Corporation Tax accountant London
Corporation Tax advice, CT600 filing and company tax support for UK companies.
Tax Accountant London provides Corporation Tax return preparation, CT600 filing, company tax advice, director tax review, close company support, VAT and payroll coordination, and HMRC enquiry support for limited companies, contractors, consultants, property companies and owner-managed businesses.
A correct company tax position depends on accounts, expenses, director loans, associated companies, VAT, payroll, dividends, capital allowances, related-party transactions, losses, deadlines and the way profit is extracted from the company.
Corporation Tax return, iXBRL accounts, tax computation and filing position reviewed before submission.
Director loans, dividends, salary, benefits, related parties and profit extraction checked where relevant.
Expenses, reliefs, losses, capital allowances, associated companies and records reviewed before filing.
Corporation Tax return accountant
A company tax return should connect accounts, tax adjustments and HMRC filing requirements.
Corporation Tax applies to company profits. A company normally needs statutory accounts, a tax computation and a Company Tax Return, usually known as a CT600. The accounting profit is not always the same as the taxable profit because tax adjustments may be required.
A Corporation Tax accountant should review more than turnover and expenses. The work should consider capital allowances, disallowable costs, director loan accounts, dividends, salary, related-party transactions, losses, associated companies, close company issues and whether HMRC may question the position later.
Who needs Corporation Tax support
Company tax support for limited companies, directors, contractors, property companies and growing businesses.
Corporation Tax work is different for a simple trading company, a close company with director loans, a property company, a contractor company, a group structure or a company with overseas activity.
Owner-managed companies
Company accounts, CT600, dividends, director salary, director loans, allowable expenses and profit extraction.
Property companies
Rental profits, finance costs, repairs, capital improvements, property disposals, VAT issues and close company points.
Contractor companies
IR35 income, inside IR35 payments, company accounts, salary, dividends, retained profits and allowable costs.
Companies contacted by HMRC
Corporation Tax enquiries, CT600 amendments, penalties, expenses review, PAYE/VAT interaction and disclosure routes.
Corporation Tax services
Choose the route by company position, accounting period and tax risk.
A CT600 may be straightforward where records are clean and the company has simple trading income. It becomes more specialist where there are director loans, multiple companies, property income, capital allowances, losses, IR35, overseas income or HMRC involvement.
CT600 accountant London
CT600 filing should be supported by accounts, a tax computation and company records.
A Company Tax Return is not reliable unless the accounts and tax adjustments are reviewed properly. The return should reflect the correct accounting period, income, expenses, tax reliefs, disallowable costs, losses, capital allowances and any supplementary pages required.
Accounts need to be prepared in the correct format and aligned with the tax computation and CT600 filing position.
Accounting profit may need adjustments for disallowable expenses, depreciation, capital allowances, losses and other tax rules.
The Company Tax Return should match the accounting period, tax rate, reliefs, supplementary pages and HMRC filing requirements.
Corporation Tax payment usually falls due before the CT600 filing deadline, so the tax calculation should not be left until the last moment.
Accounts filed at Companies House and tax filings with HMRC should be consistent, especially where abbreviated or filleted accounts are used.
Even where little or no tax is due, HMRC status, filing notices, dormant periods and accounting periods should be checked.
Corporation Tax rates and marginal relief
The tax rate can depend on profits, associated companies and accounting period dates.
The small profits rate, main rate and marginal relief rules mean that two companies with similar accounting profits may not have the same effective tax rate. The number of associated companies and the length of the accounting period can affect the thresholds.
Companies with profits below the lower limit may fall within the small profits rate, subject to the detailed rules and associated company position.
Companies above the upper limit usually pay the main rate, but the calculation still needs to consider accounting period dates and special cases.
Companies between the lower and upper limits may receive marginal relief. This needs to be calculated rather than estimated.
Associated companies can reduce the relevant profit thresholds, which can change the effective Corporation Tax rate.
Director and close company tax advice
Close companies need more than a basic CT600 calculation.
Many UK limited companies are close companies controlled by a small number of shareholders or directors. These companies need careful review of director loans, participator loans, dividends, benefits, salary, expenses and transactions with connected parties.
Director Loan Account review
We review overdrawn balances, repayment timing, section 455 exposure, benefit-in-kind issues and whether the accounts support the position.
Dividend and profit extraction review
Dividends need distributable reserves, correct paperwork and alignment with personal tax reporting for the director or shareholder.
Salary, payroll and employer taxes
Director salary planning should consider PAYE, National Insurance, Corporation Tax deduction, pension contributions and cashflow.
Related-party and family transactions
Payments to family members, connected businesses, shareholders or directors need commercial support and proper records.
Allowable expenses, reliefs and tax adjustments
The company profit in the accounts is only the starting point.
Corporation Tax calculations often require adjustments to the accounting profit. Some expenses may not be deductible. Some costs may qualify for relief through capital allowances. Some items may need separate disclosure or supplementary pages.
Client entertaining, penalties, non-business costs, certain legal fees and private expenditure need review before claiming.
Equipment, machinery, vans, fixtures and certain business assets may need capital allowance treatment rather than a simple expense claim.
R&D claims need careful technical and cost evidence. Incorrect claims can attract HMRC attention and repayment risk.
