Dormant Company Accounts Cost in UK

Dormant company accounts with Audit Consulting Group start from £150 + VAT for a straightforward UK limited company. This normally covers reviewing the company’s position, preparing the appropriate dormant accounts, arranging director approval and submitting the accounts to Companies House.

The final fee depends on what has actually happened during the accounting period. A company that has never traded and has no significant accounting transactions is usually simpler to deal with than one that previously traded, has unexplained financial activity or has several outstanding periods. We check this before confirming the scope.

If you send us your company details and the accounting period concerned, we can establish what work is required and provide a clear quote before proceeding.

How Much Do Dormant Company Accounts Cost in the UK?

Our dormant company accounts service starts from £150 + VAT. For a straightforward case, that covers the professional work involved in checking the position, preparing the accounts and handling the Companies House submission after approval.

Prices across the UK market vary because not every provider offers the same level of service. A basic online filing service may be appropriate if a company has never traded, its dormant status is clear and the director is comfortable providing the information without wider accounting review. An accountant-led service becomes more relevant when the history is less straightforward.

The important question is therefore not only “How much does filing cost?” but also “What is being checked and included for that price?”

Our Dormant Company Accounts Fee

For a straightforward dormant company, our fee starts from £150 + VAT. We confirm the scope after checking the relevant accounting period and basic company history.

A standard case would normally involve one accounting period, a clear dormant position and sufficient information to prepare the accounts without investigating previous trading or unexplained transactions.

If the company has traded before, has financial activity that needs reviewing, has more than one outstanding period or requires separate HMRC work, we will identify this before treating the engagement as a standard dormant accounts filing. Additional work can then be quoted separately rather than appearing unexpectedly later.

What Is Included in the Dormant Accounts Cost?

For a straightforward case within the standard scope, the service normally includes:

• reviewing the company details and relevant accounting period;
• checking whether dormant accounts appear appropriate based on the information provided;
• preparing the dormant company accounts;
• providing the accounts for director review and approval;
• submitting the approved accounts to Companies House using the appropriate filing route; and
• checking the filing outcome.

The starting price does not automatically cover active-company accounts, several outstanding periods, reconstruction of incomplete records, a separate Confirmation Statement or additional HMRC and Corporation Tax work. Where any of these are relevant, we explain the additional scope first.

Is There a Companies House Fee for Filing Dormant Accounts?

There is a useful distinction between a Companies House filing fee and the fee charged by an accountant or filing provider.

Companies House does not currently charge a separate standard filing fee simply for submitting annual dormant company accounts. The amount charged by an accountant or online provider is therefore generally for the work involved in reviewing, preparing and submitting the accounts rather than a government filing charge for the accounts themselves.

Other Companies House obligations are separate. A Confirmation Statement, for example, is not replaced by filing dormant accounts and has its own filing requirements and fee.

What Can Affect the Cost of Dormant Company Accounts?

The dormant label alone does not tell us how much accounting work is required.

A newly incorporated company that was set up for a project which never started may have very little to review. A business that traded for several years and then stopped can require more work because the active and dormant periods need to be understood correctly. Another company may have made no sales but still have payments, expenses, interest or other financial activity during the year.

We therefore look at the trading history, accounting period, available records, financial activity and any outstanding filings before confirming the scope. If everything is straightforward, there is no reason to make the engagement more complicated than it needs to be.

Dormant Company Accounts Cost by Company Situation

Company Has Never Traded

This is often the simplest position. If the company has never traded, has no significant accounting transactions and only one normal accounting period needs to be dealt with, the standard service starting from £150 + VAT may be appropriate.

Company Previously Traded but Is Now Dormant

A previously active company can subsequently become dormant, but its earlier trading history matters. We may need to establish when activity stopped and whether previous accounting and Corporation Tax obligations have already been dealt with. The dormant period should not simply be considered in isolation if earlier periods remain outstanding.

Transactions or Bank Activity Need Reviewing

No turnover does not necessarily mean a company is dormant. If there were payments, receipts, expenses, interest or other activity, the records may need to be reviewed before deciding which accounts are appropriate. That additional work can affect the fee.

More Than One Accounting Period Is Outstanding

A quote for one straightforward dormant period should not be assumed to cover several years of outstanding accounts. Where multiple periods are involved, we first establish what needs filing and whether the same treatment applies to each period before confirming the overall cost.

Dormant Company Accounts Cost Comparison

Can You File Dormant Company Accounts Yourself for Free?

In a straightforward eligible case, a director may be able to prepare and file dormant accounts without using an accountant. Professional support is not automatically required simply because the company is dormant.

For a company that has never traded and has a very simple history, self-filing may be a sensible option. The decision changes when there is uncertainty about the company’s status, previous trading, financial activity, incomplete records or outstanding periods.

That is where professional review has practical value. The work is not simply entering information into a filing system; it is establishing that the filing being made fits the company’s circumstances.

If you already know that dormant accounts are required and mainly need preparation and submission support, see our File Dormant Company Accounts service.

Low-Cost Online Filing vs Professional Accountant Support

Price comparisons are most useful when the services being compared cover the same work.

A low-cost online service can be suitable for a simple never-traded company where the director already understands the company’s position. In that situation, paying for a wider review may offer little additional value.

An accountant-led service serves a different purpose where the position is less clear. Previous trading, unexpected bank activity, outstanding filings or uncertainty over HMRC status can all require judgement before the accounts are prepared.

Our approach is to establish the position first. If it is straightforward, we proceed on that basis. If something changes the scope, we explain it before carrying out additional work.

Does the Dormant Accounts Price Include HMRC Work?

