Can I file dormant company accounts for free?
By DormantFile · Updated 24 July 2026
Yes. Companies House charges nothing for filing annual accounts, and there are two free routes:
- WebFiling — the official online service. You need your authentication code (posted to your registered office, up to 10 working days) and 15–30 minutes.
- Paper form AA02 — only if the company has never traded, and only until the April 2028 software-only reforms close the paper route.
If your only obligation is the Companies House accounts, DIY WebFiling is genuinely fine — we say so plainly in our cost comparison.
What free doesn't cover
- The HMRC side. If your company is registered for Corporation Tax, you also owe a nil CT600 — and there has been no free route for that since HMRC closed its online service (CATO) on 31 March 2026. See your options now CATO has closed.
- Remembering. The free routes come with no reminders, no deadline tracking, and no one watching whether the filing was accepted. Most late filing penalties — £150 rising to £1,500 — happen to people who knew how to file and simply lost track of when.
The realistic comparison
Free DIY costs your time twice a year and carries the forget-it risk. A £9-style one-off service files the accounts form once. DormantFile files both filings — accounts and nil CT600 — watches them to acceptance, and reminds you from 90 days out, from £19/year. Our free deadline watchdog also tracks your deadlines at no cost, whichever route you file through.
Read more: How much does it cost to file dormant company accounts?