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Small businesses have been given a reprieve, after Companies House confirmed that its plans to require the filing of profit and loss accounts from April 2027 are on hold.

A new update to official guidance confirms that the change will not go ahead on that date, with the reforms currently under review.

Companies House has said businesses will receive at least 21 months’ notice before any new implementation date is introduced.

Reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) 2023

The proposal had formed part of wider reforms under the ECCTA 2023, aimed at improving corporate transparency.

Under the original plans, micro entities would have been required to file both a balance sheet and a profit and loss account.

Meanwhile, small companies would have needed to submit a balance sheet, profit and loss account, directors’ report and, where relevant, an auditor’s report.

However, concerns were raised about whether the move struck the right balance between tackling economic crime and placing additional burdens on smaller businesses.

There was also a notable fear that it would make sensitive financial data public that could risk the competitive viability of smaller businesses.

As a result, the timeline has been paused by Companies House while the reforms are reconsidered.

Only a temporary reprieve for small business owners

For many small business owners, this will be welcome news, but it is only a temporary reprieve.

It is important not to see this as the end of the story. The reforms have only been delayed and not scrapped entirely.

A revised timetable could still bring profit and loss accounts into the public filing framework in the future.

Next steps for small businesses

Businesses should continue to keep their financial records in good order and maintain strong internal reporting processes.

Greater transparency remains a clear direction of travel for Companies House and HMRC, even if the pace of change has slowed for now.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and keep you updated as soon as further details are confirmed.

In the meantime, if you require any assistance with your Companies House responsibilities, please get in touch.

Companies House fees have increased from 1 February 2026, affecting both the cost of incorporation of new limited companies and many ongoing reporting requirements.

Many of the fees have increased substantially and it is important that you factor in these additional fees.

For example, the fee for incorporating a limited company is increasing as follows:

Similar increases are being made to the cost of the confirmation statement as follows:

The full list of fee increases can be found here.

Why are the fees changing?

Companies House has said that the increases are used to cover the cost of incorporating companies and support the publishing “of company information worth billions to the UK economy”.

It also confirmed that the additional funding would be used to support its enhanced powers under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) 2023.

These allow Companies House to query and remove false and misleading information from its registers.

If you have any additional queries about the increase in Companies House fees, please get in touch.

The Autumn Budget 2025 has brought more changes to business rates and many businesses and property owners could be at risk of higher bills.

Businesses must know if they are affected and seek the right support so they can prepare for any unexpected pressure on their cash flow.

Is the business rates multiplier being reduced?

The Government confirmed that the annual business rates multiplier in England will decrease by between 11.7 per cent and 13.5 per cent.

While this may appear to be good news, most businesses are unlikely to see meaningful savings. Rising rateable values, along with new supplements, mean that many occupiers will be paying more.

The reforms will also introduce a temporary 1p increase in the multiplier in 2026/27 for properties that do not qualify for transitional relief.

What are the changes to Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief?

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief will reduce again from April 2026.

Properties with a rateable value of up to £51,000 will receive around 20 per cent relief, while those between £51,000 and £500,000 will receive 10 per cent relief.

This follows on from a significant reduction from 75 per cent to 40 per cent in 2025/26.

While this may reduce the burden on larger occupiers who previously funded the relief, smaller businesses may feel the impact through tighter margins.

What does this mean for property owners?

Larger commercial properties with a rateable value above £500,000 will be faced with a super supplement, currently set at around 5.8 per cent.

There will be some protection as the transitional relief annual cap is increasing to 30 per cent.

However, the new Rating List being published late means businesses have limited time to budget.

What are the new cuts to pubs and music venues?

Following backlash from the 2025 Budget, the Government has announced that pubs and live music venues will now get a 15 per cent cut to the new business rate bills from April 2026.

This cut will be frozen for two years and a review will also be conducted on the method used to value them for business rates.

How can we help you prepare?

Businesses should be reviewing their projected rateable values and factoring business rates into their cash flow forecasts.

You must know if you are eligible for reliefs and transitional support and seek advice if you are unsure about how the business rates will affect you.

We can help support your budgeting plans so you can make informed decisions come April 2026.

For further guidance or advice, contact our team today.

From April 2026, the Employment Rights Act will come into effect, bringing reforms to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) that will affect every employer.

It will change how SSP is calculated and create new responsibilities for employers.

What are the changes to SSP?

One of the biggest changes is the removal of the three waiting days within current legislation. SSP will instead become payable from the first day of sickness, rather than from day four.

This means employers will need to pay SSP for short absences that may have previously gone unpaid.

The Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) will also be abolished and part-time, low-paid and casual workers will now qualify for SSP.

How SSP is calculated will also change and the payment rate will be the lower of:

• 80 per cent of Average Weekly Earnings (AWE)
• The standard SSP flat rate, which is rising to £123.25 per week

SSP will still be based on average weekly earnings, usually calculated over the eight weeks before the sickness absence.

If your employee is already receiving SSP before 6 April 2026, transitional protections will apply.

This protection lasts for the remainder of their 28-week entitlement, provided they do not return to work or end their contract beforehand.

How should employers prepare for SSP changes?

These changes will bring additional responsibilities to your payroll teams and you must start planning now.

This includes:

• Reviewing sickness absence policies to reflect day-one SSP
• Updating contracts and handbooks on waiting days or earning thresholds
• Checking payroll systems can handle percentage-based SSP calculations
• Budgeting and forecasting costs, as more employees will qualify for SSP
• Communicating clearly with employees so new obligations are met

How can we support you?

Our payroll specialists can help you model the financial changes to SSP and make sure your systems and calculations are compliant.

We can also review your policies and help reduce the risk of costly payroll errors.

For further guidance or advice on the SSP changes, contact our team today.