How to keep your dormant company compliant without an accountant
By DormantFile · Updated 29 March 2026
Your company does nothing, but the paperwork never stops. Whether you are keeping it for a future project, protecting a company name, or cannot close it because of an outstanding Bounce Back Loan — you are still legally required to file every year. And paying an accountant £100+ to submit nil returns for a company with zero activity feels like money you should not have to spend.
The good news: if your company is genuinely dormant, you can handle everything yourself. Here is the complete checklist.
Your annual compliance checklist
A dormant company has exactly three filing obligations. Nothing more.
1. Annual dormant accounts — Companies House
A set of dormant company accounts showing a nil balance sheet. This confirms the company had no significant accounting transactions during the period.
- Due: 9 months after your accounting reference date
- Filed with: Companies House
- How: Step-by-step guide
2. Nil CT600 Corporation Tax return — HMRC
A CT600 return reporting zero income and zero Corporation Tax liability.
- Due: 12 months after the end of your accounting period
- Filed with: HMRC via the Government Gateway
- How: Step-by-step guide
- Note: Only required if your company is registered for Corporation Tax. Not sure? See do I need to file a CT600?
3. Confirmation statement (CS01) — Companies House
A confirmation statement confirming your company details (directors, registered office, share capital) are up to date.
- Due: At least every 12 months from the date of incorporation (or the last CS01)
- Filed with: Companies House WebFiling
- Cost: £34 online (£62 on paper)
That is it
No VAT returns (dormant companies are not VAT-registered). No payroll. No self-assessment for the company. No management accounts. Three filings, once a year each.
What happens if you miss a deadline
Both Companies House and HMRC issue penalties automatically. There is no warning, no grace period, and no discretion for dormant companies.
Companies House (late accounts):
| How late | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 month | £150 |
| 1 to 3 months | £375 |
| 3 to 6 months | £750 |
| More than 6 months | £1,500 |
Penalties double if you file late two years in a row.
HMRC (late CT600):
- 1 day late: £100
- 3 months late: another £100
- 6 months late: 10% of estimated tax (may be £0 for dormant companies, but HMRC can make its own estimate)
Persistent non-filing risks compulsory strike-off by Companies House. Full details in our late filing penalties guide.
The cheapest legitimate way to stay compliant
| What | Cost | How |
|---|---|---|
| Annual accounts + nil CT600 | £19/year | DormantFile (Basic plan) |
| Confirmation statement (CS01) | £34/year | Companies House WebFiling |
| Total | £53/year |
For comparison, an accountant typically charges £80–£150+ per company for the accounts and CT600 alone — and you still need to file the CS01 yourself or pay them extra. With multiple dormant companies, those fees multiply fast. DormantFile's Multiple plan covers up to 10 companies for £39/year (£3.90 each).
For a full cost comparison across all options, see how much it costs to file dormant accounts.
What you can file yourself vs what needs an accountant
Everything above assumes your company is genuinely dormant — no income, no expenditure, no bank interest, no assets, no transactions of any kind during the period.
If any of the following apply, you need an accountant:
- The company traded during part of the period
- The company received any income (including bank interest)
- The company holds assets (property, investments, stock)
- There are director loans on the books
- You are not sure whether the company qualifies as dormant
Our guide on how to check if your company is dormant walks through the common scenarios. And our guide on whether you need an accountant covers the decision in detail.
If in doubt, spend the money on professional advice. Filing dormant accounts for a company that is not actually dormant is a legal offence.
Staying on top of deadlines
The real risk with dormant company compliance is not complexity — it is forgetting. The company does nothing all year, the deadline arrives, and you have already missed it.
DormantFile sends automatic email reminders at 90, 30, 14, 7, 3, and 1 day before your accounts and CT600 deadlines. That is six chances to remember before a penalty lands. See how it works.
For the confirmation statement (CS01), set your own calendar reminder — DormantFile does not currently handle CS01 filing. Mark the anniversary of your last confirmation statement and file a few weeks early.
For a full breakdown of all your deadlines, see our guide on dormant company filing deadlines.
Key points
- A genuinely dormant company has three annual obligations: accounts, CT600, and a confirmation statement.
- You do not need an accountant if the company is genuinely dormant with no transactions, no income, and no assets.
- Total cost to stay compliant: £53/year (DormantFile at £19 + CS01 at £34).
- Late filing penalties start at £150 (Companies House) and £100 (HMRC) and are issued automatically with no grace period.
- The biggest risk is forgetting. Set up reminders — DormantFile sends six per filing deadline.
- If there is any doubt about dormant status, spend the money on an accountant. It is always cheaper than filing incorrectly.