Taxfiler vs Taxpipe: How They Compared (Taxfiler Now Discontinued)
Update (2025): Taxfiler was discontinued in March 2025 and is no longer available. This article is kept as a reference for former Taxfiler users searching for alternatives. If you're looking for a direct replacement for CT600 filing, see the Taxpipe section below.
For several years, two names came up regularly when company directors searched for CT600 filing software: Taxfiler and Taxpipe. They took very different approaches to pricing, features, and target audience — which made the comparison useful for deciding which one fit your company.
This guide explains what each tool offered, why they differed, and what former Taxfiler users should do now.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Taxfiler (discontinued) | Taxpipe |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From ~£180/year (ex VAT) | £59 one-time (inc VAT) |
| Pricing model | Annual subscription | Pay once, file once |
| Status | ❌ Discontinued March 2025 | ✅ Active |
| 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 |
Pricing: Subscription vs One-Time
This was the biggest difference. Taxfiler charged an annual subscription — typically around £180 + VAT per year for a single-company licence, though pricing varied depending on the plan.
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 (when active): ~£180+/year, every year
- Taxpipe: £59/year, only when you file
Over three years, that was roughly £540+ with Taxfiler vs £177 with Taxpipe.
Features: What Each Tool Did Well
Taxfiler's Strengths (historical reference)
Taxfiler was a comprehensive accounting and tax platform built for accountants managing multiple clients:
- Full accounts preparation (FRS 102, FRS 105, FRS 102 1A)
- Self Assessment (SA100) alongside CT600
- VAT returns and MTD for VAT compliance
- Multi-company management for practices
- Detailed journal entry and trial balance tools
For accountants with a portfolio of clients, or companies with complex accounting needs, Taxfiler's breadth was a genuine advantage — but it is no longer available.
Taxpipe's Strengths {#taxpipe-the-current-alternative}
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 the Government Gateway
- 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 was powerful but assumed familiarity with accounting concepts. You'd encounter terms like "trial balance," "journal entries," and "prior period adjustments." There was 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.
Former Taxfiler Users: What to Do Now
If Taxfiler was part of your workflow, your path forward depends on what you used it for:
- CT600 filing only: Taxpipe is the direct replacement — simpler to use, significantly cheaper, and specifically designed for directors filing their own returns.
- SA100 + CT600 in one platform: You'll need separate tools — CT600 via Taxpipe, personal tax via HMRC's Self Assessment service or dedicated personal tax software.
- Full accounting practice software: Consider alternatives like Xero Tax, TaxCalc, or IRIS for multi-client practice management.
Who Taxpipe Is Built For
- Sole directors filing their own CT600
- Micro-entity limited companies (turnover under £1m)
- Dormant companies needing a nil return
- Anyone who wants the simplest, cheapest route to CT600 filing
The Bottom Line
Taxfiler was the Swiss army knife — more features, higher price, steeper learning curve. It no longer exists. Taxpipe is the focused alternative that remains active: CT600 filing done simply, at a fraction of what Taxfiler cost.
If you're a small limited company director who wants to file your own CT600 without the complexity (or a 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.