[LTD HMRC] Closure of the service to file your company accounts and tax return?

JamboJet

Hi All,
   HMRC is dropping the online filling service.
This is their justification which I don't buy as how their own online form cannot meet modern digital standards and they push everyone to use proprietary software? Unless there is something free/open source I could use.

The service to support small, unrepresented businesses with simple tax affairs with their online filing does not meet modern digital standards, or recent changes to UK company law. Since online filing for Corporation Tax was introduced in 2011, the market has matured and grown. Commercial products can offer much more than the current service, such as:
- improved validation
- tax support and reminders

They introduced this service like 14 years ago not like 40 years ago. "The market has matured and grown" sounds like bo***ks.

In my case the company is dormant so I understand I have to spend money on some proprietary accounting software to type in all the zeroes and upload it to HMRC.

Peter999_2

I've closed my company because of this,  they are literally forcing you to pay for a service when you could do it yourself before.    

amyfairweather

The (now) former Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said he would not allow this on his watch. 

Unfortunately, he was moved in the reshuffle, but it might be a case of "watch this space" and see what happens.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/03/smaller-firms-to-escape-burdensome-companies-house-filing-rules

JamboJet

From what I see you still can file a paper tax return provided you do it in Welsh? 🤣
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/corporation-tax-commercial-software-suppliers/corporation-tax-commercial-software-suppliers

There is some Open Source software available to deal with VAT and CT600
https://accountsmachine.io/open-source/

On top of that Tiny Tax only costs £20 per year for tax returns on dormant companies.
https://tinytax.co.uk/pricing
I think this is the cheapest option out there.

poseidon1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6629700/ltd-hmrc-closure-of-the-service-to-file-your-company-accounts-and-tax-return

Curious why you have to file corporation tax returns for a dormant non trading company in the light of guidance below -

https://www.gov.uk/dormant-company/dormant-for-corporation-tax#:~:text=they've%20decided%20to%20treat,If%20you%20employ%20people

Obviously still required to file dormant company annual accounts and the obligatory confirmation statement, but both of these are via Companies House filing portal, which as far as I am aware remain unaffected .

Indeed just this minute filed a dormant company account online, albeit for a company which never traded.