Joint HMRC/Companies House filing service to close

Companies House and HMRC have announced that they are closing the joint online filing service on 31 March 2026. Find out who this impacts and what action needs to be taken.

HMRC and Companies House have provided a joint filing service since 2011 that allow companies and other entities that are required to submit accounts to both organisations, to submit statutory accounts to HMRC alongside their corporation tax return (CT Return) and full statutory, abbreviated or dormant accounts to Companies House. However, all that is about to change.

From 1 April 2026, the joint filing service will be closed, and filing will be required to be undertaken separately with each organisation. Companies will be able to file their annual accounts with Companies House using third party software, Companies House web services or paper filing. However, commercial software will need to be used to file accounts and CT Returns with HMRC.

Companies House has said that the service is closing because it’s now outdated. It no longer aligns to modern digital standards, enhanced corporation tax requirements or changes to UK company law under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA).

Closing the service also reinforces the big changes taking place at Companies House, as they implement further measures set out in the ECCTA and introduce new processes such as Identity Verification.

It’s also a step towards the future filing requirements that are planned where filing accounts with Companies House will only be possible by using third party software. There is no date set in the ECTTA transition plan for this as yet, although Companies House has said that it will aim to provide at least 21 months’ notice for this change. However, given the closure of the joint filing system, those affected may wish to consider making the move to suitable commercial software now.

While many companies and other entities that require to file accounts and CT Returns with HMRC and Companies House will use accountants to help them with this, there is still a significant number where this is not the case. Many incorporated charities, dormant companies, or entities with simple accounts requirements will file information with HMRC and Companies House themselves and the use of the free joint filing service provided a convenient and cost effective way to comply with their filing requirements.

Companies House and HMRC are therefore encouraging those that will be affected by the closure of the joint filing service to start to take steps now to prepare for the change.

Planning for the change

It’s important to plan as early as possible how annual accounts and CT Returns will be filed after 31 March 2026. Commercial software can start to be used at any time with no requirement to tell HMRC or Companies House that this is being done. 

Lists of commercial software suppliers for corporation tax and software for filing company documents is available on gov.uk.

It’s also recommended that the HMRC online service should be used to download and save at least the last three years filed returns. It’s important to remember that it will not be possible to access previous returns after the joint filing service closes. Previously filed returns might be needed for example if there are queries about what has previously submitted to HMRC or Companies House, if HMRC does a compliance check or if the services of an accountant are used in the future.

If changes are required to a previous submitted CT Return, or there is a requirement to re-file a rejected CT Return after the service has closed, this will only be possible through the use of commercial software (entering the information again), or by sending a paper return to HMRC, or through using an accountant.

Changes or correction to accounts with Companies House will need to be done either using software or paper.