Can I Do My Own Limited Company Accounts?
UK Limited Company Guide • Updated October 2026
Can I Do My Own Limited Company Accounts?
Yes, you can. But preparing statutory accounts and filing Corporation Tax are different jobs — and understanding both is essential before you decide to go it alone.
The essential explanation
Can You Prepare and File Limited Company Accounts Yourself?
Yes. A company director can prepare statutory annual accounts, calculate Corporation Tax and submit the required filings without appointing an accountant. The challenge is not obtaining permission to do so — it is making sure everything is correct.
Unlike a sole trader, a limited company is a separate legal entity. It must maintain accounting records and normally prepare annual financial statements, even where the director is also the only shareholder.
Small companies and micro-entities may qualify for simplified reporting, but this does not mean they can ignore accounting standards or their tax obligations.
Understand the obligations
What Exactly Must You Prepare?
Statutory Annual Accounts
Financial statements prepared under the applicable accounting standards, usually including a balance sheet, profit and loss account and relevant notes. Other disclosures depend on company size and circumstances.
Companies House Filing
The version of the accounts that must be filed on the public register. Eligible companies may use reduced disclosure options, subject to current rules.
Corporation Tax Computation
A calculation adjusting accounting profit for tax purposes, including disallowable expenses, capital allowances and other applicable reliefs or adjustments.
CT600 Company Tax Return
The formal return submitted to HMRC, generally with accounts and tax computations in iXBRL format. A return may be required even if the company has made a loss.
Practical filing guide
How to Do Your Own Limited Company Accounts: 8 Steps
Complete Your Bookkeeping
Record sales, expenses, bank transactions and other financial activity. Reconcile your company bank accounts and investigate any differences.
Review Year-End Balances
Check unpaid invoices, supplier balances, loans, director's loan accounts, payroll liabilities, stock and fixed assets. Consider accruals and prepayments where required.
Choose the Correct Accounting Framework
Determine whether the company qualifies for micro-entity reporting under FRS 105 or needs accounts under FRS 102 or another applicable framework.
Prepare Statutory Accounts
Produce the appropriate financial statements and notes. Review comparative figures, disclosures and the treatment of transactions before director approval.
Calculate Corporation Tax
Adjust accounting profit to arrive at taxable profits, taking account of the relevant tax rates, allowances, reliefs, losses and associated company rules.
Prepare the CT600
Use suitable commercial software to prepare the Corporation Tax return, computation and accounts in the required electronic format.
Submit the Required Filings
File the correct accounts with Companies House and the Company Tax Return with HMRC. Check submission acknowledgements and deal with rejections promptly.
Pay Tax and Retain Records
Pay Corporation Tax by the applicable deadline and retain supporting records. Company accounting records generally need to be kept for at least six years from the end of the financial year.
For a more detailed walkthrough, see our guide to filing company accounts and our explanation of CT600 Corporation Tax returns.
Important 2026 update
Can You Still File Your Company Accounts Online for Free?
This is where many older guides are now misleading. The former HMRC online service for filing company accounts and Corporation Tax returns closed on 31 March 2026.
From April 2026, companies filing their own Corporation Tax returns generally need suitable commercial software. The software must support the relevant CT600, Corporation Tax computation and accounts submission requirements.
| Filing requirement | Current position |
|---|---|
| Prepare your own bookkeeping | Yes. You can maintain your own records using appropriate methods. |
| File eligible accounts at Companies House | Existing online filing options remain available for eligible account types before the mandatory software transition. |
| File a CT600 directly using the old HMRC service | No. The former joint filing service closed on 31 March 2026. |
| File a CT600 using commercial software | Yes. Suitable software is generally required for electronic filing. |
| File Companies House accounts from 1 April 2028 | Commercial software filing is scheduled to become mandatory for all companies. |
Interactive director assessment
Should You Do Your Own Company Accounts?
Answer four questions to see whether DIY filing looks straightforward or whether professional review may be worthwhile. This is a practical guide, not a legal or accounting determination.
Know your deadlines
When Must Limited Company Accounts Be Filed?
Companies House accounts, Corporation Tax payment and the CT600 are subject to different deadlines.
Company Filing Deadline Calculator
Enter an established company's financial year-end. The calculator assumes the Corporation Tax accounting period ends on the same date.
Illustrative deadlines only. First accounts, shortened or extended periods, multiple Corporation Tax periods, payment-by-instalment rules and other exceptions can change the dates. Check the company's actual filing deadlines with Companies House and HMRC.
Missed your deadline? Read our late company accounts penalties and solutions guide.
Making an informed choice
Doing Your Own Accounts vs Hiring an Accountant
| Consideration | DIY Accounts | Professional Accountant |
|---|---|---|
| Professional fees | No accountant fee, but software and your time may cost money. | Agreed professional fees. |
| Bookkeeping | You maintain your own records. | You can still do bookkeeping yourself, or arrange extra support. |
| Statutory accounts | You prepare and review them. | Prepared professionally using your records. |
| Corporation Tax | You calculate adjustments and reliefs. | Professional computation and review within the agreed scope. |
| Software | You select and pay for suitable filing software. | Filing software is normally handled by the accountant. |
| Risk of mistakes | You must identify and resolve errors. | Professional review can reduce risk, but cannot guarantee error-free filings. |
| Director responsibility | Remains with the directors. | Still remains with the directors. |
Common mistakes
Seven Mistakes Directors Make When Preparing Their Own Accounts
1. Treating bank balances as profit
Cash in the bank is not necessarily the company's accounting profit or available distributable reserves.
