Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC
Incorporating at Companies House does not register you for tax. HMRC is a separate registration with its own deadline — three months from when you start trading — and missing it carries a penalty.
This catches out almost every founder who assumes incorporation is one event. It is two: Companies House creates the company, and HMRC registers it for Corporation Tax. The clock on the second starts when you begin trading, and you have three months. HMRC posts a Unique Taxpayer Reference to your registered office shortly after incorporation, which is a problem if that post is not being scanned and forwarded — plenty of companies never see it. We handle the registration, make sure the UTR reaches you, and set your accounting reference date so your filing deadlines line up sensibly rather than falling in whatever month you happened to incorporate.
What’s included
- Corporation Tax registration with HMRC
- Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) tracked and delivered
- Accounting reference date set sensibly
- HMRC online account set up for filing
- Trading start date confirmed correctly
- Your first filing deadlines mapped out in writing
Simple, from start to finish
Confirm your trading date
We establish when the company actually began trading, which is what sets the deadline — not your incorporation date.
Register with HMRC
We submit the registration and track the UTR, which HMRC issues by post to the registered office.
Deadlines mapped
You receive a written schedule of when your return and payment are due, and we remind you ahead of each.
Good to know
Is this not done automatically when I incorporate?
No. Companies House and HMRC are separate bodies with separate registrations. HMRC is notified that the company exists, but registering it for Corporation Tax is your responsibility and carries its own three-month deadline.
What counts as “starting to trade”?
Broadly, when the company first does business — buying, selling, advertising, employing, or earning interest. Preparatory steps like opening a bank account usually do not count. The distinction matters because it sets your deadline, so we confirm it with you rather than guessing.
What if my company is dormant?
A genuinely dormant company does not need to register for Corporation Tax, but it must tell HMRC it is dormant and still file dormant accounts at Companies House. Doing nothing at all is what causes problems.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
HMRC can charge a penalty and, more practically, you end up filing late from the outset — which tends to compound. It is a fixable problem, and if you are already past the deadline we will help you register and deal with HMRC.
What is a UTR and where does it go?
A ten-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference identifying the company to HMRC. It is posted to your registered office, which is exactly why an address with reliable mail scanning matters — founders abroad frequently never receive it.
Does registering mean I owe tax immediately?
No. Registration establishes the obligation to file; tax is only owed on profit. A company that makes no profit still files a return and pays nothing.
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HMRC VAT registration prepared and submitted, with guidance on when you need it.
Ready to form your company?
Start today and we’ll handle the filings, tax IDs, and banking guidance — no SSN or residency required.