CIC Companies House ZIP Package Process

cic-companies-house-zip-package-process

CIC Companies House ZIP Package Process

20th August 2026

This is the complete CIC submission process when Practice Management is being used. 

Step 1: Generate the LTD iXBRL report

For the CIC company:

1. Generate the LTD set of accounts as usual.
2. Generate the iXBRL report.
3. Validate and finalise the accounts.
4. Select Create CH Copy.
5. Save the CH copy within Communication Tracking.

Step 2: Generate the CIC iXBRL report

1. Run the iXBRL report as a CIC set of accounts.
2. Select Create CH Copy.
3. Save this copy in Communication Tracking as well.

Step 3: Select the CIC files in Communication Tracking

Once both reports have been saved:

1. Go to View → Client → Communications.
2. In the drop-down menu, All Types will be selected by default.
3. Change this to CH-CIC.
4. You should now see two files:
   • Full Accounts
   • CIC Report
5. Select both files.
6. Click Generate ZIP Package.

Step 4: Locate the ZIP package

The ZIP package will be automatically saved in the AM3 folder within the IRIS data folder.

Go to:

IRIS Folder → Data → AM3

You will find the ZIP package there, ready to be submitted to Companies House through their ZIP portal.

Required ZIP package structure

The ZIP file must follow the required Companies House structure:

CIC-[Company Registration Number]

When you open the ZIP package:

• The top-level folder must be named CIC-[Company Registration Number].
• Inside this folder, there must be exactly two subfolders:
  • Accounts – containing the respective accounts.
  • CIC 34 – containing the respective CIC 34 report.

This structure is essential, as Companies House will only accept the ZIP package in this required format. The folder name must therefore follow:

CIC-[Company Registration Number]