29 Jun 2026
HMRC have been emailing companies recently about the ECCT changes. We want to make sure you feel fully informed and confident about what’s changing — and remember, we’re here at Galloways to guide you every step of the way.
What’s happening?
The government has confirmed how new rules from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Act 2023 will be put into place. These rules affect how all UK companies will file their annual accounts.
There was a pause last year while feedback was gathered, and the final approach has now been agreed.
Key changes you should know about
From 1 April 2028, the following updates will apply:
- Small and micro companies will need to file a profit and loss account, just like larger companies (However, on the positive side, it’s now possible to opt out of publishing publicly-see below).
- All companies will need to file their accounts using approved software — paper and web filing for accounts will no longer be available.
- A few smaller technical updates will also be introduced.
To help ease the transition, two important adjustments have been made:
1. Option to keep profit and loss private
Small and micro companies will be able to opt out of having their profit and loss account published on the public register. Details on how to do this will be shared closer to the time.
2. More time to prepare
The start date has been moved from 2027 to 1 April 2028, giving you a full accounting year plus nine months — 21 months in total — to get ready.
We’re here to support you
These changes may feel like a lot, but you’re not on your own. At Galloways, we’ll help you understand what applies to your business and make sure you’re fully prepared well before the deadline.
If you’d like help reviewing your filing process or choosing the right software, just let us know.
If you would like to go through the changes together or check what your company needs to do next? Just get in touch
