HMRC and Companies House (CH) have announced that their free-to-use online filing services will be scrapped. When will this happen and how should you prepare?
HMRC and CH call time. Recently the government authorities simultaneously announced that after 31 March 2026 you will not be able to use their free online service to submit or amend your company accounts and tax return. The consequences are different for future filing of accounts with Companies House (CH) compared with those for filing your company’s corporation tax (CT) return (including accounts) to HMRC. This change is most likely to affect micro and small companies.
Tip. This will only affect your company if you’re using the HMRC and CH filing services to submit accounts and/or your CT returns.
HMRC filing after March 2026. Because companies must submit their returns online, from 1 April 2026 you’ll have to use approved software to do it. If your company uses a bookkeeping app to keep its records, it might have a module you can add which will allow you to file your accounts online. Check with the software provider. If, however, you don’t use a bookkeeping app you’ll need to purchase software designed solely for filing your CT return.
Tip. You can continue to keep your company’s financial records how you prefer, i.e. you don’t need to use a bookkeeping app.
CH filing after March 2026. The options for your company’s accounts will be to send a paper copy to CH or use commercial software. In many cases the same software can be used for filing with HMRC and CH. Check this before deciding on which app to buy.
Tip. So that after 31 March 2026 you can continue to view a copy of your company’s accounts and tax returns that were previously submitted using the free filing services, you must follow a special procedure.
The HMRC and CH free service won’t be available after 31 March 2026. You therefore need to buy software to file accounts and tax returns with HMRC. For CH filing you can send a paper copy of your accounts or use software.
This article has been reproduced by kind permission of Indicator – FL Memo Ltd. For details of their tax-saving products please visit www.indicator-flm.co.uk or call 01233 653500.