CT600 what is it for

This article is titled CT600 what is it for because all companies in the UK use this form to declare and pay Corporation Tax.

This form details the income, expenses and, therefore the profits a company has made during a specific financial year.

It is the way each company publicly reports its results to HMRC and calculates and settles the aforementioned Corporation Tax.

Below, we provide more details about the CT600.

1 Entities Subject to the CT600

2 When to Submit the CT600

3 CT600 What Is It for and What informations Contains

4 How to Submit the CT600

5 Tips for Completing the CT600

6 Penalties for Late Submission of the CT600

7 Conclusions on CT600 What Is It for

1 Entities Subject to the CT600

The submission of the CT600 is mandatory for all companies established as legal entities. This excludes sole traders, as they are considered individuals.

This requirement applies to both limited liability companies, whether LTD or PLC, as well as charities or other entities engaged in commercial activities..

As a point of interest, there is an exception: companies that are inactive are not required to submit this form.

2 When to Submit the CT600

This form must be submitted within 12 months of the company’s accounting period end.

However, corporation tax payment must be made within 9 months and one day after the end of the financial year.

For example:

If a company’s financial year ends on 31 March 2025, the CT600 return must be submitted by 31 March 2026. However, the tax must be paid by 1 January 2026.

Submitting this form on time will help avoid penalties for your company. Additionally, it ensures that accounting records remain organised and accurate.

Another benefit is the improvement of your company’s financial credibility.

As a result, securing financing will become easier and come with better terms.

3 CT600 What Is It for and What informations Contains

The first section of the form includes general company details. This includes the company name, registration number with Companies House, or the HMRC reference number.

Next, the form outlines the company’s income and deductible expenses incurred during the financial year being reported.

The taxable base is calculated by deducting allowable expenses from total income. This serves as the basis for computing the corporation tax due..

The form also includes sections for additional relevant information, such as carried forward losses from previous periods or specific tax relief applications.

4 How to Submit it

Due to the UK’s innovative nature in economic and business matters, the submission of this model on paper is no longer accepted.

Thanks to digitalisation, companies can conveniently submit the CT600 online.

There are two ways to do this:

Through the HMRC website.
And using authorised accounting software, such as Xero, QuickBooks, or FreeAgent.

5 Tips for Completing the CT600

Using any of the aforementioned software is an efficient way of presenting this form.

In addition, bear in mind not to wait until the last moment, as well as to review all the data before submitting it.

6 Penalties for Late Submission

This is a situation you should avoid. As a reference, here are some of the penalties you may face:

A £100 fine if the form is late by one day.
An additional £100 fine if the delay is up to 3 months.
If the delay reaches 6 months, HMRC will estimate your profits, and a further 10% penalty will be imposed on the estimated amount.
If the delay is 12 months, penalties will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

7 Conclusions on the CT600 What is it for

This form is a form used to pay Corporation Tax in the UK.

Its submission is straightforward, although it is advisable to have a professional consultant, especially for the first time.

We hope this article, titled CT600 what is it for, has helped clarify many of the questions regarding this form.