If you run a dormant company, you can currently file its accounts directly with Companies House for free. So why would anyone pay us £5 to do it? Today, many people won't need to. But Companies House is changing how accounts are filed. Once that change arrives, you will need to use software, and the free online form will no longer be an option. This guide explains what is changing, what it means for you and how we can help.
A dormant company is a limited company that is not trading and has no significant money coming in or going out during its financial year. People keep dormant companies for lots of reasons. You might want to protect a business name, hold a company ready for a future project, or simply pause while you decide what to do next.
Even when nothing is happening, a dormant company still has some legal duties. The main ones are:
This article focuses on the first of these: filing your dormant accounts.
Right now, you have a choice. You can file your dormant company accounts yourself through the Companies House online service, or you can use commercial software, either on your own or through an accountant.
Filing accounts with Companies House does not carry a fee. So if you file through its own online service, it costs you nothing. For a simple dormant company, that is a perfectly good option, and we want you to know that.
If you are happy to use the Companies House online service while it is still available, you can file your dormant accounts for free.
We charge £5 to file dormant accounts through TaxOptimiser. That small fee covers the software, the checks we build in and the convenience of having your filing sit alongside the rest of your company's records. But we would rather be honest: at the moment, you do not have to pay anyone to file dormant accounts.
Companies House is going through a big programme of reform. It is designed to make the information on the public register more reliable and to make it harder for people to file false details. Part of that work is changing how companies file their accounts.
Companies House has announced that it will move to software-only filing for accounts. In plain terms, this means the free online form you can use today will close for accounts, and paper filing will stop too. Every company, including dormant ones, will need to file its accounts using software that connects directly to Companies House.
This change is expected to come in from next year. Companies House has adjusted its timetable before, so we recommend you check its latest guidance on GOV.UK for the exact date that applies to you.
Heads up - the move to software filing is about how you send your accounts, not what goes in them. A dormant company will still file simple dormant accounts. You will just need software to send them.
| Filing route | Today | After software-only filing begins |
|---|---|---|
| Companies House online service | Available and free for accounts | No longer available for accounts |
| Paper filing | Available | No longer available for accounts |
| Commercial software | Optional | Required for all companies, including dormant ones |
| TaxOptimiser | £5 per dormant accounts filing | £5 per dormant accounts filing |
If you look after one or more dormant companies, the main thing to know is that the free route you might rely on today will not be there for much longer. When the change takes effect, you will need to choose a software provider to file your accounts.
Here is what we suggest:
Missing an accounts deadline can lead to an automatic late filing penalty from Companies House, even for a dormant company. So giving yourself time to get set up is the kindest thing you can do for your future self.
We built our dormant accounts filing to be simple and quick. For £5, you can:
If you are an accountant looking after several dormant companies for clients, you can manage them all in one place, which saves time as more of your clients need software to file.
Our aim is simple: when the free route closes, filing dormant accounts should still be quick, low-cost and stress-free.
Today, you can file dormant company accounts for free through the Companies House online service, and that is a fine choice while it lasts. We charge £5 for the convenience and checks our software offers. But Companies House is moving to software-only filing for accounts, expected from next year, and once that happens every company will need software to file. So now is a good time to check your deadlines, keep an eye on Companies House guidance and decide how you will file when the change arrives. When you are ready, we are here to help.