Statutory accounts aren’t optional and the deadline doesn’t move because you’re busy. Digitax prepares and files statutory accounts for UK limited companies, from your first set as a newly incorporated business through to years of trading, dormant periods, and everything in between. We work out which accounting standard applies to your company, prepare accounts that are actually correct, and file them with Companies House well before your deadline.
Statutory Accounts Support for UK Companies
Digitax builds your statutory accounts from your bookkeeping and turns them into the balance sheet, profit and loss account, and notes that Companies House and HMRC expect. We work out whether you qualify as a micro-entity or a small company, which decides the accounting standard you follow and how much detail has to go on the public record. If your accounts are already overdue, or your company’s been dormant and you’re not sure what still needs filing, we’ll sort out what’s actually required rather than assume the worst.
Statutory Accounts Services We Offer
Every company’s accounts are different, so we base our approach on your company’s size and structure rather than a fixed package. Below are the two areas clients ask about most. If you also need corporation tax, bookkeeping or company secretarial support alongside your statutory accounts, we handle that too.
Annual Accounts Preparation & Companies House Filing
We prepare your accounts from your records, check the figures against your bookkeeping and bank statements, and file them with Companies House in the correct iXBRL format before your deadline.
Micro Entity & Small Company Accounts
Most of our clients qualify as a micro-entity or small company, which means simpler accounts and less detail made public. We work out which applies to you and prepare accordingly, so you're not paying for more disclosure than the law requires.
Why Choose Digitax for Statutory Accounts in Colchester?
We keep statutory accounts accurate and on time, not a last-minute scramble before the deadline. You get a named contact who understands your company’s figures, accounts that are reviewed before they’re filed, and straight answers when your company grows into a different size bracket or your first accounts deadline is approaching. Getting started takes one call: we look at your bookkeeping, tell you what your accounts need, and take the Companies House deadline off your plate. We’re based in Colchester and work with companies face to face across Essex, but most of our statutory accounts clients are supported remotely across the UK.
Not Sure When Your Statutory Accounts Are Due?
Whether this is your company’s first set of accounts, your filing is already overdue, or you’re not sure if your company still counts as dormant, our team can check your position and take it from there.
FAQ About Statutory Accounts
What are statutory accounts?
Statutory accounts are the annual financial statements every UK limited company must prepare and file with Companies House, typically including a balance sheet, a profit and loss account, and supporting notes. They’re built from your bookkeeping and become part of the public record, which is different from the tax return you file separately with HMRC.
When do I need to file statutory accounts?
Most private companies must file within 9 months of their accounting reference date. Your very first set of accounts has a longer window, usually 21 months from the date your company was incorporated. We track your specific deadline and file with time to spare.
What happens if I file my accounts late?
Companies House charges an automatic penalty, starting at £150 if you’re up to a month late, rising to £375 for one to three months, £750 for three to six months, and £1,500 if you’re more than six months late. File late two years running and the penalty doubles. We build your filing into our annual routine so this simply doesn’t come up.
What's the difference between statutory accounts and a tax return?
Statutory accounts go to Companies House and show your company’s financial position to the public. Your Company Tax Return (CT600) goes to HMRC and calculates your corporation tax bill. They’re prepared from the same underlying figures but filed separately, with different deadlines, and we handle both so they’re consistent with each other.
What's the difference between statutory accounts and management accounts?
Statutory accounts are annual, follow strict accounting rules, and are filed publicly. Management accounts are produced far more often, usually monthly or quarterly, and are for your own use in running the business. Most of our clients who want regular financial insight use both, and you can read more on our [management accounts page].
Do I need to file accounts if my company is dormant?
Yes. Even a dormant company, one with no significant accounting transactions, must still file dormant company accounts every year until it’s formally struck off or starts trading again. Dormant accounts are simpler than trading accounts, but the filing obligation doesn’t disappear just because the company isn’t active.
Does my company need an audit?
Most small companies qualify for audit exemption, meaning you don’t need a statutory audit unless your articles or your shareholders require one. You generally qualify as small if you meet two of three conditions: turnover under £15 million, balance sheet total under £7.5 million, and no more than 50 employees on average. We’ll confirm where your company sits before assuming exemption applies.
What accounting standard applies to my company, FRS 105 or FRS 102?
Micro entities, companies with turnover under £1 million, a balance sheet total under £500,000, and 10 or fewer employees on average, usually use the simpler FRS 105 standard. Small companies above those thresholds but below the small company limits typically use FRS 102 Section 1A instead, which requires more disclosure. We work out which applies to you rather than defaulting to whichever is easier to prepare.
What are abridged or filleted accounts?
Filleted accounts leave out the profit and loss account and director’s report from what’s filed at Companies House, while abridged accounts simplify the balance sheet and profit and loss account itself. Both are available to small companies with shareholder agreement, and they mean less of your company’s detailed financial performance is visible to competitors on the public register.
What information do I need to give my accountant?
Typically your bookkeeping records or accounting software access, bank statements for the year, details of any loans, assets or significant transactions, and your previous year’s accounts if this isn’t your first year. We’ll send a checklist specific to your company so you know exactly what to gather.
What happens for my company's first set of accounts?
Your first accounts usually cover a period longer than 12 months, running from incorporation to your first accounting reference date, and the filing deadline is 21 months after incorporation rather than the usual 9 months. We set your accounting reference date correctly from the start so this doesn’t cause confusion later.
How do I switch accountants to Digitax for statutory accounts?
We request professional clearance from your previous accountant and get copies of your prior accounts and working papers directly, so there’s very little for you to chase up. Most switches are timed well ahead of your next filing deadline.
Helpful Resources
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Prepare Annual Accounts for a Private Limited Company
Official guidance on preparing and filing statutory accounts. VIEW GUIDE
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Micro-Entity and Small Company Accounts
Official guidance on simplified accounts and available exemptions. VIEW GUIDE
