Annual Accounts for Small Businesses and Limited Companies

Annual accounts are a legal requirement — but they’re also one of the most useful tools for understanding how your business is really performing.

At Atreus Accountants, we prepare annual accounts that do more than meet deadlines. We help small business owners and directors understand the numbers, plan ahead, and avoid unpleasant surprises — all without jargon or last-minute pressure.

---

What Are Annual Accounts?

Annual accounts summarise your business’s financial activity over the year. They are used to:

• Meet HMRC and Companies House requirements

• Calculate tax liabilities

• Understand profitability and financial position

• Support funding or growth decisions

For limited companies, accounts must be prepared in a specific format and submitted on time. For sole traders and partnerships, accounts form the basis of 👉 Self Assessment tax returns

Getting them right matters — both for compliance and for confidence.

---

Who Needs Annual Accounts Prepared?

You’ll usually need annual accounts if you are:

• Running a limited company

• Self-employed or a sole trader

• In a business partnership

Directors are legally responsible for ensuring accounts are accurate and submitted correctly, even if an accountant prepares them. That’s why clarity and reliability are so important.

---

What Our Annual Accounts Service Includes

Our annual accounts service is built around accuracy, explanation, and planning — not just ticking boxes.

We typically help with:

• Preparing statutory annual accounts

• Ensuring compliance with HMRC and Companies House

• Reviewing income, expenses, and profitability

• Identifying issues or inconsistencies early

• Explaining results clearly, in plain English

Where relevant, we also ensure accounts link correctly to 👉 Corporation Tax returns to reduce errors and HMRC risk.

---

Why Accurate Bookkeeping Makes a Difference

The quality of your annual accounts depends heavily on the quality of your records throughout the year.

Clients who use our 👉 bookkeeping and cloud accounting services often benefit from:

• Faster year-end accounts

• Fewer adjustments

• Better visibility over profits and tax

• Less stress at deadlines

Good systems mean fewer surprises.

---

Deadlines, Compliance, and Peace of Mind

Annual accounts have strict deadlines, particularly for limited companies. Missing them can lead to penalties and unnecessary HMRC attention.

We help clients stay organised, understand what’s due and when, and avoid last-minute scrambles. For an overview of key dates, see our 👉 UK small business tax deadlines guide

Our approach is calm, planned, and proactive.

---

Who Our Annual Accounts Service Is Best Suited For

This service is a good fit if you:

• Want accounts done properly, not rushed

• Value explanations you can actually understand

• Prefer proactive planning over reactive fixes

• Want confidence in what your numbers mean

• Are building a long-term relationship with your accountant

We’re probably not the right fit if you’re only looking for the cheapest possible year-end accounts with no discussion or support.

---

How Atreus Accountants Works With You

We don’t treat annual accounts as an isolated task.

Our approach is:

• Structured and organised

• Integrated with tax and bookkeeping

• Focused on clarity and planning

• Built around ongoing support

That way, accounts become something useful — not just another obligation.

---

Free Annual Accounts Discovery Call

If you’re unsure what’s required, worried about a deadline, or want clearer insight from your accounts, we offer free discovery calls.

This is a no-pressure conversation to understand your business and explain how we can help.

👉 Book a free discovery call with Atreus Accountants

---

Annual Accounts FAQs

When are annual accounts due?
For limited companies, accounts must usually be filed with Companies House within 9 months of the year end (shorter for the first year).

Do you prepare accounts for sole traders?
Yes. Sole trader accounts form part of your Self Assessment return.

Will you explain the accounts to me?
Absolutely. We believe understanding your numbers is just as important as submitting them.

Do annual accounts affect Corporation Tax?
Yes. Corporation Tax is calculated based on your company’s accounts, so accuracy is critical.