Corporate Report: Whole of Government Accounts 2024 to 2025: Guidance for Preparers

Why It Matters

Accurate WGA reporting underpins fiscal transparency and enables Treasury to monitor public‑sector finances, while the updated tools reduce data‑entry errors and audit delays. Compliance with the new guidance is essential for timely, reliable government accounts.

Key Takeaways

• New central and local government user guidance PDFs released.
• Mapping tools updated for deposit classifications and validation errors.
• CG‑05 template corrected for 2024‑25 financial year.
• SCOA code list revised with accurate entries.
• OSCAR system remains mandatory for WGA submissions.

Pulse Analysis

The Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) represent the United Kingdom’s consolidated public‑sector financial statements, providing a single, transparent view of central and local government finances. Each year, Treasury requires every department, agency, and public corporation to submit detailed data through the OSCAR (Online System for Central Accounting and Reporting) platform. The 2024‑25 reporting cycle, published on 29 May 2025, introduces a refreshed guidance suite designed to streamline data collection, improve consistency, and meet the heightened scrutiny demanded by Parliament and the public. Accurate WGA reporting is a cornerstone of fiscal accountability and policy‑making.

The new guidance package comprises two extensive PDF user manuals—one for central government and one for local authorities—totaling over 150 pages each, alongside a series of Excel mapping tools that align entities’ chart‑of‑accounts data with the Standard Chart of Accounts (SCOA). Recent updates, logged through March 2026, address validation errors 900V0167‑900V0193, introduce separate cells for current and non‑current bank deposits, and correct SCOA code listings. The CG‑05 notification template has also been revised to reflect the correct 2024‑25 financial year, reducing the risk of mis‑reporting.

For preparers, the revised documents translate into fewer manual adjustments, faster validation, and smoother audit trails. By standardising data inputs and clarifying exemption procedures through CG‑03 and CG‑04 checklists, the Treasury aims to cut the average submission turnaround time and lower the incidence of late‑audit penalties. Entities that adopt the updated tools will not only meet statutory deadlines but also contribute to a more reliable national accounts picture, supporting evidence‑based budgeting and enhancing public trust in government finance. Ongoing refinements suggest the WGA framework will continue evolving toward greater automation and analytical depth.