Statutory accounts for micro-entities: what “micro” really means and what gets filed at Companies House

If you run a limited company, you’ve got a yearly admin job that doesn’t go away: statutory accounts. Even if your business is tiny. Even if you barely traded. Even if you’ve had a quiet year.

The phrase “micro-entity” sounds like it should make everything simple (and it does help), but it also causes confusion: are you “micro” for tax, for Companies House, or just in real life? And what exactly ends up on the public record?

Let’s break it down in plain English.

If you want help preparing and filing properly (with minimal stress), start with our Annual Statutory Accounts service.

What “micro” really means (and the 3 tests that matter)

In the UK, “micro-entity” has a specific legal meaning for company accounts filing.

Your company will usually qualify as a micro-entity if it meets any 2 of these criteria:

That “any 2 of 3” point is important. You don’t have to tick all three boxes.

A quick real-world example

If you turn over £300,000, have £80,000 on the balance sheet, and have 12 employees, you could still be a micro-entity (because you meet turnover + balance sheet).

What statutory accounts are (in practical terms)

Statutory accounts are your company’s official year-end financial report. It’s not just a form — it’s a structured set of accounts that has to meet Companies Act requirements, and it’s what Companies House expects when you “file your accounts”.

If you want the wider overview first, our guide What are statutory accounts? is a good starting point.

Micro-entity accounts: what gets filed at Companies House

Here’s the big relief for micro-entities:

You can file less information on the public record.

Government guidance is clear that micro-entities can send only the balance sheet with less information to Companies House.

In practice, what typically gets filed is:

1) A micro-entity balance sheet (simplified)

This shows what your company owns and owes at the year end.

2) Notes to the accounts (limited)

Micro-entity accounts have fewer disclosure requirements than larger company accounts.

3) The required statements on the balance sheet

Micro-entity filings include specific statements confirming the accounts have been prepared under the micro-entity provisions. Companies House guidance highlights that these statements must be accepted before submission.

What usually doesn’t get filed

Most micro-entities don’t need to file a profit and loss account or director’s report on the public record.

That’s why micro-entity filing is often described as “privacy-friendly” — competitors can’t simply pull your margins from Companies House.

Important: “filed accounts” are not the same as “accounts you should keep”

This is where people get caught out.

Even if Companies House only sees a simplified version, you still need proper bookkeeping and records behind the scenes. That means:

If your records are messy, your accounts can be technically “filed” but still wrong — and that’s where tax trouble starts.

If you want your numbers tidy all year (not just in month 12), our Bookkeeping team can take it off your plate.

Which accounting rules apply to micro-entity accounts?

If you choose to use the micro-entity regime, you’re normally using FRS 105 (the UK standard designed for micro-entities). The Financial Reporting Council describes FRS 105 as intended for companies that qualify for the micro-entities regime, with simplified accounting requirements and limited disclosures.

In plain terms: it’s a framework that keeps things lighter than full UK GAAP for bigger businesses, but it’s still structured and still needs doing properly.

Deadlines: when your accounts are due (and why late filing is expensive)

For most private limited companies, you generally have 9 months after your year end to file accounts at Companies House.

If you miss that deadline, penalties can ramp up fast. The standard Companies House late filing penalties for private limited companies are:

And if you’re late 2 years running, the penalty doubles.

This is exactly why we encourage clients to treat year-end like a project with milestones — not a panic in the final 2 weeks.

The most common micro-entity filing mistakes (that cost you time)

Here are the issues we see most often:

1) Assuming “micro” means “no accounts needed”

Every limited company must file accounts, even if it’s small.

2) Confusing Companies House filing with HMRC requirements

Companies House and HMRC are different audiences. The public filing can be simplified, but your tax position still needs to be correct and supported.

If you want your Corporation Tax handled alongside accounts properly, see our Company Tax Returns service.

3) Not updating company details (and missing related deadlines)

Year-end compliance is rarely just accounts. Confirmation statements, officer changes, share updates — it all matters.

If you want this kept under control, our Company Secretarial Services can help keep Companies House records clean and up to date.

4) Messy bookkeeping that makes “micro accounts” harder than they should be

Micro accounts are simpler, but they’re not magic. If your figures aren’t reliable, your accounts aren’t reliable.

If you’re on cloud software (or want to be), we can support you with Xero Bookkeeping so the year-end doesn’t feel like archaeology.

A simple year-end checklist (micro-entity edition)

Before you file, make sure you can answer “yes” to these:

If you’re unsure what paperwork you should be keeping, this helps: What documents do I need to provide for my tax return?

When it’s worth getting help (even if you’re “only micro”)

Micro-entity accounts are absolutely doable — but the cost of getting it wrong is usually higher than people expect:

If you’re just starting out and want to build the right structure early, take a look at Accountants for start-ups.

Next steps

If you want your micro-entity statutory accounts prepared properly, filed on time, and backed by tidy records (so you’re not crossing your fingers if HMRC ever asks questions), we can help.

Book a chat with our team today — Contact FHP Accounting and we’ll talk you through the easiest, most compliant way to handle your year-end accounts.