Accountants for limited companies

A limited company answers to two bodies at once: Companies House, which keeps the public record of the company, and HMRC, which collects corporation tax and the tax on what directors take out. This page sets out, as general information rather than advice, what an accountant usually does for a company and the dates and rates that matter in 2026. If you would like help, we read every enquiry and, where we can, put you in touch with a local accountant, although we cannot promise one will be available.

What a company accountant actually does

Because a company is a separate legal person, its paperwork is separate from yours. Over a typical year a company accountant will do some or all of the following:

turn the bookkeeping records into statutory accounts and file them with Companies House
prepare the CT600 company tax return for HMRC
file the confirmation statement
run payroll if the company pays salaries, including to directors
prepare each director's personal self assessment return

The exact mix varies between firms, so get the list in writing before you start.

Who tends to use one

Company accountants work with a wide range of businesses. Typical examples include:

a consultant who is the only director and shareholder
a building firm trading as a company, with a couple of employees
a family company with two directors who both take dividends
a company that has stopped trading but still files a confirmation statement every year

If you are still deciding whether to trade as a company at all, see our page on accountants for small businesses.

Corporation tax rates for the 2026 financial year

Corporation tax is charged on the company's taxable profits. The rates for the financial years 2025 and 2026 are the same, and the Budget on 28 October 2026 set out the same rates and limits for the financial year 2027, which has been announced rather than passed into law.

Between the two limits, companies pay the main rate reduced by marginal relief, which uses a standard fraction of 3/200. Check the GOV.UK rates page or ask an accountant how this works for your company.

Corporation tax, financial year 2026
Taxable profits	Rate
Under £50,000	Small profits rate, 19%
£50,000 to £250,000	Main rate less marginal relief
Over £250,000	Main rate, 25%

The filing calendar and what lateness costs

Corporation tax is usually due before the company tax return: payment is normally due 9 months and one day after the end of the accounting period, and the return 12 months after it. HMRC late payment interest was set at 7.75% from 9 January 2026 and tracks the Bank of England base rate, so check the current figure.

If a company tax return is late 3 times in a row, the £200 penalties are increased to £1000 each, and the Companies House penalty is doubled if accounts are filed late in 2 successive financial years.

Main company deadlines for a private company
Filing	Deadline	Penalty or fee
First accounts to Companies House	Within 21 months of the date of incorporation	£150 up to 1 month late, £375 up to 3 months, £750 up to 6 months, £1,500 after that
Later accounts to Companies House	9 months from the end of the accounting reference period	Same scale as above
Company tax return (CT600)	12 months after the end of the accounting period	£200 at 1 day, another £200 at 3 months, then 10% of unpaid tax at 6 months and another 10% at 12 months
Corporation tax payment	Usually 9 months and one day after the end of the accounting period	Late payment interest
Confirmation statement	At least every 12 months, up to 14 days after the review period ends	Fee of £50 online or £110 on paper

Identity checks and record keeping

Legal requirements for directors and people with significant control to verify their identities began on 18 November 2025. Existing directors give their Companies House personal code as part of the company's next confirmation statement, and new companies give a code for each director at incorporation. Verification is done through GOV.UK One Login or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. The Companies House guidance explains the timing for people with significant control.

Keeping proper records matters too: under GOV.UK guidance, failing to keep accounting records can lead to a £3,000 HMRC fine or to disqualification as a company director.

Paying yourself and your own tax return

Directors usually take money out as salary, dividends or both, and each is taxed differently. Salary runs through payroll, where employers pay National Insurance at 15% above £5,000 a year. Dividends above the £500 dividend allowance are taxed at 10.75%, 35.75% or 39.35% in 2026/27, depending on your income tax band. The right balance depends on your whole situation, so directors often discuss it with an accountant. Where a director needs to file a personal return, our self assessment tax returns page.

Doing it yourself or getting help

Nothing stops a director from preparing and filing the company's accounts and tax return, and some owners of simple one-person companies do so with accounting software. People tend to bring in an accountant when the company takes on staff, registers for VAT, has more than one shareholder, or has already had a late filing penalty. Authorising an agent does not transfer the company's legal obligations to the agent.

Questions to ask before you sign up

Which filings are included: accounts, CT600, confirmation statement, payroll, VAT and each director's personal return?
Can you have the fee and the scope of work in writing?
Who supervises the firm for anti-money laundering? Every accountancy service provider must be registered with HMRC or supervised by a professional body, and trading while not registered is a criminal offence.
Are they chartered? The title accountant is not protected by UK law, while chartered titles such as ACA, FCA and CA are reserved by the institutes' Royal Charters for their members.
Who will actually prepare your accounts?
Can they act as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider for identity checks?

What it might cost

Fees depend on turnover, transactions and how much is included. As one published example, Sleek, an online accountancy provider, says most small limited companies pay £60 to £250+ a month for accountancy (VAT not stated). Local firms set their own fees, and our limited company accountant fees guide explains what affects the price.

Common questions

Do I have to use an accountant to run a limited company?

No. Directors can prepare and file the accounts and company tax return themselves. Many choose an accountant because there are two sets of deadlines and the penalties for missing them add up quickly.

When are the first accounts and tax return due for a new company?

Where a private company's first accounts cover more than 12 months, Companies House expects them within 21 months of the date of incorporation. The company tax return is due 12 months after the end of the accounting period it covers, and the tax is usually due 9 months and one day after the period ends.

What happens if our accounts reach Companies House a few days late?

For a private company, accounts filed not more than 1 month late attract a £150 penalty. The penalty is doubled if accounts are filed late in 2 successive financial years, so it is worth sorting out the cause.

Is corporation tax changing in 2027?

The Budget on 28 October 2026 set out the same rates for the financial year 2027: 19% and 25%, with the same £50,000 and £250,000 limits. This has been announced and is not yet law, so check GOV.UK nearer the time.

Sources for the figures on this page

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