Exporter status and principal activity

WeFile allows you to provide additional corporate information required by HMRC and Companies House, ensuring your submissions are complete and compliant.

Understanding Exporter Status

HMRC uses the CT600 to track companies that export goods or services outside the UK. This is declared via exporter status, which maps directly to CT600 boxes 616 (Goods), 617 (Services), and 618 (Neither). This is statistical information for HMRC and does not directly affect your tax liability.

When and Where to Declare It

If your company has traded during the period, you may need to declare your exporter status. You can do this easily in the Company Information step of the WeFile wizard. The information is transmitted securely in your tax return XML but never appears in your public statutory accounts at Companies House.

Principal Activity in Statutory Accounts

Separate from tax requirements, Companies House expects a narrative description of your company's principal activity. If you are filing Full or Small accounts, this description forms a mandatory part of the Directors' Report, providing public context about your business operations alongside your financial figures.

Practical Guidance on Principal Activity

When writing your principal activity description, keep it clear, concise, and strictly factual. It should logically align with the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes registered for your company at Companies House. For example, 'Provision of IT consultancy services' or 'Retail sale of clothing'. Avoid marketing language or overly generic statements.

Appearance in Filed Documents

Your exporter status will be clearly visible on the final stamped PDF of your CT600 tax return. Meanwhile, your principal activity will be professionally formatted into the Directors' Report section of your beautifully generated Statutory Accounts PDF, ready for signing.