| Overview |
Once Year End Accounts data has been entered and reviewed, the final preparation step is to run Check Accounts & Generate iXBRL Files. This process validates the accounts, collapses empty notes and accounting policies, and produces the iXBRL-tagged files needed for submission to Companies House and HMRC.
| Understanding the Uncollapsed State |
When a Year End Accounts task is first created and opened, all notes and accounting policies are displayed in their expanded (uncollapsed) state. This allows you to see all available fields and enter data where needed. Empty fields and unused notes will appear blank.
This expanded view is for data entry only — it is not the final format of the accounts. Running Check and Generate collapses the accounts into their final, presentable form.
| Running Check Accounts & Generate iXBRL Files |
- Complete all data entry in the Year End Accounts — trial balance, journals, officer data, and notes.
- Click Check Accounts & Generate iXBRL Files from the bottom toolbar.
- BrightTax will run validation checks on the accounts. Any errors or warnings will be displayed on screen.
- Resolve all errors before proceeding — warnings can be reviewed but do not prevent generation.
- Once checks pass, BrightTax generates the iXBRL-tagged accounts files.
- The accounts automatically collapse — empty data cells, unused notes, and empty accounting policies are hidden.
| ✔ Tip: Always resolve errors before generating iXBRL files. Errors indicate a genuine problem with the accounts data — for example, a balance sheet that does not balance. Warnings are informational and should be reviewed but do not prevent generation. |
| What Check and Generate Does |
| Action | Detail |
|---|---|
| Validates balance sheet | Confirms the balance sheet balances — assets equal liabilities and equity |
| Validates prior year comparatives | Confirms prior year figures are correctly brought forward |
| Collapses empty sections | Hides all empty notes, unused accounting policies, and blank data cells |
| Generates iXBRL files | Produces the Full Accounts and Filleted Accounts iXBRL files for submission |
| Locks data entry sections | After generation, some sections become read-only — switch back to Edit mode to make further changes |
| Manual Collapse and Uncollapse |
If you need to manually collapse or uncollapse the accounts without running a full Check and Generate:
- Expand the toolbar in the Year End Accounts task.
- Click the Template tab.
- Click the Collapse button to collapse empty sections manually.
- To uncollapse, click the Uncollapse button in the same location.
| ⚠ Important: Uncollapsing the accounts after generating iXBRL will require you to re-run Check and Generate before submitting. Do not submit iXBRL files that were generated before a subsequent uncollapse and re-edit. |
| After iXBRL Generation |
Once iXBRL files have been generated:
- The accounts are ready for client approval — use the Send for Approval option from the bottom toolbar.
- The Full Accounts iXBRL file can be submitted to Companies House directly from BrightTax.
- The iXBRL files can be linked to the Corporation Tax return for HMRC submission.
| Frequently Asked Questions |
Q: The balance sheet is not balancing — how do I find the difference?
A: Check the Extended Trial Balance for any line where the closing balance does not look correct. Also check the Journals screen to confirm all journals have been entered correctly. The most common cause is a missing or incorrectly entered trial balance figure.
Q: Can I regenerate the iXBRL files after making changes?
A: Yes. Make your changes in Edit mode, then run Check Accounts & Generate iXBRL Files again. The new files will replace the previous ones.
Q: Do I need to regenerate iXBRL files if I only change the signing date?
A: Yes. Any change to the accounts data — including the signing date — requires a new Check and Generate before the updated iXBRL files are available.
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