Companies House is to begin taking submissions in the computer language XBRL, causing concern for businesses that are still struggling to incorporate it into their financial reporting. The organisation is following the lead of HM Revenue & Customs which has already decided all company tax returns must be made online using the language from April 2011.

Companies House said it will have an XBRL service up and running by the summer of 2010 for unaudited accounts and will then go to develop the service for all other types of account.

Critics argue that HMRC's change conflicts with the efforts to encourage SMEs to adopt international accounting standards. They claim that the new requirements will also represent significant cost to UK businesses.