Companies House Software Suppliers: The Complete Guide to Filing Accounts Digitally

Filing company accounts with Companies House is a legal obligation for every UK limited company. Historically, businesses could submit paper forms or use the free Companies House WebFiling service. But times are changing — and changing fast.

The UK Government, through the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, is pushing for fully digital, software-based filing. From April 2028, all companies will be required to file their accounts using approved commercial software in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language) format. Paper filing and the existing web-based services will no longer be available for accounts filing.

This shift has made the official GOV.UK software supplier directory more important than ever. It is the authoritative register of software products that have been tested and approved by Companies House for electronic filing — and WeFile is proudly listed as one of them.

In this article, we'll explain what it means to be a Companies House software supplier, walk through the different categories of accounts you can file, review the approved suppliers, and show you why WeFile stands out as a modern, affordable, and fully integrated option for small businesses, dormant companies, and accountants alike.

A Companies House software supplier is a company whose software product has been tested, validated, and approved by Companies House for the electronic submission of statutory documents — primarily annual accounts.

To become a listed supplier, a software developer must:

• Develop software capable of producing accounts in the required iXBRL format and communicating with Companies House systems via the official XML Gateway.
• Apply for a test account with Companies House to access their testing environment.
• Pass rigorous testing against Companies House's technical specifications and validation rules, covering various account types, taxonomies, and edge cases.
• Receive formal approval from Companies House after demonstrating that submissions are accurate, complete, and properly formatted.

Once approved, the software is listed on the official GOV.UK directory, where businesses and accountants can find it when searching for filing solutions.

Being listed is not just a marketing badge — it is a formal endorsement that the software meets the stringent technical and data standards required by the UK's company registrar.

The transition to mandatory software filing is arguably the biggest change to UK company accounts filing in decades. Here's why it matters:

• Paper filing is being phased out. Companies House will no longer accept paper accounts submissions after the transition deadline.
• WebFiling is being retired for accounts. The free web-based filing service provided by Companies House will no longer support accounts filing — only software-based submissions will be accepted.
• iXBRL is now the standard. All accounts must be filed in iXBRL format, which requires specialised software to generate. You cannot create iXBRL files by hand or with a standard word processor.
• Abridged accounts are being removed. Small companies that previously filed abridged accounts will need to file full small company accounts — which means more data fields and a greater need for capable software.

For the hundreds of thousands of UK small businesses that have relied on WebFiling or paper forms, choosing an approved software supplier is no longer optional — it's essential.

The GOV.UK software finder tool categorises accounts into several types. Different software products support different types, so it's important to know which category your company falls into:

• Micro-entity accounts — for very small companies meeting the micro-entity thresholds (turnover up to £632,000, balance sheet total up to £316,000, up to 10 employees)
• Small company accounts — for companies meeting the small company thresholds (turnover up to £10.2 million, balance sheet total up to £5.1 million, up to 50 employees)
• Dormant accounts — for companies that have had no significant accounting transactions during the financial period
• Full accounts — for larger companies that don't qualify for the small or micro-entity exemptions
• Group package accounts — for parent companies filing consolidated group accounts
• Community Interest Company (CIC) accounts — for social enterprises registered as CICs
• Audit exempt subsidiary accounts — for subsidiaries claiming audit exemption
• UKSEF accounts — for listed companies using UK Single Electronic Format

Most small businesses in the UK will fall into either the small company accounts or dormant accounts categories — and these are precisely the categories that WeFile specialises in.

Companies House maintains an official register of approved software on the GOV.UK website. For unaudited small company accounts — the most common category — the following software suppliers are currently listed at www.gov.uk/software-company-accounts/y/unaudited/small-accounts:

• Able Office Limited
• Accurri
• Acorah Software Products Ltd
• Acting Office
• Ajaccts Software Limited
• Andica Accounts Production
• ARKK
• Ayiza
• Bright Software
• BTCSoftware by Bright
• Capium Limited
• Caseware UK Ltd
• CoreFiling Limited
• Diligent
• Draftworx
• DTracks Limited
• Easy Digital Filing
• eFileReady Limited
• Eureka! Software
• Forbes Computer Systems Ltd
• gbooks
• HopeTex Limited
• Inform Direct Limited
• IRIS
• Nomisma Solutions Limited
• QMS
• SAGE
• Silverfin
• Tax optimiser
• Thomson Reuters
• VT Software
• WeFile
• Wolters Kluwer
• Workiva
• Xero

This list represents the full range of software that has been formally approved by Companies House for small company accounts filing. Each product has undergone testing to ensure it meets the required technical standards.

WeFile (wefile.co.uk) is officially listed on the GOV.UK register as an approved software supplier for filing company accounts with Companies House. You can verify this yourself on the official GOV.UK software supplier page for unaudited small company accounts.

But WeFile is more than just an accounts filing tool. It's a fully integrated platform that handles both your Companies House and HMRC filing obligations in one place. Here's what makes WeFile different:

• CT600 Corporation Tax Filing — file your CT600 return directly to HMRC through our guided multi-step wizard. Corporation tax is automatically calculated based on your profit and loss entries, and the correct tax rates are applied per financial year.
• Companies House Accounts Filing — generate iXBRL-compliant accounts and submit them electronically to Companies House. We support small company accounts, dormant accounts, and more.
• Dormant Company Accounts — if your company is dormant, WeFile makes filing straightforward. Our wizard handles the specific requirements for dormant company returns.
• Automatic Tax Computation — corporation tax, marginal relief, and associated company rules are all calculated automatically. No manual computation needed.
• Trial Balance Import — import your trial balance data directly from Xero, FreeAgent, or QuickBooks, saving hours of manual data entry.
• Company Formation — incorporate a new UK limited company directly through WeFile, either as a self-filer or using our Formation Agent service.
• VAT Return Filing — connect to HMRC's Making Tax Digital (MTD) gateway and submit VAT returns electronically.
• AI Assistant — get intelligent guidance throughout the filing process, with contextual help for tax computations, account entries, and compliance questions.

