Key takeaways
- You can view and download any UK company's filed accounts free of charge on Companies House's Find and update company information service.
- Accounts sit under the company's Filing history tab, where you can filter by accounts and open each set as a PDF.
- Many small companies file only a balance sheet and notes, because small companies can choose not to send their profit and loss account or directors' report.
- A company is small if it meets two of: turnover of £15 million or less, £7.5 million or less on the balance sheet, 50 employees or fewer.
- Micro-entities, which meet two of turnover of £1 million or less, a £500,000 balance sheet or less and 10 employees or fewer, send only a simplified balance sheet to Companies House.
- Companies House does not check the accuracy of the information filed, so treat the accounts as the directors' own figures.
- A certified copy of a filed document costs £22 by standard dispatch or £65 by express.
To read another company’s accounts, search for it by name or number on Companies House’s free Find and update company information service, open the Filing history tab and download the latest accounts as a PDF. Viewing and downloading is free. How much you learn depends on the company’s size, because most small companies file only a balance sheet and notes.
How to find a company’s accounts on Companies House
You can find any UK company’s filed accounts in a few minutes. Follow these steps.
- Go to the service. Open Find and update company information on the Companies House website.
- Search for the company. Enter its name or its 8-character company number. Check the registered office address to be sure you have the right one.
- Open the Filing history tab. This lists every document the company has filed, newest first.
- Filter to accounts. Tick the accounts category to hide confirmation statements and officer changes.
- Open the PDF. Select “View PDF” next to the accounts you want, and download it.
- Check the Overview tab. It shows when the next accounts are due and whether any are overdue.
GOV.UK’s company information page confirms that document images, officers, charges and insolvency details are free. You can also set up free email alerts to follow a company. Our guide to looking up a company on Companies House covers the other tabs.
Which type of accounts has the company filed?
The title on the first page tells you how much detail to expect. Companies House accepts several types, listed on its filing guidance, updated on 23 October 2026.
| Type | Who files it | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| Micro-entity | Smallest companies | Simplified balance sheet |
| Small or abridged | Small companies | Balance sheet and notes, often no P&L |
| Full | Medium and large companies | P&L, balance sheet, reports |
| Dormant | No significant transactions | Balance sheet only |
| Group | Parent companies | Consolidated figures |
What the size thresholds mean
The size of a company decides what it must put on the public record. These are the tests on GOV.UK’s micro-entity and small company page. A company must meet two of the three.
| Test | Micro-entity | Small |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £1 million or less | £15 million or less |
| Balance sheet | £500,000 or less | £7.5 million or less |
| Employees | 10 or fewer | 50 or fewer |
Small companies can choose not to send their profit and loss account or directors’ report to Companies House. Micro-entities send only a balance sheet with less information. So for most small private companies, you will not see turnover or profit. Our guide to abridged vs full accounts explains the options.
How to read the balance sheet
The balance sheet is a snapshot of what the company owns and owes on its year-end date. Work through it from top to bottom.
- Fixed assets: long-term items such as property, vehicles and equipment
- Current assets: stock, money owed by customers (debtors) and cash at bank
- Creditors due within one year: bills, loans and tax due in the next 12 months
- Net current assets: current assets minus short-term creditors; a negative figure can signal cash pressure
- Creditors due after more than one year: longer-term loans
- Net assets: everything owned minus everything owed
- Capital and reserves: share capital plus retained profits, which equals net assets
Compare at least two years side by side; the accounts show the prior year in a second column. Our guide on how to read a balance sheet goes line by line.
What to check in the notes and statements
The notes and statements often tell you more than the numbers. Use this checklist.
- Year-end date: check how old the figures are; private company accounts can be filed up to 9 months after year end
- Audit status: a statement that the company is exempt from audit means no auditor checked the figures
- Average number of employees: a quick guide to the company’s size
- Directors’ loans: money owed to or by the directors
- Charges: secured loans, which also appear under the Charges tab
- Late filing: an “overdue” flag on the Overview tab is a warning sign
See company accounts filing deadlines for the full rules on timing.
Limits of what the accounts tell you
Filed accounts have real limits as a credit or due diligence check. Companies House states that it does not check the accuracy of the information filed.
- The figures can be up to 21 months old by the time you read them.
- Small company accounts usually show no turnover or profit.
- Unaudited accounts are the directors’ own figures.
The government had planned to make small and micro companies file a profit and loss account from April 2028. Companies House’s filing guidance, updated on 23 October 2026, says that requirement is now paused; see Companies House pauses P&L filing.
Which applies to you?
- If you are checking a new customer’s credit, look at net current assets, net assets and any overdue filings.
- If you are buying a business, ask the seller for the full statutory accounts and management accounts, not just the public filing.
- If you need a certified copy for a legal purpose, order one from the filing history; Companies House charges £22 by standard dispatch or £65 by express. See Companies House fees in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to view company accounts on Companies House?
Yes. Viewing and downloading filed accounts on Find and update company information is free. You pay only for certified copies.
Why can I not see a company’s turnover or profit?
Small companies can choose not to file their profit and loss account, and micro-entities file only a balance sheet. Only medium and large companies must file full accounts with a profit and loss account.
How do I find a company’s accounts on Companies House?
Search for the company, open the Filing history tab, filter to accounts and select View PDF. The latest accounts are at the top.
Are accounts on Companies House checked or audited?
Companies House does not check the accuracy of filed information. Small companies are often exempt from audit, so their accounts are not independently checked.
How old can the accounts on Companies House be?
A private company usually has 9 months after its year end to file. So the latest accounts can describe a period that ended almost two years earlier.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance on 6 November 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.