Can I file dormant company accounts for free?

By Ben Davies · Updated 3 October 2026

We file your accounts and tax return for £19/year

Only partly. Companies House's free dormant accounts forms are only for a company that has never traded, and they file the accounts only. And HMRC closed its free filing service on 31 March 2026, so the Company Tax Return now has to go through commercial software.

Companies House has two ready-made dormant accounts forms:

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 — narrower still: only for a company limited by shares that has never traded, whose only transaction has been issuing its subscriber shares, and that isn't a subsidiary or a charity. And only until 1 April 2028, when Companies House has confirmed its paper route closes for accounts.

A company that traded before going dormant can use neither. The forms are built for a company that has never traded — the paper form's balance sheet has boxes only for share capital, cash and the totals — and its accounts have to show what it still owes, is owed or kept from its trading years. It has to prepare a full set of dormant accounts and send them through filing software — or on paper, until April 2028.

What free doesn't cover

The HMRC side. If HMRC has sent the company a notice to deliver a Company Tax Return, you also owe a nil CT600. HMRC's free filing service, known as CATO, closed on 31 March 2026, so a CT600 now has to go through commercial software — paper only with a reasonable excuse or in Welsh. See your options now CATO has closed.
Remembering. Filing for free leaves the remembering to you. 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.