Trading losses, property losses and management expenses may need different treatment depending on the company activity and timing.
Employer pension contributions may be deductible where they are wholly and exclusively for the business and properly evidenced.
Costs incurred before trading starts need review to determine whether and when they can be claimed.
Specialist Corporation Tax areas
Company tax becomes more complex when the business model is not straightforward trading.
Some companies require specialist review because the tax treatment depends on the activity, ownership, asset type, trading status or international connection.
Rental profits, finance costs, repairs, improvements, property disposals, capital allowances and VAT points.
Investment income, management expenses, company gains, loan relationships and shareholder extraction issues.
Inside IR35 income, deemed payments, company receipts, expenses, salary, dividends and retained profits.
Permanent establishment risk, overseas income, withholding tax, foreign tax credit and UK filing obligations.
Common control, associated company thresholds, group relief, intercompany balances and tax rate impact.
Chargeable gains, substantial shareholding exemption, property disposals, business asset sales and deferred proceeds.
Corporation Tax advice and planning
Company tax planning should happen before the accounting period closes.
Corporation Tax planning is most useful before profits are finalised, money is extracted, assets are purchased, loans are repaid, dividends are declared or the business structure changes. Waiting until the filing deadline can reduce available options.
Review of salary, dividends, pension contributions, benefits, director loans and timing of payments.
Advice before significant equipment, machinery, commercial vehicle or fixture purchases.
Review of loss relief options, carried-forward losses, group relief and timing of claims.
Advice on trading companies, property companies, groups, associated companies and commercial restructuring.
HMRC Corporation Tax enquiries
HMRC company tax questions should be reviewed before a response is sent.
HMRC may ask about company expenses, director loans, undeclared income, payroll, VAT, related-party payments, loss claims, capital allowances, R&D, dividends or accounting records. The first response should be supported by records and a clear tax position.
Records needed for Corporation Tax
Good company records reduce tax risk and support the CT600.
Bank statements, sales invoices, purchase invoices, bookkeeping records, loan accounts, year-end journals and trial balance.
Dividend vouchers, board minutes, salary details, benefits, director loan transactions and shareholder payments.
VAT returns, payroll submissions, PAYE records, pension contributions, CIS statements and previous tax returns.
Equipment invoices, vehicle details, capital allowance schedules, loss records, R&D evidence and property cost details.
Corporation Tax process
A structured route from records to filing or advice.
We identify the company activity, accounting period, deadlines, records, tax risks and filing requirement.
We review bookkeeping, accounts, expenses, director transactions, reliefs, losses and supporting evidence.
We calculate taxable profits, tax adjustments, capital allowances, losses, marginal relief and Corporation Tax due.
We file the agreed CT600 or advise on amendment, disclosure, HMRC response or company tax planning.
Corporation Tax fees
Company tax fees depend on records, complexity and risk.
We quote before work starts. A simple company with clean records is different from a company with director loans, property income, VAT, payroll, IR35, associated companies, losses, HMRC correspondence or missing bookkeeping.
For a small limited company with clean records and standard Corporation Tax filing.
For company tax filing with director Self Assessment, dividends or director loan review.
For company tax planning, close company issues, associated companies or HMRC risk review.
Corporation Tax FAQs
Common questions about CT600 filing, rates, deadlines, director loans and HMRC enquiries.
What is a CT600?
A CT600 is the Company Tax Return submitted to HMRC. It reports the company’s taxable profits, Corporation Tax due, reliefs, losses and other company tax information for the accounting period.
When is Corporation Tax due?
For many companies, Corporation Tax is due nine months and one day after the end of the accounting period. The CT600 filing deadline is usually later, so the tax calculation should be prepared before the payment deadline.
What Corporation Tax rate does my company pay?
The rate can depend on profits, accounting period dates, associated companies and whether marginal relief applies. A calculation is needed where profits fall between the lower and upper limits.
What is marginal relief for Corporation Tax?
Marginal relief can reduce the effective Corporation Tax rate where company profits fall between the small profits limit and the main rate threshold. Associated companies can reduce the thresholds.
What is an associated company?
An associated company is broadly another company under common control or connected ownership. Associated companies can affect Corporation Tax thresholds and the marginal relief calculation.
What is section 455 tax on a director loan?
Section 455 tax can apply to a close company where a loan or advance to a participator, such as a shareholder-director, remains outstanding beyond the relevant payment date. Director loan accounts should be reviewed before the CT600 is filed.
Can my company claim all business expenses?
No. Expenses must be reviewed under tax rules. Some accounting expenses may be disallowable for Corporation Tax, while capital items may need capital allowance treatment rather than a direct deduction.
Can company losses reduce Corporation Tax?
Company losses may be available for relief, but the treatment depends on the type of loss, company activity, timing and whether the company has changed ownership or activities.
Do I need an accountant if my company has no tax to pay?
You may still need to file accounts and a Company Tax Return if HMRC has issued a notice to file. A nil tax position should still be supported by the correct records and filing status.
What should I do if HMRC opens a Corporation Tax enquiry?
You should review the HMRC letter, deadline, records requested and tax years involved before replying. A company tax enquiry response should be supported by accounts, records and a clear explanation of the tax position.