With effect from 1 April 2026, the online service for jointly filing accounts and company tax returns is closed.
Previously, under the joint filing option, companies could submit financial statements online to both HMRC and Companies House using the HMRC Online Services page. However, with the closure of the joint filing option, all companies must file their annual accounts with Companies House separately.
Companies House has updated its guidance on filing Companies House accounts to note that the free HMRC online service enabling accounts to be filed with Companies House and company tax returns to be filed with HMRC closed on 31 March 2026. Companies House has also updated the Registrar’s (Requirements Applicable to Electronic Form Documents) Rules 2022 to include the ZIP portal for package accounts service and removed the provision for the Company Accounts and Tax Online (CATO) and HMRC Joint Filing services.
With effect from 1 April 2026, companies now have to use commercial software to file accounts (for tax purposes) and company tax returns with HMRC. The updated HMRC online service filing guidance can be accessed here.
Further commentary on the filing of accounts with Companies House can be found within Navigate Corporate Law , Navigate IFRS Accounting and Navigate UK GAAP Accounting .
Answer provided by Tejashri Joshi FCA (ICAI)
Document downloaded on 24-04-2026 from Croner Navigate, the UK’s leading online research service for tax, audit and accounting professionals. Find out more at www.croneri.co.uk or call 0800 231 5199.
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