In order to continue the desired march of progress into the digital age, HMRC and Companies House have now confirmed that the latest update centres on company tax returns.
From 1 April 2026, it is mandatory to use compliant, commercial software to file your company’s tax returns.
This follows the closure of the free joint online service, commonly known as the CATO portal, on 31 March 2026.
In order to stay compliant, it is worth understanding how this new approach affects the way you manage your filings.
What has changed with company tax returns and accounts filing?
In line with the introduction of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which implemented “enhanced corporation tax requirements and changes to UK company law,” the old service has ended.
This was due to it being viewed as “outdated and no longer aligns with modern digital standards”, according to Companies House.
The CATO portal has been removed and now only software can be used to file company tax returns to HMRC.
For the time being, you will still be able to file annual accounts at Companies House using third-party software, WebFiling services or paper filing.
The shift to a digital-only system is set against the backdrop of the data breach that happened recently, where personal information was exposed on Companies House.
With that issue now resolved, it is hoped that the system will be more secure going forward.
Can you still amend previous returns using the free service?
Given that the free filing service has now closed, company directors will have to use commercial tax software if they need to make changes to a previously submitted Corporation Tax return or refile a rejected return.
This also means that any previously filed financial information is no longer available in the system, so you will need to input it again when the time comes to file.
Fortunately, it will still be acceptable to send a paper return to the Corporation Tax Services office for amendments.
If you have previously filed financial accounts with Companies House and need to make changes or corrections, then this will need to be done via commercial software or by sending paper accounts to Companies House via post.
There are some limited circumstances where filing a paper Corporation Tax return is possible, such as if you wish to submit it in Welsh or can demonstrate a valid, reasonable excuse to HMRC.
If this does not apply to you, then the time has come to move over to commercial software.
Our team is on hand to help you manage your filing obligations, particularly as they are updated.
New compliance measures can catch people out if they are not prepared so we are working to ensure this does not happen.
Speak to our team to become confident in handling your filings.
