Accountants in the UK can typically charge between £150 and £500 for personal tax returns, while small business and company tax returns can range from £500 to £2,000+, depending on complexity, size of the business, and whether bookkeeping is included.
There’s rarely one flat answer to how much do accountants charge for tax returns. Because your bill depends entirely on what’s actually going on in your finances.
So, let’s get into the details.
How Do Accountants Price Their Services?
Before getting into the details of how much accountants charge for tax returns, it is really important to understand how accountancy firms calculate their bills.
Most accountants in the UK work on one of two pricing structures:
- Fixed Fee: You pay an agreed one-off price or a fixed monthly subscription. This is becoming the standard across the UK.
- Hourly Rate: Typical rates for a qualified accountant range from £50 to £150 per hour depending on location and experience. Specialist tax advice can go higher.
Most people prefer a fixed fee. This is because, under a fixed fee, you know what you are spending up front, and your accountant will not bill you every time you pick up the phone to ask a quick question.
How Much Do Accountants Charge For Tax Returns In The UK?
The first thing you must understand is that “tax return” can mean several different things.
You might be talking about your personal Self Assessment return. Or you could mean a sole trader’s business income included within Self Assessment.
A limited company has a separate Company Tax Return for Corporation Tax.
Here is a useful starting point for 2026/27:
| Type of tax return or work | Typical UK accountant fee |
| Simple personal Self Assessment | £150 to £250 |
| Self Assessment with employment income | £150 to £300 |
| Sole trader Self Assessment | £200 to £500 |
| Landlord tax return | £250 to £500+ |
| Company director Self Assessment | £200 to £450 |
| Return with dividends and investments | £250 to £500+ |
| Return with capital gains | £300 to £600+ |
| Multiple income sources | £350 to £750+ |
| Complex personal tax return | £500 to £1,000+ |
| Limited company accounts and Corporation Tax work | £1,000 to £3,000+ a year |
Disclaimer: all prices are tentative and are provided only to give an idea of the accountant’s fees in the UK.
These are typical market ranges rather than fixed prices. Some accountants can charge less, particularly if you have very simple returns. But specialist firms or accountants who have to deal with complicated tax affairs can charge considerably more.
For the accountant’s tax return fee, location can matter too. London firms, for example, may have higher fees than firms operating in other parts of the UK.
But location is only one factor. The work involved is usually much more important.
How Much Do Accountants Charge for Personal Tax Returns?
When people ask how much do accountants charge for personal tax returns, they usually mean a Self Assessment tax return (form SA100).
If you are employed, pay tax through PAYE, and just need to declare additional dividend income, child benefit, or a pension relief claim, your return is simple. On the other hand, if you are self-employed or have foreign income, there is more work involved.
Here is what you can expect to pay for personal filings in 2026/27:
| Type of personal tax return | Typical fee range, plus VAT | What may affect the price |
| Basic Self Assessment | £150 to £300 | One or two income sources, organised information |
| Freelancer or contractor return | £200 to £500 | Business expenses, CIS, multiple clients |
| Landlord return | £200 to £600+ | Number of properties, mortgage interest, joint ownership |
| Director tax return | £200 to £500+ | Salary, dividends, benefits, investments |
| Complex return | £300 to £600+ | Capital gains, foreign income, trusts or detailed calculations |
| Late or corrective return | Varies widely | Missing records, penalties, previous errors and urgency |
Remember that these are market ranges, not HMRC-set prices. Also, make sure to always ask whether VAT is extra. Because a quote of £250 can become £300 if the firm is VAT registered and has not stated: “including VAT”.
How Much Do Accountants Charge for Business Tax Returns?
The phrase “business tax return” can mean different things.
It can mean a sole trader’s self assessment, a partnership return, or a limited company’s Corporation Tax return.
That distinction matters when comparing prices. Because the cost differs a lot depending on which one you actually need.
