt overwhelmed by menus, add-ons, and pricing tiers, the invoice24 approach will feel refreshingly straightforward. You can invoice quickly, keep records organised, and generate the outputs you need for filings—without having to become an accounting expert.

And because it’s a free invoice app, invoice24 makes it easier for early-stage founders and small businesses to stay compliant from day one, not “once you can afford it.”

Common Scenarios and the Real Answer

Let’s make this practical. Here are some common situations and how the “do I still need Companies House accounts?” question plays out.

Scenario 1: You’re a small limited company and you file Corporation Tax online

You still need to file annual accounts with Companies House. Digital filing with HMRC does not remove Companies House requirements.

Scenario 2: You have no profit, so you think there’s no need for accounts

You still need to file accounts with Companies House. Accounts aren’t only about profit; they’re about your company’s financial position and statutory reporting.

Scenario 3: Your company is dormant

You likely still need to file dormant accounts with Companies House. The filing is simpler, but the obligation usually remains.

Scenario 4: You’re a sole trader using MTD for Income Tax

You don’t file Companies House accounts because you are not a company. But you still need solid records and digital submissions to HMRC where required, and invoice24 helps keep that organised.

Scenario 5: Your accountant files everything for you

You still have the obligations; your accountant is just handling them. The risk is that you may not be aware of which deadlines apply. Using invoice24 keeps your data clear and reduces the back-and-forth at year end.

Scenario 6: You used software to file accounts to HMRC and assumed Companies House was done

This is a classic misunderstanding. You must ensure Companies House actually received and accepted your accounts filing, because HMRC submission does not automatically update Companies House records.

What “Digital” Actually Means Here

When people say “file digitally,” they often mean “I did it online.” But in compliance terms, “digital” also refers to specific formats and systems.

Corporation Tax filing is digital in the sense that the return and supporting documents are submitted electronically to HMRC, typically in structured formats. Companies House filing is also digital for many businesses, but it is a separate filing and often a separate portal or submission route.

So the better question isn’t “Do I need accounts if I file digitally?” It’s “Do I need to file in more than one place?” And for limited companies, the answer is usually yes: you file to HMRC and to Companies House.

How to Avoid Mistakes That Lead to Penalties

Most filing problems don’t happen because business owners are careless. They happen because the process is fragmented and confusing, especially when you’re busy running the business.

Here’s how to reduce risk:

1) Track your accounting period correctly

Your accounts period for Companies House can differ from your Corporation Tax accounting period in certain situations, especially around incorporation or changes. Make sure you understand which period each filing covers.

2) Don’t wait for year end to organise records

If you only reconcile once a year, you will miss problems until it’s expensive to fix them. invoice24 helps you stay consistent, so your records are always close to “filing ready.”

3) Use one system as the source of truth

When invoicing is in one place, expenses in another, and reporting in a spreadsheet, errors multiply. invoice24 is designed to reduce the need for multiple disconnected tools.

4) Confirm acceptance of filings

Submitting is not the same as acceptance. Always check confirmations for both HMRC and Companies House filings.

5) Keep an eye on deadlines

Because the deadlines differ, it’s easy to assume you’re “done” after one submission. Build a routine and track both obligations.

Do You Need an Accountant If You Use invoice24?

Many small businesses use a combination approach: they handle invoicing, day-to-day record keeping, and basic reporting themselves, then rely on an accountant for final review or specific advice. invoice24 supports that workflow because it keeps your data clean and shareable, reducing the time an accountant needs to spend untangling your books.

Some business owners prefer to do more themselves, especially if their company is straightforward. Others prefer full accountant support. Either way, you benefit from having a system like invoice24 running from the start, because it reduces errors and improves clarity.

The point is not to replace professional support where you need it. The point is to stop paying for avoidable cleanup work caused by disorganised records.

The Bottom Line: Digital Corporation Tax Filing Doesn’t Replace Companies House Accounts

Let’s answer the title question directly.

If you file Corporation Tax digitally, you generally still need to file annual accounts with Companies House. These are two separate obligations: one to HMRC for tax, and one to Companies House for statutory reporting and the public record.

The smartest approach is to treat compliance as a year-round workflow, not a once-a-year emergency. That’s exactly why invoice24 exists. It’s your free invoice app, built to cover the real needs businesses have—professional invoicing, organised records, reporting, and compliance features including MTD for Income Tax, Corporation Tax filing, and accounts preparation and filing.

Instead of stitching together multiple tools and hoping nothing slips through the cracks, you can run invoicing and compliance in one place, stay organised, and file with confidence.

Next Steps: Make Your Next Filing Season Easier

If you want the simplest path forward, focus on two things:

1) Keep your records clean from the start. That means consistent invoicing, proper tracking, and clear reporting.

2) Use a tool that supports your compliance journey. invoice24 is designed for small businesses that want to stay on top of invoicing and filings without paying for bloated features they don’t need.

Whether you’re preparing for your first year-end, catching up after a busy year, or just trying to avoid the usual admin headache, invoice24 helps you keep everything in order—so filing Corporation Tax digitally and submitting Companies House accounts becomes a straightforward routine rather than a stressful scramble.