Not automatically. Dormant accounts filed with Companies House and a company’s status for Corporation Tax with HMRC are separate compliance matters.

A company may need additional HMRC action depending on its history and circumstances. This can be particularly relevant where it previously traded, has an outstanding Corporation Tax period or has received a notice requiring a Company Tax Return.

Where HMRC work is needed alongside the dormant accounts, we can identify it during the initial review and scope it separately. Becoming dormant does not remove obligations relating to earlier periods when the company was active.

Other Costs of Keeping a Dormant Company

Dormant accounts are not the only ongoing requirement for a company that remains registered.

A Confirmation Statement is a separate Companies House obligation. Depending on the company’s circumstances, there may also be professional fees for additional compliance support, historic filings or HMRC work.

For that reason, someone deciding whether to keep a company dormant for future use should consider the wider annual compliance position rather than treating the dormant accounts fee as the company’s only possible ongoing cost.

Potential Cost of Filing Company Accounts Late

Important: Companies House late filing penalties can apply even where a company is dormant. Penalties are doubled if accounts are filed late in two successive financial years. These penalties are separate from any professional accounting fees or HMRC penalties that may apply.

How Our Dormant Accounts Pricing Process Works

1. We Establish What Period Needs to Be Filed

We start with the company details, accounting period and trading history. This gives us the context needed to understand whether the enquiry is likely to be a straightforward dormant filing.

2. We Check for Activity That May Affect the Position

Where necessary, we ask about payments, receipts, expenses or other financial activity. If something needs further investigation, it is better to identify it at this stage rather than after the accounts have been prepared.

3. We Confirm the Scope and Fee

We explain what is included and identify any work that sits outside the standard service. This gives the director a clearer basis for deciding whether to proceed.

4. We Prepare and File the Accounts

Once the required information is available, we prepare the accounts and provide them for director approval. After approval, they are submitted to Companies House using the appropriate filing route and the filing outcome is checked.

Using an accountant does not remove the directors’ legal responsibilities for the company’s accounts and filings. Directors should still review the accounts and ensure the company meets its filing obligations.

Typical Dormant Company Accounts Cost Scenarios

The examples below show why two companies described as “dormant” may require different amounts of work. They are illustrative scenarios rather than client testimonials or fixed quotations.

A New Company That Never Started Trading

A company was incorporated for a proposed business venture, but the project did not proceed. It never started trading and there was no wider financial activity requiring investigation. After checking the accounting period and company history, the position could be handled as a straightforward dormant case. This is the type of situation where the standard starting price may apply.

A Business That Stopped Trading

A limited company had been active before its directors stopped trading. The immediate issue was not simply preparing dormant accounts; the point at which activity ended and the status of the earlier accounting period also needed to be understood. Separating the active-period work from the later dormant filing gave the director a clearer scope and avoided treating several different obligations as one basic filing.

No Sales, but Financial Activity During the Year

A director may assume the company is dormant because it generated no turnover. If the records show payments or other activity, however, that assumption needs checking. In this situation the practical outcome is clarity before filing: the appropriate accounts can be determined first, rather than submitting dormant accounts solely because there were no sales.

Related Dormant Company Accounts Services

For a broader explanation of the obligations that continue while a company is inactive, see our Dormant Company Accounts guide.

If you need practical preparation and submission support, visit File Dormant Company Accounts. Companies that do not qualify for dormant accounts can also explore our wider Annual Accounts services.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do dormant company accounts cost in the UK?

Audit Consulting Group’s dormant company accounts service starts from £150 + VAT for a straightforward case. The final fee depends on the accounting period, trading history, financial activity and whether additional compliance work is required.

Is there a Companies House fee for filing dormant accounts?

Companies House does not currently charge a separate standard filing fee simply for submitting annual dormant company accounts. Fees charged by accountants or filing providers generally relate to the professional or administrative work involved in preparing and submitting the accounts. Other Companies House filings can have separate fees.

Why do dormant company accountancy fees vary?

Providers offer different levels of support, and company circumstances also vary. A simple online filing for a never-traded company is different from an accountant-led service involving a review of previous trading, transactions or outstanding compliance issues.

Can I file dormant company accounts myself?

Yes, this may be possible where the company is eligible and the position is straightforward. Professional support can be useful where there is uncertainty about dormancy, previous trading, financial activity or the accounts that need to be filed.

What does the £150 + VAT starting price include?

For a straightforward case within the standard scope, it normally includes an initial review, preparation of the dormant accounts, director approval process, Companies House submission and a check of the filing outcome. Additional accounting periods, historic work and separate HMRC matters are not automatically included.

Will it cost more if my company previously traded?

It may. Previous trading can require additional review to establish when the company became dormant and whether earlier accounting or Corporation Tax obligations remain outstanding. The scope is confirmed after reviewing the circumstances.

Does the dormant accounts fee include a Confirmation Statement?

Not automatically. The Confirmation Statement is a separate Companies House requirement. If you want both matters handled, the additional work can be included when the scope is agreed.

Does the dormant company accounts price include HMRC work?

Not automatically. Companies House accounts and HMRC Corporation Tax requirements are separate. If HMRC notifications, outstanding Company Tax Returns or earlier Corporation Tax periods require attention, that work can be reviewed and quoted separately.

Get a Fixed Quote for Dormant Company Accounts

If you want to know what your dormant company accounts will cost, send us the company details and the accounting period concerned. We will check the position, establish whether the standard dormant accounts service is appropriate and explain any additional work before you proceed.

Dormant company accounts start from £150 + VAT. Contact Audit Consulting Group for a clear quote based on the work your company actually requires.