Taxfiler vs Taxpipe: Which CT600 Software Is Better for Your Company?
If you're filing your own company tax return (CT600), two names keep coming up: Taxfiler and Taxpipe. Both let you prepare and submit your CT600 directly to HMRC — but they take very different approaches to pricing, features, and who they're designed for.
This guide gives you an honest, side-by-side comparison so you can decide which one fits your company.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Taxfiler | Taxpipe |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From ~£180/year (ex VAT) | £59 one-time (inc VAT) |
| Pricing model | Annual subscription | Pay once, file once |
| CT600 filing to HMRC | ✅ | ✅ |
| iXBRL accounts | ✅ (built-in) | ✅ (auto-generated) |
| Corporation tax computation | ✅ | ✅ |
| Self Assessment (SA100) | ✅ | ❌ (CT600 only) |
| Accounts preparation | ✅ (full accounts suite) | ✅ (micro-entity FRS 105) |
| VAT returns | ✅ | ❌ |
| Target user | Accountants & power users | Directors filing their own CT600 |
| Free trial | Limited | N/A (one-time fee) |
Pricing: Subscription vs One-Time
This is the biggest difference. Taxfiler charges an annual subscription — typically around £180 + VAT per year for a single-company licence, though pricing varies depending on the plan and whether you're an accountant or a business user.
Taxpipe charges a flat £59 (including VAT) for a single CT600 filing. There's no subscription, no recurring charge, and no surprise renewals. You pay once, file your return, and you're done until next year.
For a micro-entity or small limited company that files one CT600 per year, the maths is straightforward:
- Taxfiler: ~£180+/year, every year
- Taxpipe: £59/year, only when you file
Over three years, that's roughly £540+ with Taxfiler vs £177 with Taxpipe.
Features: What Each Tool Does Well
Taxfiler's Strengths
Taxfiler is a comprehensive accounting and tax platform. It's built for accountants managing multiple clients, and it shows:
- Full accounts preparation (FRS 102, FRS 105, FRS 102 1A)
- Self Assessment (SA100) alongside CT600
- VAT returns and MTD compliance
- Multi-company management for practices
- Detailed journal entry and trial balance tools
If you're an accountant with a portfolio of clients, or a company with complex accounting needs (consolidated accounts, detailed FRS 102 reports), Taxfiler's breadth is a genuine advantage.
Taxpipe's Strengths
Taxpipe is purpose-built for one thing: helping company directors file their CT600 themselves. It's deliberately focused:
- Step-by-step guided flow — no accounting jargon
- Auto-generates iXBRL accounts (micro-entity FRS 105)
- Computes your corporation tax automatically
- Files directly to HMRC via their API
- Built-in validation catches errors before submission
- Works for dormant, nil-return, and active companies
If you're a sole director of a micro-entity limited company and you just need to get your CT600 filed accurately, Taxpipe strips away everything you don't need.
Ease of Use
Taxfiler is powerful but assumes familiarity with accounting concepts. You'll encounter terms like "trial balance," "journal entries," and "prior period adjustments." There's a learning curve, especially for non-accountants.
Taxpipe was designed from the ground up for directors with no accounting background. The interface asks plain-English questions about your company's income, expenses, and assets, then handles the technical formatting behind the scenes.
Who Should Choose Taxfiler?
- Accountants managing multiple clients
- Companies needing SA100 + CT600 in one platform
- Businesses with complex accounts (FRS 102, group structures)
- Companies that also need VAT filing
Who Should Choose Taxpipe?
- Sole directors filing their own CT600
- Micro-entity limited companies (turnover under £632,000)
- Dormant companies needing a nil return
- Anyone who wants the simplest, cheapest route to filing
The Bottom Line
Both are legitimate, HMRC-recognised tools. Taxfiler is the Swiss army knife — more features, higher price, steeper learning curve. Taxpipe is the focused alternative — CT600 filing done simply, at a fraction of the cost.
If you're a small limited company director who wants to file your own CT600 without the complexity (or the subscription), Taxpipe is built specifically for you.
Ready to file your CT600? Get started with Taxpipe for just £59 → — no subscription, no accounting jargon, just a straightforward path to getting your company tax return filed with HMRC.