If you run a limited company, you need a limited company accountant in Uxbridge who keeps you on the right side of Companies House and HMRC without fuss. Ken Accounting has prepared year-end accounts and corporation tax returns for local companies since 2007. We agree a fixed fee before we start and tell you about every deadline well in advance.
Year-end accounts filed with Companies House
Every limited company must prepare annual accounts and file them with Companies House, even if it is small or has not traded. For a private company, the deadline is normally 9 months after the end of your company’s financial year (its accounting reference date).
Your first accounts work slightly differently. They are due 21 months after the date the company was incorporated, or 3 months after the accounting reference date if that is later.
Companies House charges automatic penalties for late accounts. For a private company these start at £150 and rise to £1,500 if the accounts are more than six months late. We plan the work so it never gets close.
As part of our limited company service we:
- Prepare your statutory accounts from your bookkeeping records
- Make the year-end adjustments, such as accruals, depreciation and director’s loan account balances
- Go through the figures with you before anything is filed
- File the accounts with Companies House and send you confirmation
Filing rules are changing. From 1 April 2028, Companies House will only accept accounts filed through commercial software, and small and micro companies will no longer be able to file abridged accounts. We will make sure your company is ready, so you do not need to track the detail yourself.
Corporation tax returns (CT600)
Your company must also file a Company Tax Return, form CT600, with HMRC. The return is due 12 months after the end of the accounting period it covers.
The corporation tax itself is due earlier, usually 9 months and one day after the end of the accounting period. Many directors are caught out by this gap, so we make sure you know the amount and the payment date well before it is due.
For profits up to £50,000, the small profits rate of 19% applies. Profits over £250,000 are taxed at the main rate of 25%, and marginal relief applies between the two. The limits are reduced if your company has associated companies or a short accounting period.
We prepare and file your CT600 alongside your accounts, so the figures always agree. We also check that you are claiming the allowances and reliefs your company is entitled to, such as capital allowances on equipment and vans.
If your company is new, it needs to register for corporation tax within three months of starting to do business. Our company formation page explains the first steps.
Salary, dividends and pensions for directors
How you pay yourself is one of the biggest decisions a company director makes. Most owner-managers take a mix of a salary through payroll and dividends from profits, and some also use employer pension contributions.
The right balance depends on your company’s profits, your other income and your plans. Dividend tax rates rose from 6 April 2026, to 10.75% at the ordinary rate and 35.75% at the upper rate, so it is worth reviewing what worked in previous years.
We look at your position each year and explain your options in plain English. We will also tell you what personal tax you are likely to owe, so your self assessment bill is not a shock.
Directors need to watch their director’s loan account too. Money taken out of the company that is not salary, dividends or expenses is treated as a loan, and there can be tax consequences if it is not repaid in time. We keep an eye on it for you.
If you pay yourself a salary, the company needs to run payroll and report to HMRC each time you are paid. We can do this for you as part of our payroll service.
Confirmation statements
As well as accounts, every company must file a confirmation statement with Companies House at least once a year. It confirms the company’s details, such as its registered office, directors, shareholders and people with significant control.
You have up to 14 days after the end of the review period to file it. Companies House can fine a company and may strike it off the register if the statement is not filed.
Since November 2025, directors and people with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House. Existing directors give their personal code in the company’s next confirmation statement, so we will check this is in place before we file.
Fixed fees for limited companies
We agree a fixed fee for your company before we start, after a free first conversation. You will know exactly what is included, and you will not get an unexpected bill when we answer a quick question.
The fee for a limited company usually depends on:
- The size of the company and the number of transactions
- Whether we also keep the books, or you keep them yourself
- Whether the company is VAT registered and runs a payroll
- How many directors and shareholders need personal tax returns
- The condition of the records when they reach us
[TODO: Gaurav to confirm “from £” price or keep as quote-only]
Many of our limited company clients choose a package that brings together bookkeeping, accounts, corporation tax, payroll and the directors’ self assessment tax returns. One firm, one fixed fee, and nothing falls between the gaps. Find out more about how we help limited companies, or see our fees page.
To prepare your accounts we usually need your bank statements or access to your accounting software, sales and purchase records, details of any assets bought or sold, and loan or lease agreements. We send a short checklist so you know exactly what to gather.
FAQs
When are my company accounts due?
For a private limited company, accounts are normally due at Companies House 9 months after the end of the financial year. First accounts are due 21 months after incorporation, or 3 months after the accounting reference date if that is later.
When do I pay corporation tax?
Usually 9 months and one day after the end of the accounting period. The CT600 return is not due until 12 months after the period end, but the tax must be paid first.
Should I take a salary or dividends?
Most directors take a mix of both, but the right balance depends on your profits and your other income. We review it with you each year and explain the tax effect of each option.
My company has not traded. Do I still need to file accounts?
Yes. Dormant companies must still file accounts and a confirmation statement with Companies House. You may also need to tell HMRC the company is dormant.
Can you take over from my current accountant?
Yes. Once you appoint us, we contact your previous accountant for the information we need and take it from there. You can meet us at our Uxbridge office or work with us remotely.