CT600 and Corporation Tax Return for Micro Companies in Dumbarton

A Corporation Tax Return is the formal report a company makes to HMRC covering a set accounting period. It sets out the company's income and gains, the deductions and reliefs claimed, and the resulting taxable profit or loss, so that HMRC can see how much Corporation Tax is due — or confirm that none is payable. A micro company deals with Corporation Tax through this same return process; being a micro-entity affects how the statutory accounts are prepared, not which tax return is filed.

The CT600 is the main form HMRC uses for a Company Tax Return. It contains the company's identifying details, the accounting period covered, figures taken from the statutory accounts and, importantly, the tax adjustments that turn accounting profit into taxable profit. The form is submitted to HMRC, normally online, alongside the supporting tax computations and any other documents HMRC requires. In practice, when people talk about preparing a Corporation Tax Return, they usually mean completing and filing the CT600.

No. There is no separate micro-entity CT600 and micro-entity status does not create a separate Corporation Tax regime. Qualifying for the micro-entity accounting framework simply allows eligible companies to prepare and deliver simpler statutory accounts. Corporation Tax is still reported through the applicable CT600 process, with the same need to consider adjustments, computations and supporting information. Whether a company meets the micro-entity criteria depends on the applicable thresholds, the accounting period and the company's own circumstances.

It generally starts with a review of the company's financial information for the period, including the figures that will appear in the statutory accounts. From there, the accounting profit or loss is considered and the relevant tax adjustments are identified — items such as disallowable expenditure, capital allowances or other reliefs that may affect the taxable figure. Taxable profit is then determined, the tax computation is prepared and the CT600 is completed for submission to HMRC. The exact work depends on the company's circumstances and the transactions it has entered into during the period.

They are separate documents with different purposes and different recipients. Statutory accounts are prepared for the company's members and delivered to Companies House where required, in the format the company is entitled to use. A Corporation Tax Return, such as the CT600, is submitted to HMRC and focuses on taxable profit rather than just the accounting result. Filing statutory accounts with Companies House is not the same as filing a CT600 with HMRC, and neither submission automatically completes the other.

Corporation Tax rules do not simply follow the profit shown in the accounts. Some expenses that are valid for accounting purposes are not deductible for tax, while capital expenditure may attract capital allowances rather than a deduction for depreciation. Income that is treated differently for tax purposes can also shift the figure. These adjustments are why a company can show one profit in its statutory accounts and a different taxable profit on its CT600, and why a tax computation is usually needed to explain the difference.

No, they are separate deadlines and should not be treated as interchangeable. The date by which the Corporation Tax Return must be submitted to HMRC is generally later than the date by which any Corporation Tax liability must be paid. The relevant dates depend on the company's accounting period and its circumstances, so it is worth checking the position for your own company rather than assuming the two fall together. Getting the payment timing wrong can lead to interest or penalties even where the return itself is filed on time.

Dormancy for Corporation Tax purposes is not the same as dormancy for Companies House purposes, and the two are assessed separately. Where HMRC has been notified that a company is dormant for Corporation Tax, a return may not be required for that period, although HMRC can still issue a notice requiring one, and a return may be needed if the company has any chargeable activity. Dormant status with Companies House does not remove all filing obligations either — accounts and confirmation statements may still be due. It is also worth reviewing the position each period, as dormant companies do not necessarily remain outside the return process indefinitely.

Yes. We work with micro companies and small limited companies in Dumbarton and the surrounding area on Corporation Tax Return preparation and CT600 filing. That typically means reviewing the year's figures, preparing the tax computation, dealing with the adjustments that apply and submitting the return to HMRC on the company's behalf, where applicable. If your accounting records are already in reasonable shape, we can usually work from those; if not, we will explain what information is needed before the return can be prepared.