Is it legal to file my own company accounts?

Completely. The Companies Act requires accounts to be prepared and filed — it doesn't require an accountant to do it. Directors can prepare and file everything themselves: accounts via Companies House and the CT600 via HMRC's online service or commercial software.

What do I actually have to produce?

For a micro-entity: statutory accounts under FRS 105 (balance sheet with prescribed statements and footnotes, P&L for the members), and for HMRC a CT600 with tax computations in iXBRL — including adjustments for disallowable costs and capital allowance claims. The concepts are learnable; the question is whether it's worth your time to learn and stay current.

Where do DIY accounts most often go wrong?

The classics: director's loan account not identified or disclosed, dividends paid without profits to support them, depreciation not added back in the tax computation, capital allowances never claimed, the wrong exemption statements on the balance sheet, and HMRC/Companies House figures that don't match. None are visible to the filer — they surface later, in penalties or an enquiry.

Does using an accountant protect me from HMRC?

It reduces the chance of errors that trigger attention, and it means enquiries are answered by someone who prepared the numbers. Legal responsibility always stays with the directors — but 'defended by the person who did the work' is a materially better position than reconstructing your own year-old spreadsheet.

Can I Do My Own Company Accounts?

Can you do your own company accounts?

Limited company accounts and Companies House filing, in navy and gold

What the DIY route really involves

Reconcile the year’s bookkeeping — every bank transaction categorised
Prepare FRS 105 accounts: balance sheet with the prescribed statements and footnotes, P&L for members
Build the tax computation: add back disallowables (entertaining, depreciation), claim capital allowances, apply any reliefs
Complete the CT600 and file to HMRC in iXBRL; file the accounts to Companies House
Diarise payment: Corporation Tax due 9 months + 1 day after year end

A director who enjoys this and has a simple company can absolutely do it. The honest time cost for a first attempt is usually a working day or two, plus staying current with rule changes every year.

When DIY is a reasonable choice

Micro company, low transaction volume, software-kept books all year
No employees, no VAT, no director’s loan movements
You’re comfortable reading HMRC guidance and following it precisely
You’d genuinely rather spend the time than the fee

When it isn't

Money moved between you and the company informally — director’s loan rules have tax charges DIY filers rarely spot
Dividends taken through the year without checking distributable profits
Equipment bought — unclaimed capital allowances are simply overpaid tax
Deadline already close — learning under time pressure with £150+ penalties waiting is a bad trade
Your time bills at more than the fee — two days of a contractor’s time usually exceeds £399

What companies commonly fail to claim

The middle path: tidy books, fixed-fee year end

The setup that works for most owner-managers: you keep clean records in software through the year (cheap, mostly automatic), and hand the year end to us at a fixed £399 + VAT — accounts and CT600, prepared, approved by you, filed to both bodies. You keep control and visibility; the judgement calls land on us. Call 0114 327 1480.

See all our fixed fees