Understanding iXBRL accounts and tax computations

Short version. iXBRL combines readable annual accounts or tax computations with machine-readable labels. We generate those labels from your figures and classifications. You do not need to choose taxonomy tags yourself.

1. Current creditors are not just supplier invoices

The current creditors total can include suppliers, tax and amounts owed to a director. Enter the total due within one year in that field and longer-term creditors separately. For example, £600 owed to suppliers and a £400 current director loan make £1,000 of current creditors. The aggregate is tagged as creditors, not £1,000 of trade payables. Do not add a second breakdown just to create tags.

2. Dormant this year does not mean never traded

A company may have traded in an earlier period and be dormant now. For a new dormant draft we ask about previous trading, unless its first period starts on incorporation. We use your answer in the accounts without asking for evidence. Existing drafts keep their saved behaviour and do not gain a historical-records check.

3. A first-year allowance is part of the total

If your total capital allowances are £3,500, including £500 of first-year allowance on a qualifying new zero-emission car, the deduction remains £3,500. The separate £500 disclosure explains the total. It is not another deduction. See our capital allowances guide.

4. Tagged calculations and your own workings

The computation explains the route from accounts to taxable profits. A deduction can appear in brackets while its machine-readable expense or allowance fact is positive. The meaning of the label, rather than the printed brackets, determines the fact's sign.

A non-trading director loan release has its own finance-income disclosure and loan relationship credit. We do not move it to miscellaneous income. Read our loan waiver guide and disposal workings example.

HMRC's Businesses XBRL guideexplains tagged reports. The FRC Tagging Guideexplains labels, dimensions and signs. The Company Tax Return guideexplains computation content. These references are useful with any filing software.

This is general guidance. You remain responsible for your figures and classifications. Successful technical validation does not verify every accounting or tax judgement.