How much does it cost to file dormant company accounts?
By DormantFile · Updated 28 March 2026
Filing for a dormant company does not need to be expensive. Here is what it actually costs across each option.
The options compared
| Method | Annual cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| DormantFile | From £19/year | Both filings (accounts + CT600) from one dashboard |
| Companies House WebFiling (DIY) | Free | Accounts only — no CT600 option since CATO closed |
| General accounting software | £100--£300+/year | CT600 + accounts, plus many features you will never use |
| Accountant | £80--£150+ per company | Both filings, plus professional advice |
DIY (free, but limited)
You can file dormant accounts with Companies House for free using their WebFiling service. It takes 15--30 minutes if you are familiar with the process.
The problem: this only covers accounts. Since CATO closed on 31 March 2026, there is no free way to file a CT600. If your company is registered for Corporation Tax, you need commercial software or an accountant for that part.
DormantFile (from £19/year)
We built DormantFile to handle both filings for dormant companies:
- Annual accounts to Companies House
- Nil CT600 to HMRC
The Basic plan is £19/year for one company. The Multiple plan is £39/year for up to 10 companies (£3.90 each). The Agent plan is £49/year for up to 100 companies. Full details on our pricing page.
DormantFile handles dormant company filings only — no invoicing, no payroll, no accounting features. Just the two filings you actually need. See how it works.
Accounting software (£100+/year)
Packages like Xero (from £15/month = £180/year), FreeAgent (from £12/month = £144/year), or Sage (from £12/month) can file CT600 returns. Some also handle Companies House accounts.
These tools are designed for trading companies. They are excellent for an active business, but for a dormant company with zero transactions, you are paying for features you will never touch.
Accountant (£80--£150+ per company)
An accountant can handle everything: accounts, CT600, advice on whether your company qualifies as dormant, and professional reassurance that everything is filed correctly.
For a genuinely dormant company where you are confident about the status, this is the most expensive option. But if you have any doubt about whether your company is truly dormant — if it might have traded, received income, or held assets — an accountant is the right call.
When an accountant makes sense
DormantFile (and any self-filing option) is only appropriate if:
- Your company genuinely had no significant accounting transactions during the period
- You are confident the company meets the dormant definition under section 1169 of the Companies Act 2006
- You do not need tax advice
If there is any complexity — a company that partially traded, received dividends from a subsidiary, or has assets on the balance sheet — spend the money on an accountant. The cost of professional advice is always less than the cost of filing incorrectly.
Key points
- Dormant accounts can be filed for free via Companies House WebFiling, but CT600 requires paid software since CATO closed on 31 March 2026.
- DormantFile covers both filings from £19/year.
- General accounting software starts at £100+/year and is overkill for dormant companies.
- An accountant costs £80--£150+ per company — worth it if you need advice.
- For a complete annual compliance checklist and total cost, see our guide on keeping your dormant company compliant without an accountant.