HMRC Free CT600 Filing Tool Closed: What UK Companies Must Do Now
The joint HMRC and Companies House online service for filing annual accounts and a Company Tax Return closed on 31 March 2026. From 1 April 2026, companies must use commercial software to file Company Tax Returns with HMRC.
Official source: GOV.UK — The online accounts and Company Tax Return service is closing.
What Closed on 31 March 2026?
The service that closed was the joint HMRC and Companies House online accounts and Company Tax Return filing service. It can no longer be used to send a Company Tax Return to HMRC. The closure did not remove filing obligations or create a general deadline extension.
What Must Companies Do From 1 April 2026?
Companies filing a Company Tax Return with HMRC must use suitable commercial software. It should support the CT600, relevant supplementary pages, the Corporation Tax computation and the applicable accounts attachment.
HMRC’s commercial software suppliers list records stated technical capability. HMRC explicitly says inclusion is not an endorsement or recommendation.
Can Companies Still File Accounts With Companies House?
Yes. The closure did not abolish every Companies House route. GOV.UK says annual accounts can be filed separately using third-party software, Companies House web services or paper, subject to the applicable Companies House rules.
The important distinction is that the Company Tax Return to HMRC now requires commercial software, while Companies House continues to operate separate accounts-filing routes.
What Should You Download and Keep?
GOV.UK advised users to download and retain at least three years of previous accounts filings because they would no longer be accessible through the closed service after 1 April 2026.
Companies should also keep their normal accounting and tax records. A previous submission does not replace the books, invoices, bank records and computations supporting the return.
How to Choose Replacement CT600 Software
Check that the software supports your accounting standard, every Company Tax Return element you require and any relevant supplementary pages. Also check whether it files Companies House accounts or only the HMRC package.
If you used HMRC's former free service, our guide to switching from HMRC's closed free filing service walks through the replacement options in five steps. To compare suppliers side by side — including the cheapest published prices and whether any free option remains — see our 2026 CT600 software comparison, or the step-by-step guide to filing without an accountant.
What a Company Tax Return Contains
A Company Tax Return normally contains the CT600 form, relevant supplementary pages, company accounts and a Corporation Tax computation. Accounts and computations are generally filed electronically in iXBRL.
Read What Is a CT600 Return? for a plain-English explanation.
Where WeFile Fits
WeFile guides companies through profit and loss, balance sheet and tax-adjustment information, calculates Corporation Tax and produces filing documents.
WeFile appears on HMRC’s Corporation Tax commercial software suppliers list and is listed by Companies House for unaudited small-company accounts. Those listings confirm supported filing capability; they are not accreditation, approval, recommendation, certification or endorsement.
Explore WeFile CT600 software or learn how online CT600 filing works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HMRC’s free CT600 filing tool still available?
No. The joint online accounts and Company Tax Return service closed on 31 March 2026.
How do companies file a CT600 from 1 April 2026?
Companies must use suitable commercial software to file a Company Tax Return with HMRC.
Did Companies House close every online accounts-filing route?
No. Companies House retains separate accounts-filing routes, including third-party software and its own services, subject to its rules.
What should replacement software support?
It should support the CT600, relevant supplementary pages, Corporation Tax computation and the accounts format required for the company’s HMRC filing.