Company Director Tax Responsibilities: Your Complete Checklist
As a UK company director, you're personally responsible for ensuring your company meets its tax obligations. Failure to comply can result in penalties against the company — and in serious cases, personal liability.
Here's everything you need to do and when.
Annual Tax Calendar
| Month | What's Due |
|---|---|
| Every month | PAYE/NIC payments to HMRC (if running payroll) |
| Every quarter | VAT returns (if VAT registered) |
| 9 months after year end | File accounts at Companies House |
| 9 months + 1 day | Pay corporation tax |
| 12 months after year end | File CT600 at HMRC |
| 31 January | Personal Self Assessment (if taking dividends) |
Corporation Tax (CT600)
Your Obligations
- Register for corporation tax — happens automatically when you incorporate
- Keep accurate financial records — retain for 6 years minimum
- File a CT600 return — within 12 months of your accounting period end
- Pay corporation tax — within 9 months and 1 day of your period end
- Report any changes — company name, address, accounting period
What Happens If You Don't
- Late filing: £100 penalty (escalating to 10% of tax after 6 months)
- Late payment: Interest + 5% surcharge after 6 months
- Failure to register: HMRC can estimate your tax bill and charge penalties
PAYE (If You Pay Yourself a Salary)
If you take a salary from your company (which most directors should for tax efficiency), you must:
- Register as an employer with HMRC
- Run payroll monthly or weekly
- File Real Time Information (RTI) submissions each pay period
- Pay PAYE and NIC to HMRC by the 22nd of the following month (or 19th for cheque)
- Issue P60s to employees after tax year end
- File P11D for benefits in kind (by 6 July)
The Optimal Director's Salary
Most directors pay themselves £12,570/year (the Personal Allowance) to minimise tax. See our salary vs dividends guide for details.
VAT
When You Must Register
- Your VAT taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in any 12-month period
- You expect it to exceed £90,000 in the next 30 days
When It's Voluntary
You can voluntarily register if turnover is below £90,000. This can be beneficial if:
- You sell mainly to VAT-registered businesses (they reclaim the VAT)
- You want to reclaim VAT on purchases
- It makes your business look more established
Obligations Once Registered
- File VAT returns (usually quarterly)
- Use Making Tax Digital (MTD) compliant software
- Keep digital records
- Pay VAT due by the return deadline
Companies House
Confirmation Statement
Every company must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months. This confirms or updates:
- Registered office address
- Directors and secretaries
- Share capital and shareholders
- SIC codes (business activity)
Fee: £34 online
Annual Accounts
File annual accounts within:
- 21 months of incorporation (first year)
- 9 months of year end (subsequent years)
See our Companies House accounts guide for details.
Self Assessment (Personal)
If you take dividends from your company above the £1,000 dividend allowance, you must:
- Register for Self Assessment (if not already)
- File a personal tax return by 31 January following the tax year
- Pay Income Tax on dividends by 31 January (and potentially 31 July for payments on account)
When Self Assessment ISN'T Needed
If your only income is a salary of £12,570 or less and dividends of £1,000 or less, you may not need to file a personal return. Check with HMRC.
Record Keeping
What to Keep
- All bank statements and financial records
- Sales and purchase invoices
- Receipts for expenses
- Payroll records
- VAT records (if registered)
- Board minutes and resolutions
- Contracts and agreements
How Long
- Corporation tax records: 6 years from end of accounting period
- PAYE records: 3 years from end of tax year
- VAT records: 6 years
Format
Digital records are fine. HMRC accepts scanned receipts and digital bookkeeping. The key is that records are accurate, complete, and accessible if HMRC asks to see them.
Personal Liability
As a director, you can be personally liable for:
- PAYE and NIC not paid to HMRC (personal liability notice)
- VAT fraud — "knew or should have known" about missing trader fraud
- National Minimum Wage violations
- Fraudulent or wrongful trading if the company becomes insolvent
In practice, personal liability is rare for compliant directors. Keep good records, file on time, pay what's due, and you'll be fine.
Key Takeaways
- Pay tax before filing — payment deadline is 3 months earlier than filing
- Keep records for 6 years — digital is fine
- File a personal Self Assessment if taking dividends over £1,000
- Register for VAT when turnover exceeds £90,000
- Penalties escalate quickly — set calendar reminders for all deadlines
Stay Compliant with Taxpipe
Taxpipe handles the CT600 filing part of your obligations. Our software calculates your corporation tax, generates HMRC-compliant iXBRL accounts, and submits directly to HMRC.
File your CT600 → — £59 per filing, no subscription.