Free CT600 software?

Is there free software available to file CT600 for micro-entity?

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I do the books for a company my wife and I set up to support her consultancy activities.  In the first year I was able to file accounts and tax returns via gov.uk but in the second year we paid a small dividend and this is not supported by this portal.  I have filed the accounts directly via Companies House Web Filing but the HMRC website says I have to use tax software to file the tax returns.  This seems ridiculous but since there appears to be no alternative I wonder if anyone can recommend software which is either free or very low-cost.  I am loath to pay a disproportionate amount to file what is a very simple return.  Thanks.

Replies (20)

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ALISK
By atleastisoundknowledgable...
08th Mar 2018 08:35

As far as I am aware, there is no free software.

TaxCalc have a licence for £100+VAT that will let you do the company and personal tax returns (to declare the dividend).

Or you could register for TaxFiler’s Solo version @ £10pcm + VAT, submit the return then cancel your subscription.

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Replying to atleastisoundknowledgable...:
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By Albert Fishwick
08th Mar 2018 10:09

Thanks. I did look at Taxfiler but when I contacted them they said they only offer software for agents, not companies preparing their own returns.

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Replying to Albert Fishwick:
ALISK
By atleastisoundknowledgable...
08th Mar 2018 18:30

I was proposing that you pretend to be an agent for the day it takes you to use the software.

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Replying to atleastisoundknowledgable...:
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By n h
10th Aug 2018 13:31

before signing up it says 'This account is for tax agents who are registered with the HMRC Agents Online Service. You will need an activated HMRC Agent Code in order to file tax returns.' will I be able to sign up taxfiler solo for one mmonth, file tax return without a agent code?

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Replying to atleastisoundknowledgable...:
Little Miss Accountant
By Kajutka26
16th Mar 2018 08:36

I would suggest TaxFiler as well, taken as an agent ;)

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Replying to Kajutka26:
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By vish
22nd Nov 2018 20:53

hi for taxfiler, do i need to register as an agent with HMRC? i.e write them a letter requesting an agent code etc?

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By Tim Vane
08th Mar 2018 08:39

I think you must have misunderstood the limitations of the free gov software. It would be useless to anybody if it did not allow dividends to be paid, so check again what the limitations are - I think you'll find you can use it in your case.

If for any reason you do need to use paid software, there are some sub-£50 options on the HMRC commercial software list.

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Replying to Tim Vane:
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By Albert Fishwick
08th Mar 2018 10:11

Thanks for your reply. I agree that it would be useless but that is how it appeared to me. The tool leads you through a series of questions, one of which asks whether there is any income or expenditure relating to shares. If you tick yes, it says you cannot use this method to file a return.

Out of interest, I went back and ticked no then carried on, but when I got to the P&L pro forma there was no line for dividends.

I will go back to the list of HMRC approved software, I was just hoping someone might be able to save me having to wade through each product.

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Replying to Albert Fishwick:
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By Matrix
08th Mar 2018 11:25

Dividends paid are not income of the company. Dividends do not appear on the P&L. If you try again it should work.

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Replying to Albert Fishwick:
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By mumpin
08th Mar 2018 11:27

Dividends dont get shown in the P&L. If I was you I would tick "no" and persevere.

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Replying to Albert Fishwick:
By Tim Vane
08th Mar 2018 15:06

Albert Fishwick wrote:

...I went back and ticked no then carried on, but when I got to the P&L pro forma there was no line for dividends.

Ah, there's your mistake. Dividends have not been shown on the P&L for about 20 years. They appear on the balance sheet. I'm sure if you persevere you'll find the HMRC software works fine - but I'm a bit worried that your accounts are not correct if you expect dividends to appear on the P&L. Dividends are not an expense. Also, what other standards have changed over the last 20 years that you may not be aware of?

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Replying to Tim Vane:
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By Albert Fishwick
09th Mar 2018 09:34

Although I am entering my 30th year as a chartered accountant I hope that I am more in touch than you fear! My concern was not to do with presentation of dividends but that the tool may have some validation which would check that the movement on reserves between this year and last was the same as the profit shown. I shall persevere as the other responders have suggested.

Purchase of software seems inevitable before too long in any case because of the requirements of MTD. What a ridiculous over-complication of life for such small and simple companies.

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By BigBadWolf
08th Mar 2018 10:38

From memory the cheapest option was Ftax

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By John Wheeley
15th Mar 2018 14:41

I have successfully used the .gov website on several occasions in the past 12 months for filing of:

1. Accounts and CT returns to HMRC (including dividends)
2 Micro entity accounts to Companies House

The most recent filing was on 30 Jan 2018. I have found the new .gov website to be excellent and a lot better than the previous version (had to download pdf onto your own PC etc). No need to spend money on commercial software.

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Replying to John Wheeley:
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By RoslynneG
24th Aug 2018 11:08

Hi just reading through the comments; I have a client that has incurred foreign currency transactions and this has blocked them from using the .gov website. They are also a micro entity so don't see the point of purchasing software to do a tax return. Have you perhaps had any experience with submitting a return with foreign currency? Is it possible to just convert all to GBP? Thank you.

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Replying to RoslynneG:
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By Matrix
24th Aug 2018 22:39

Agents are not allowed to use the free software so I have no experience of its limitations, but I don’t really see your issue unless you perhaps have non-trading currency differences. Wouldn’t all the figures already be in GBP once you complete the tax return since you have already completed the accounts?

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By pauljohnston
16th Mar 2018 11:36

For the amounts mentioned here for the software -£100 and then looking at the amount of time spent on this website I would have thought it better to pay the fee and use the time to increase sales.

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By alemen
19th Oct 2021 14:17

Hello everyone
hope is not a problem to ask here about my problem.
I have to deliver the first company tax return for my new very small business. I was quite sure to use the online service but in the list of companies that cannot use the service I have read : you need to claim a repayment of a loan to a participator (for example, a director’s loan) more than 9 months after the end of the accounting period.
I have lend some personal money as director to my company and was taking them back when available. I am not sure I will get back money in 9 months after end of the accounting period so because that do I have to pay for a software? Seems a little stupid. Thanks in advance for help

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By CJS88
19th Oct 2021 15:54

You have confused 'to' with 'from'

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Replying to CJS88:
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By alemen
20th Oct 2021 10:51

CJS88 wrote:

You have confused 'to' with 'from'


Thanks very much CJS88
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