- Sole trader or small business self assessment: For a straightforward sole trader, you might expect approximately £200 to £500 for the tax return and associated tax calculation.
- Partnership return: If you run a business with a partner, the accountant has to file a main partnership return (Form SA800) plus individual returns for each partner. For a standard two-person setup, expect to pay between £350 and £700 in total.
- Limited company (small business) return: This requires a full CT600 corporate tax return alongside statutory accounts for Companies House. Because the legal requirements are much stricter, a standalone corporate return and year-end filing usually costs between £1,000 and £3,000. We’ll cover it properly below.
How Much Do Accountants Charge for Corporate & Company Tax Returns?
A limited company tax return (the CT600) is rarely sold as a standalone item. Most accountants bundle it with your year-end statutory accounts and your Companies House confirmation statement, because the three tend to get prepared together anyway.
| Company type | Typical annual fee (2026/27) |
| Dormant company | £150 to £400 |
| Micro entity | £500 to £1,200 |
| Small trading company, one director | £800 to £1,500 |
| Company with payroll, VAT or multiple directors | £1,000 to £3,000+ |
What Factors Can Increase the Accountant’s Fee For Tax Returns?
Accountants base their fees on time and risk. A few specific things can easily drive your quote up or down.
Ultimately, these factors dictate the final price:
1. The Quality of Your Bookkeeping
If your records are organised in cloud software like Xero or QuickBooks, your accountant will have to spend less time sorting data. The work is usually easier, so that means a lower bill.
If you hand over messy statements or incomplete lists, your accountant will have to spend extra time sorting everything out.
For that additional bookkeeping or reconciliation work, you will have to pay more. Yes, besides the tax return fee.
2. The Number of Income Streams
Your accountant may charge more if you have income from several places.
For example, you may have a salary, freelance income, rental income, dividends and savings interest all in the same tax year.
Each source needs to be checked and reported correctly. This is more work than a simple return based on one PAYE employment.
3. Missing Important Deadlines
Timing matters a lot in the accountancy world. Some firms may charge more for urgent work submitted close to the filing deadline, particularly where additional time is required to meet the deadline.
The weeks leading up to the 31 January deadline are incredibly busy for the industry. If you want standard rates, try sending your records in July or August.
4. HMRC Issues or Previous Mistakes
If you have missed tax returns, an HMRC enquiry or an unpaid tax issue, the work may go beyond preparing the normal return.
Your accountant may need to review earlier returns, prepare amendments, or help you respond to HMRC.
This is more than routine tax-return preparation, so it is commonly charged separately.
Should You Hire An Accountant For A Tax Return?
You can submit your own return. HMRC provides the online service. Filing your own tax return through HMRC’s online system costs £0 in software fees. You may, of course, still have tax to pay.
So if you have one straightforward income source and you also feel confident completing the return, doing it yourself may be perfectly reasonable.
But if you are running a business, dealing with several sources of income or simply do not understand what HMRC is asking for, an accountant can save you a lot of time and worry.
Can Accotax Help With Your Tax Return?
Yes, Accotax can fully assist you with preparing and filing your tax return. As an established, London-based firm of Chartered Accountants and Tax Consultants, we provide structured financial services for individuals, businesses, landlords, and contractors across the UK.
We take care of all the complex paperwork and communicate directly with HMRC on your behalf so you can focus entirely on running your day-to-day life.
The Bottom Line
So, how much do accountants charge for tax returns in the UK 2026/27? Anywhere from £150 for a simple personal return to £3,000+ for a complex corporate one.
The fee depends less on the form itself and more on the work behind it.
A tidy, simple personal return may be a modest fixed fee.
A limited company with VAT, payroll, director dividends and incomplete records needs more time, and the quote should reflect that.
Disclaimer: All the information provided in this article on “How Much Do Accountants Charge for Tax Returns in the UK?“, including all the texts and graphics, is general in nature. It does not intend to disregard any of the professional advice.
