Filing Guide

File your CT600 online.

Ready to submit your Corporation Tax return? Follow our practical, step-by-step guide to filing online to ensure rapid HMRC acceptance and avoid penalties.

What you need before you start

Gathering these details beforehand ensures a smooth, uninterrupted online filing experience.

Company UTR

Your 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference, found on correspondence from HMRC.

Government Gateway

Your User ID and Password, fully enrolled for Corporation Tax services.

Companies House Auth Code

The 6-alphanumeric code for your company if you are filing accounts simultaneously.

Accounting Period Dates

Confirm your start and end dates. They typically span exactly 12 months.

Trial Balance

Finalized bookkeeping figures to input your Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet accurately.

The WeFile wizard

Our guided workflow drastically simplifies the traditional tax return format.

1

Select Company & Period

We pull your expected accounting periods directly from the Companies House API to ensure dates align perfectly.

2

Enter Profit & Loss

Input your revenue, costs, and expenses. We'll automatically identify your net trading profit.

3

Balance Sheet & Capital Allowances

Detail your assets and liabilities, and apply capital allowances directly to the correct asset pools.

4

Review Computed Tax

Review our automated tax computation which seamlessly handles marginal relief calculations.

5

Provide Credentials

Securely input your Gateway ID and authentication codes just before submission.

6

Pay & Submit

Complete the transaction to instantly dispatch the return to HMRC and Companies House simultaneously.

Key deadlines

Corporation Tax Payment: Due 9 months and 1 day after the end of your accounting period.

Companies House Accounts: Must be filed exactly 9 months after your accounting reference date (or 21 months from incorporation for your first accounts).

CT600 Return: The official tax return is due 12 months after the accounting period end.

What happens after you submit

Upon submission, you instantly receive an official IRmark receipt confirming transmission.

WeFile continuously polls HMRC and Companies House for acceptance updates. Once verified, you can download your official CT600 and generated iXBRL Accounts directly from your dashboard in secure PDF format.

Common reasons a CT600 is rejected

Avoid these common pitfalls to guarantee rapid HMRC acceptance.

UTR / Company Number Mismatch

HMRC cross-references your Company Registration Number with the UTR you provide. If they don't match exactly, the submission will bounce immediately.

Missing Original Return

If you try to submit a return marked as an 'amendment' but HMRC has no record of an original return for that exact period, it will be rejected.

Authentication Failures

Providing incorrect Government Gateway credentials, or using an account that isn't yet enrolled for Corporation Tax specifically, will prevent the filing.

Unrecognised Periods

HMRC expects specific accounting periods based on what Companies House reports. Check your online HMRC dashboard if your dates are being rejected.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, directors can legally file their own Corporation Tax returns online. Using a commercial software platform like WeFile simplifies the complex tax calculations and formatting required by HMRC.
HMRC typically acknowledges and accepts a digital CT600 return within seconds to minutes of submission. The status is reflected immediately in your dashboard.
When you first register for Corporation Tax online, HMRC sends an activation code by post. You must wait for this code and activate your account before you can file your CT600.
Yes, our software allows you to file overdue returns. However, please be aware that HMRC may apply late filing penalties.
No, HMRC requires accounting periods to be 12 months or less. If your accounts cover 18 months, you must file two separate CT600 returns (one for 12 months, and one for the remaining 6 months).
HMRC expects statutory accounts to be attached to your CT600. Our software generates the compliant iXBRL accounts and submits them jointly to both HMRC and Companies House.