2. Claiming personal expenditure
Not every payment from the company account is tax deductible. Private expenditure may need different treatment.
3. Ignoring director's loans
Money withdrawn by a director may create a loan balance, with potential tax implications including section 455 charges.
4. Confusing dividends with expenses
Dividends are distributions of profits, not deductible trading expenses. They also require sufficient distributable profits.
5. Missing year-end adjustments
Unpaid invoices, depreciation, stock, accruals and other adjustments may affect the accuracy of the accounts.
6. Applying the wrong tax treatment
Accounting depreciation, capital allowances and tax-deductible expenses are not interchangeable.
7. Filing only with Companies House
Submitting annual accounts does not automatically satisfy the company's separate Corporation Tax obligations.
Explore our guides to directors' duties, tax-deductible expenditure and reclaiming section 455 tax.
Before you start
DIY Limited Company Accounts Checklist
Financial records
- Complete bookkeeping and bank reconciliations
- Sales invoices and supplier records
- Payroll and pension information
- VAT records where applicable
- Loan and director's loan balances
- Fixed asset and stock records
Filing preparation
- Previous accounts and opening balances
- Correct accounting standard and disclosures
- Corporation Tax computation
- Appropriate filing software
- Companies House authentication details
- Director approval and filing acknowledgements
Transparent accounting fees
What If You Decide Not to Do Everything Yourself?
You do not necessarily need a monthly accounting package. If your bookkeeping is substantially complete, a one-off year-end accounts and Corporation Tax filing service may be sufficient.
£349 + VAT
Sales up to £30,000 and assets up to £100,000.
View Filing Service →£549 + VAT
Sales up to £100,000 and assets up to £250,000.
View Filing Service →£749 + VAT
Sales up to £250,000 and assets up to £500,000.
View Filing Service →These are our service pricing categories, not the statutory company-size definitions. The applicable fee depends on both turnover and assets, with the higher qualifying tier normally applying. Complex cases and additional services may require a separate quotation.
Our year-end filing service includes the agreed statutory accounts, Corporation Tax calculation and CT600 submission, subject to eligibility and engagement terms. See our full accountancy fees.
Frequently asked questions
Doing Your Own Limited Company Accounts: FAQs
Is it legal to do my own limited company accounts?
Yes. UK law does not generally require limited companies to appoint an accountant. Directors can prepare their own accounts and returns, provided they comply with the relevant legal, accounting and tax requirements.
Can I file limited company accounts myself with Companies House?
Yes. Eligible companies can currently use available Companies House filing methods. Commercial software filing is scheduled to become mandatory for all companies from 1 April 2028.
Can I do my own Corporation Tax return?
Yes. However, since the closure of HMRC's former joint filing service on 31 March 2026, commercial software is generally required to file the CT600, accounts and computations electronically.
Can I use Excel to prepare limited company accounts?
Spreadsheets can assist with bookkeeping and calculations, but they do not automatically produce compliant statutory accounts or provide the required Corporation Tax electronic filing functionality. Suitable software or another compliant filing method is still necessary.
Can I prepare micro-entity accounts myself?
Yes, if your company qualifies for the micro-entity regime. The accounts must still comply with the applicable requirements, including FRS 105 where adopted. Micro-entity eligibility is not determined solely by having low turnover.
Do dormant companies need accounts?
Generally, yes. Dormant companies must normally file annual accounts with Companies House, although simplified dormant accounts may be available. HMRC requirements depend on the company's Corporation Tax status and whether a return has been requested.
Do I need accounting software if I use an accountant?
Not necessarily for year-end accounts filing. An accountant can use professional software to prepare and submit your filings. You must still maintain adequate records and provide the information needed to complete the work.
Can I prepare my own accounts and ask an accountant to check them?
Yes. You can maintain your bookkeeping and arrange a professional year-end preparation or review service. Agree the scope carefully, as checking records, preparing accounts and filing tax returns are different services.
Can I submit accounts without paying Corporation Tax?
Filing accounts and paying Corporation Tax are separate obligations. A company may have no tax to pay because it has no taxable profits or has applicable reliefs, but it may still need to submit a CT600 if HMRC requires one.
Is doing my own limited company accounts cheaper?
It can be, especially for simple companies where the director already has accounting knowledge and suitable software. However, software subscriptions, time spent learning the rules and correcting mistakes should be included when comparing costs.
Professional help when you need it
Keep Control of Your Bookkeeping. Let Us Handle the Year-End Filing.
Doing your own bookkeeping can make good business sense. But you do not have to prepare statutory accounts, calculate Corporation Tax and submit the CT600 alone.
At The Online Accountants, we help owner-managed UK limited companies meet their annual filing requirements with transparent, fixed-price services.
File Company Accounts from £349 + VAT → Compare Our FeesThe Online Accountants is a trading name of Parkinson (UK) Limited. UK-wide online accountancy services. ACCA-qualified expertise.