Key takeaways
- Published fixed fees for a limited company accountant started at £39.50 a month plus VAT on providers' own pricing pages checked 6 November 2026.
- The Accountancy Partnership prices by turnover, from £39.50 a month up to £20,000 to £119.50 a month at £400,001 to £500,000, all excluding VAT.
- Caroola, formerly SJD Accountancy, lists £89 a month plus VAT for limited companies for the first 12 months, with a 30-day notice period.
- Clever Accounts' Ltd Complete costs £104.50 a month plus VAT and includes quarterly VAT returns and director payroll.
- VAT returns, payroll and directors' Self Assessment are often add-ons; at The Accountancy Partnership VAT returns cost £35 a month.
- The Companies House fee for a confirmation statement is £50 online or £110 on paper, a statutory cost separate from the accountant's fee.
- Hiring an accountant does not move legal responsibility: GOV.UK says directors are still legally responsible for the company's records and accounts.
A normal fixed fee for a small limited company accountant is about £40 to £135 a month plus VAT, based on the prices providers published on 6 November 2026. The lowest published fee was £39.50 a month for a company with turnover up to £20,000. VAT returns, payroll and directors’ tax returns often cost extra, so the real fee for a trading company is usually higher than the headline.
How much does a limited company accountant cost?
Fixed-fee online accountants published limited company prices from £39.50 to £134.50 a month, excluding VAT, on 6 November 2026. The table lists each provider’s lowest standard limited company package, alphabetically.
| Provider | From a month (ex VAT) | A year (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| The Accountancy Partnership | £39.50 | £474 |
| Caroola (formerly SJD) | £89 | £1,068 |
| Clever Accounts | £104.50 | £1,254 |
| Crunch | Quote | Quote |
| Gorilla Accounting | Quote | Quote |
Yearly figures are our calculation at 12 times the monthly fee. Clever Accounts’ Ltd Premium, aimed at IR35 contractors, costs £134.50 a month. Add 20% VAT unless your company can reclaim it. High street firms rarely publish fees, so ask for a written quote. For all business types, see how much an accountant costs.
What does the fee usually include?
A standard limited company package covers the year-end compliance work. Most published packages include:
- annual accounts filed with Companies House
- the Company Tax Return (CT600) filed with HMRC
- the confirmation statement submission
- bookkeeping software, such as FreeAgent or Pandle
- a named accountant and email or phone support
These are the filings every company must make. Accounts are due at Companies House 9 months after the year end, Corporation Tax is due 9 months and a day after it, and the CT600 is due 12 months after it. Our guide to company accounts filing deadlines has the details.
What costs extra?
VAT returns, payroll and directors’ Self Assessment returns are the most common add-ons. These are the published add-on prices, excluding VAT.
| Add-on | Provider | Price |
|---|---|---|
| VAT returns | The Accountancy Partnership | £35 a month |
| Directors’ Self Assessment | The Accountancy Partnership | £10 a month for up to 2 |
| Payroll, 1 to 4 payslips | The Accountancy Partnership | £24 a month |
| Employee payroll, up to 5 | Crunch | £20 a month |
| Extra director’s tax return | Gorilla Accounting | £150 each |
| Registered office | Crunch | £8 a month |
Some packages bundle these. Clever Accounts’ Ltd Complete includes quarterly VAT returns, director payroll and the confirmation statement. Gorilla Accounting’s package lists quarterly VAT returns, payroll for up to 2 employees, P11Ds and one Self Assessment return, priced by quote on 0330 107 9678.
How do turnover bands change the price?
Some firms price by turnover, so the fee rises as the company grows. The Accountancy Partnership’s bands are:
| Turnover | A month (ex VAT) |
|---|---|
| Up to £20,000 | £39.50 |
| £20,001 to £90,000 | £54.50 |
| £90,001 to £200,000 | £74.50 |
| £200,001 to £300,000 | £89.50 |
| £300,001 to £400,000 | £104.50 |
| £400,001 to £500,000 | £119.50 |
Above £500,000, it adds £15 a month for each extra £100,000 of turnover.
Worked example: a VAT-registered company with one director
A company with £60,000 turnover, VAT registration and one director on payroll would pay The Accountancy Partnership £123.50 a month plus VAT. That is:
- £54.50 for the £20,001 to £90,000 turnover band
- £35 for VAT returns
- £24 for payroll of 1 to 4 payslips
- £10 for the director’s Self Assessment return
That totals £1,482 a year before VAT, nearly three times the £474 headline. Run the same profile through each provider’s quote tool and compare line by line.
What fees are not paid to the accountant?
Statutory fees are separate from the accountant’s charge. The Companies House fees list, updated 25 September 2026, sets the confirmation statement fee at £50 online or £110 on paper, and online incorporation at £100. Filing UK company accounts carries no Companies House fee.
Which applies to you?
- If the company is dormant or has very low turnover, a turnover-banded package is likely to cost least.
- If you are VAT registered, check whether VAT returns are included or charged monthly.
- If you are a contractor working through a company, ask about IR35 contract reviews, which some packages include.
- If you have staff, price payroll per payslip and check auto-enrolment is covered.
- If you need advice on salary and dividends, check it is included; our salary vs dividends calculator shows the trade-off.
What to do now
- List what the company needs. Note turnover, VAT status, directors and staff.
- Get three written quotes. Use the same profile for each.
- Check the notice period. Caroola, for example, asks for 30 days.
- Check the accountant is qualified. See how to check if an accountant is qualified.
- Remember who is responsible. GOV.UK says you can hire an accountant, but directors remain legally responsible for the company’s records and accounts.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal accountant fee for a small limited company?
Published fixed fees on 6 November 2026 ran from £39.50 to £134.50 a month plus VAT. Once VAT returns and payroll are added, many trading companies pay £100 or more a month.
Do limited company accountant fees include VAT?
No. The providers listed quote fees excluding VAT, so add 20% unless your company is VAT registered and can reclaim it.
Is the confirmation statement fee included?
The accountant may file it for you, but the £50 online Companies House fee is a statutory charge. Check whether your quote includes or passes it on.
Does the fee cover my personal tax return as a director?
Not always. The Accountancy Partnership charges £10 a month for up to two directors, while Gorilla Accounting includes one return.
Can I do my company’s accounts without an accountant?
Yes. GOV.UK describes hiring an accountant as an option for directors, and directors remain legally responsible for the accounts either way.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance on 6 November 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.