Inform Direct Support

The option to prepare and file accounts will appear on the Dashboard tab of companies which are eligible. 

1. Go to the Dashboard tab and click on 'Prepare & file accounts' button.

Note that you can also upload and submit an iXBRL company accounts file

 If you are a Subscriber using your own presenter code, you can also upload an iXBRL company accounts file to Inform Direct and authorise us to electronically file this with Companies House on your behalf. This removes the need to create the company accounts in Inform Direct before filing them. See: How do I upload and file IXBRL company accounts?

2. You may be presented with options to prepare micro-entity accounts or dormant company accounts (if eligible). Please select micro-entity and click 'Continue'. 

3. To confirm that you are eligible to file micro-entity accounts there are 3 statements to confirm. Each of these contains a link to further guidance. Please check these carefully and tick if you can continue. The guides which are linked can be found below: 

What types of company are excluded from micro-entity provisions?

What are the size criteria for a micro-entity?

What types of company are excluded from micro-entity provisions?

4. You will be presented with a list of additional pages which can be included in the micro-entity accounts that you provide to shareholders/members and other stakeholders in the company. 

How do I produce more detailed micro-entity accounts for shareholders?

Note: These additional pages will not be filed on the public register. Only the required pages will be sent to Companies House - which are the balance sheet, balance sheet notes and required statements.

5. The date which the accounts are made up to is populated for you and is based on the accounting reference date held at Companies House. This will be the correct date on the vast majority of occasions, but it can be changed if required. You can change the accounting reference date by plus or minus 7 days either side of the default date and proceed to file micro-entity accounts. However, if you wish to shorten or lengthen the accounting period by more than this you must first advise Companies House and the change in accounting reference date must be accepted by Companies House before you can prepare and file micro-entity accounts. 

How Do I Change the Accounting Reference Date?

6. The balance sheet information can then be populated. As you click in to each field a Helpful Info pop up box appears. This will contain further detail on what to enter for each field. 

Guide to Completing Your Micro-Entity Balance Sheet

Note: The 'Net assets / (liabilities)' value must equal the 'Capital and reserves' value for you to continue to the next step.

7. The footnotes to the balance sheet can be entered at the next step. Please start by entering the average number of employees before confirming the four statements below.

How Do I Calculate the Average Number of Employees?

Note: Each field contains a Helpful Info box to provide more detail. If any of the statements are set to Yes there is also an option to view some sample wording to help. 

If your company is limited by guarantee, you will also be able to select to include an additional (optional) balance sheet note disclosing details of the guarantee provided by members. Again, there is the option to view some sample wording to help you create this note.

8. You will be asked to confirm the balance sheet statements at the next step. Please read the statements carefully and tick the box to confirm that all the balance sheet and directors' responsibilities statements are correct.

9. If you have chosen to include them, the income statement details and the additional information for full accounts for shareholders/members are then entered. These will not be filed with Companies House. The screenshots below cover the two stages where the data can be added and we have additional guidance here: 

Guide to Completing Your Micro-Entity Profit and Loss Account.

Note: If at step 4 in this guide you did not select to produce the income statement this step will not appear. Please continue to step 10 below.

What is the Difference Between the Micro-Entity Accounts Filed with Companies House and the Accounts Produced for Shareholders?

10. You will be given the option to review and approve the accounts before completing the process.

If you are a Subscriber it is also possible to select here which watermarked draft documents you wish to create. 

How Do I Apply Watermarks to my Draft Micro-Entity Accounts?

Note: For further details on a subscription account please see: What are the benefits of subscribing to Inform Direct

11. When you are satisfied that all the details of the accounts are complete and correct you will need to add the date on which the accounts were approved by the board and select the name of the director who is to sign the accounts. 

12. There is a summary screen for you to check and confirm all the details that have been entered. If you identify any information which needs amending at this stage you can return to any of the earlier steps to make the necessary amends. It is easy to navigate back to an earlier step as they are all listed along the left hand side of the window. 

13. The final stage asks if you would like to file the accounts with Companies House. Selecting 'Yes' and 'Complete & file accounts' will submit them to Companies House immediately. Selecting 'No' will not submit them, but they will be accessible to submit at a later date if required. 

How Do I Produce Micro-Entity Accounts Without Going on to File Them with Companies House?

What Pages of the Micro-Entity Accounts are Filed with Companies House?

Note: Remember that you cannot use Inform Direct to file your Company Tax Return and you will need to file your Company Tax Return separately with HMRC.