Unlike many established software providers that charge hundreds of pounds per year in licensing fees, WeFile offers flexible, transparent pricing:

• Pay-as-you-go — file a single dormant company return for just £15, or a trading company return for £25. No subscription required, no hidden fees.
• Accountant Membership — for £250 per year, accountants and bookkeepers can file up to 100 companies. That works out to as little as £2.50 per filing.
• API Access — developers and larger firms can access our filing API for £500 per year with a 300-filing limit, enabling programmatic CT600 and Companies House submissions.
• White-Label Portal — accountancy firms can offer a fully branded filing portal to their clients for £1,000 per month, with custom domain, branding, and client management.

Every plan includes the same core features: HMRC CT600 submission, Companies House iXBRL filing, automatic tax computation, and real-time submission tracking.

With over 30 approved suppliers on the GOV.UK register, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Here are the key factors to consider:

1. Account types supported

Make sure the software supports the specific type of accounts your company needs to file. If you're a small company, check for small company accounts support. If your company is dormant, look for dormant accounts support.

2. HMRC integration

Many businesses need to file both with Companies House and HMRC. Some software only handles one or the other. WeFile handles both — you can file your CT600 to HMRC and your accounts to Companies House from the same platform.

3. Pricing model

Some suppliers charge per licence, per user, or per year. Others charge per filing. Consider your volume and budget. If you only need to file for one or two companies, a pay-per-filing model like WeFile's may be far more cost-effective than a £500+ annual licence.

4. Ease of use

Not everyone filing accounts is a qualified accountant. Look for software with a clear, guided workflow. WeFile uses a step-by-step wizard that walks you through every section of the filing — from profit and loss to balance sheet to submission.

5. Support and compliance

Things change. Tax rates change. Taxonomy versions change. Choose a supplier that keeps their software up to date and offers responsive support. WeFile is continuously updated to reflect the latest HMRC and Companies House requirements.

6. Additional features

Consider what else you might need: trial balance import, VAT filing, company formation, document generation, multi-company management. A platform that covers more of your compliance needs means fewer tools to manage.

Understanding the timeline for mandatory software filing is crucial for planning:

The message is clear: every UK limited company needs to have an approved software filing solution in place before April 2028. Starting now gives you time to familiarise yourself with the software, test your workflow, and ensure a smooth transition.

Regardless of which software supplier you choose, you'll need the following before you can file electronically:

• Company Authentication Code — a unique 6-character alphanumeric code issued by Companies House to your company's registered office. You can request a new one via the Companies House website if you don't have yours.
• Presenter Account — a Companies House account with a Presenter ID and authentication code. This identifies who is submitting the filing. You can apply for one online for free.
• Company details — your company number, registered name, accounting reference date, and the period you're filing for.
• Financial data — your profit and loss figures, balance sheet entries, and any relevant notes to the accounts.

With WeFile, you enter your company number and we automatically fetch your company details from the Companies House API — including your confirmation statement dates, accounting reference dates, and filing history. This eliminates manual data entry errors and saves significant time.

Is WeFile officially approved by Companies House?

Yes. WeFile is listed on the official GOV.UK register of approved software suppliers for filing company accounts with Companies House. You can verify this at gov.uk/software-company-accounts.

Is WeFile also approved for HMRC Corporation Tax filing?

Yes. WeFile is recognised by HMRC as an approved commercial software for Corporation Tax (CT600) returns. We submit directly to HMRC via the official GovTalk XML Gateway.

Do I need to be an accountant to use WeFile?

No. WeFile is designed for both accountants and company directors who want to file their own returns. Our guided wizard walks you through every step, and our AI assistant is available to answer questions along the way.

Can I file dormant company accounts with WeFile?

Yes. WeFile fully supports dormant company accounts filing to both HMRC and Companies House.

What happens after April 2028?

After April 2028, paper filing and the Companies House WebFiling service will no longer accept accounts submissions. All companies must use approved software like WeFile to file in iXBRL format.

How much does it cost to file with WeFile?

Individual filings start from just £15 for dormant companies and £25 for trading companies. Accountants can subscribe to our yearly membership at £250 for up to 100 filings. See our pricing page for full details.

Can I try WeFile before I pay?

Yes. You can create a free account, add your company, and complete the entire filing wizard before paying. Payment is only required at the final submission step.

The landscape of UK company accounts filing is changing fundamentally. With mandatory digital filing on the horizon, every UK limited company needs to choose an approved software supplier — and the sooner, the better.

WeFile is proud to be officially listed on the GOV.UK register of approved Companies House software suppliers. We've built a platform that makes filing accessible, affordable, and straightforward — whether you're a sole director filing for your own company or an accountant managing dozens of clients.

From CT600 corporation tax returns to Companies House accounts, from company formation to VAT filing, WeFile brings everything together in one modern, easy-to-use platform.

Ready to get started? Create your free WeFile account and file your next return in minutes, not hours.