What Companies House pausing P&L filing means for small businesses 

13 April 2026

The UK government has paused plans to require small and micro businesses to publish profit and loss (P&L) accounts at Companies House. This pause affects the rollout of reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) and has immediate implications for small businesses, accountants, and advisers across the UK. 

Why P&L filing was proposed? 

The proposal formed part of a broader drive to improve corporate transparency and combat economic crime. Under the original timetable, small and micro-entities would have been required to file full accounts, including P&L statements, publicly from April 2027. The aim was to give creditors, investors, and regulators better access to financial information and create a more reliable business environment. However, the change would have ended the long-standing option for small companies to submit abridged or filleted accounts that keep detailed financial performance private. 

Why the Government has paused the requirement 

The pause follows strong concerns from businesses and the accounting profession. Key issues raised included: 

• Commercial sensitivity – publishing margins and detailed results could expose firms to competitive risk, especially in sectors where pricing and margins are closely guarded. 

• Practical burden – additional reporting would increase compliance costs and administrative work for many small businesses already under economic pressure. 

In response to these concerns, the government has stepped back to review the policy and its potential unintended consequences. 

What the pause means now 

For the time being, nothing changes. Small and micro companies can continue to file accounts as they do today, without a publicly available P&L. The option to submit filleted accounts remains in place, so detailed financial performance can stay out of the public domain. 

There is no immediate timetable for reintroducing the requirement. The government has not abandoned the idea entirely and has said any future changes would come with at least 21 months notice. 

Will Companies House still increase transparency 

The pause on P&L filing is not a reversal of wider reform. Companies House is still undergoing major changes to improve the accuracy and integrity of the register, including stronger identity verification for directors and enhanced powers to challenge incorrect or fraudulent information. These reforms signal a continued move toward greater scrutiny and higher reporting standards, and financial disclosure in some form may return in a revised format. 

What businesses should do now 

No immediate action is required, but this is a good moment to prepare: 

• Keep accurate records – maintain clear, well-prepared financial statements for internal decision-making and to meet lender or investor expectations. 

• Review reporting processes – streamline bookkeeping and compliance workflows so you can scale reporting if requirements change. 

• Talk to advisers – accountants and advisers can help you assess readiness and identify cost-effective improvements. 

Summary 

The pause offers short-term relief on privacy and administrative burden, but the broader push for transparency in UK corporate reporting continues. For small and micro businesses, the message is clear: nothing changes, but staying prepared for future reporting requirements will be important. 

If you’d like help understanding how these developments could affect your business or preparing for potential future changes, please get in touch with one of our accounting specialists or your usual Moore contact.   

• Peterborough: 01733 397300 

• Corby: 01536 461900 

• Northampton: 01604 654254