Accounts preparation for limited companies and sole traders
ABLM prepares annual accounts for sole traders, partnerships and limited companies of any size. We are Chartered Certified Accountants regulated by the ACCA, and we explain the figures in plain terms.
Who has to file annual accounts?
Every UK limited company has to prepare annual accounts and file them with Companies House, normally within nine months of its financial year end (the usual filing deadline for a private company). Sole traders and partnerships do not file accounts at Companies House, but they still need properly prepared accounts to complete their tax returns.
What ABLM prepares
- Annual accounts for limited companies, prepared and filed with Companies House
- Sole trader and partnership accounts
- Figures explained in plain terms, so you know what they say about the business
- Accounts that feed straight into your corporation tax and personal tax returns
Dates and penalties for limited companies
- Annual accounts to Companies House
- Usually 9 months after your financial year ends (the usual private-company filing deadline)
- First accounts
- Usually 21 months after incorporation. Check the actual deadline on your Companies House record
- Late filing penalty
- £150 up to one month late, rising to £1,500 more than six months late. Doubled if late two years running
- Corporation tax payment
- Usually 9 months and 1 day after your accounting period ends, for companies on the normal payment rules
Rules from GOV.UK, checked 8 October 2026. Rules and thresholds change, so we confirm the current position for your business.
Enter your year end into our free key dates checker to see your own dates.
What we typically need from you
Exactly what is needed depends on the business, but accounts are usually prepared from:
- Bank statements for the year
- Sales invoices and purchase receipts, or access to your bookkeeping software
- Records of any loans, major purchases and payroll
- Details of dividends and any money owed to or by directors
If your records are kept on Xero or FreeAgent, most of this is already in one place.
Who will deal with it?
- Lisa JonesATTATT qualified with 20 years in practice, across accounts, self assessment, corporation tax, payroll and VAT.
- Laurence MaynardFCCA MAATFounder. Honed his skills as an Audit Manager in a top-tier firm, with a wealth of experience in SMEs.
Where we work
ABLM is based in Peterborough. We work with small businesses and limited companies in Peterborough, Wisbech and the Fenland area, Whittlesey, Chatteris and March, and with owner-managed and family-run businesses across England, including many clients in London. You stay in touch with the team through Teams, phone and email, with face-to-face meetings available if you prefer.
Speak to the team.
Tell us about the business. There is no obligation, and the quote is free.