Question 1

What is Taxpipe?

Accepted Answer

Taxpipe is an HMRC-recognised software service that lets UK limited company directors file their CT600 Corporation Tax return online for £59. No accountant needed — our step-by-step wizard guides you through every box.

Question 2

Who is Taxpipe for?

Accepted Answer

Taxpipe is designed for directors of UK limited companies who want to file their own Corporation Tax return. It works especially well for small companies, dormant companies, and those with straightforward tax affairs (trading income, no complex group structures).

Question 3

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Sign up for a free account at taxpipe.co.uk/signup. Add your company using your Company Registration Number (CRN), set your accounting period dates, and you're ready to start filling in your return. You only pay when you're ready to submit to HMRC.

Question 4

What information do I need before I start?

Accepted Answer

You'll need: your Company Registration Number (CRN), your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) from HMRC, your company's accounting period dates, your profit and loss figures, and your balance sheet totals. If you have an accountant-prepared set of accounts, that's ideal — but you can also enter figures directly from your bookkeeping software.

Question 5

Where do I find my UTR?

Accepted Answer

Your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) is a 10-digit number assigned by HMRC when your company registered for Corporation Tax. You can find it on: the CT41G letter HMRC sent after incorporation, any previous CT600 return or HMRC correspondence, or by logging into your HMRC online account at gov.uk. Note: your company UTR is different from any personal UTR you may have. If your company is newly incorporated, HMRC may take 2-4 weeks to issue your UTR.

Question 6

Is Taxpipe HMRC-recognised software?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Taxpipe is registered with HMRC as a third-party CT600 filing software vendor (Vendor ID 9327). Your return is submitted directly to HMRC through their official Government Gateway.

Question 7

What is a CT600?

Accepted Answer

A CT600 is the Corporation Tax return that every UK limited company must file with HMRC. It reports your company's taxable profits (or losses) for an accounting period and calculates the Corporation Tax due. Even dormant companies must file a CT600.

Question 8

How long does it take to file with Taxpipe?

Accepted Answer

For a straightforward company, most users complete their CT600 in 15-30 minutes. Dormant companies can be done in under 5 minutes using our dormant shortcut. More complex returns with multiple income sources may take longer.

Question 9

Can I save my return and come back later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your progress is saved automatically as you go. You can close the browser and come back any time — your data will be exactly where you left it. Just log in and continue from your dashboard.

Question 10

What accounting periods does Taxpipe support?

Accepted Answer

Taxpipe supports any accounting period up to 366 days (18 months for first-period companies). If your period spans two financial years (e.g., crosses 1 April), we automatically handle the split calculation and marginal relief apportionment.

Question 11

Can I file a CT600 for a dormant company?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Select "dormant" when creating your return and our wizard will automatically zero out all the relevant boxes, skip unnecessary sections, and take you straight to review. Filing a dormant CT600 takes under 5 minutes.

Question 12

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Taxpipe charges a flat fee of £59 per CT600 filing. There are no hidden fees, no monthly subscriptions, and no per-box charges. You pay once, we file once.

Question 13

When do I pay?

Accepted Answer

You only pay when you're ready to submit your return to HMRC. You can create an account, add your company, and fill in your entire CT600 for free. Payment is taken via Stripe (card or Apple Pay/Google Pay) at the review stage.

Question 14

Can I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

If your return hasn't been submitted to HMRC yet, contact us at info@taxpipe.co.uk and we'll process a full refund. Once a return has been submitted to HMRC, we cannot refund as the service has been delivered.

Question 15

Do you offer discounts for multiple returns?

Accepted Answer

We occasionally offer promotional codes for multi-return discounts. Check your email or our social media for current offers. If you're filing for multiple companies, contact us at info@taxpipe.co.uk.

Question 16

What happens after I submit?

Accepted Answer

After you pay and confirm, we generate your CT600 XML and iXBRL accounts, then submit them directly to HMRC via their Government Gateway. You'll receive an email confirmation with your HMRC correlation ID. HMRC typically processes returns within 1-3 working days.

Question 17

How do I know HMRC has accepted my return?

Accepted Answer

We poll HMRC for the status of your submission automatically. You'll receive an email when HMRC accepts (or rejects) your return, and you can check the status at any time from your dashboard.

Question 18

What if HMRC rejects my return?

Accepted Answer

If HMRC finds an issue, we'll show you the specific error codes and what they mean in plain English. Most rejections are simple data issues (wrong UTR, period overlap with a previous return, etc.). Fix the issue and resubmit — there's no extra charge.

Question 19

How long does HMRC take to process my return?

Accepted Answer

HMRC typically acknowledges receipt within a few minutes and processes the return within 1-3 working days. During busy periods (January, April), processing can take up to 7 working days. Taxpipe checks for updates automatically.

Question 20

Do I still need to pay Corporation Tax separately?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Filing your CT600 is separate from paying your Corporation Tax bill. Taxpipe files the return — you'll need to pay any tax due directly to HMRC (via your HMRC online account, bank transfer, or direct debit). Corporation Tax is due 9 months and 1 day after your accounting period ends.

Question 21

"UTR not recognised" — what do I do?

Accepted Answer

This usually means the Unique Taxpayer Reference you entered doesn't match HMRC's records. Double-check you're using your company's UTR (not your personal one). It's a 10-digit number found on letters from HMRC about Corporation Tax. If you've recently incorporated, HMRC may not have issued your UTR yet — this can take 2-4 weeks.

Question 22

"Period overlaps with existing return" — what does this mean?

Accepted Answer

HMRC has a return on file that covers some or all of the same dates. This happens if you (or an accountant) previously filed a CT600 for an overlapping period. Check your HMRC online account to see existing returns. If you need to amend a previously filed return, that's a different process.

Question 23

My company's profit figures don't look right

Accepted Answer

Check that you've entered your figures in pounds and pence (not thousands). Make sure you haven't accidentally included VAT in your turnover if you're VAT-registered. Compare your entries against your trial balance or management accounts. If marginal relief calculations look wrong, check that the number of associated companies is correct — this affects the thresholds.

Question 24

I got a "validation error" when trying to submit

Accepted Answer

Validation errors mean one or more boxes don't meet HMRC's requirements. Common causes: missing UTR, accounting period longer than 366 days, or required boxes left empty. Our wizard highlights which fields need attention — check the red error messages and correct accordingly.

Question 25

How do I reset my password?

Accepted Answer

Click "Forgot password" on the login page, enter your email address, and we'll send you a reset link. The link is valid for 24 hours. If you don't receive the email, check your spam folder or contact info@taxpipe.co.uk.

Question 26

Can I change my email address?

Accepted Answer

Currently, you can update your email from the Settings page after logging in. You'll need to verify your new email address before the change takes effect.

Question 27

What is marginal relief?

Accepted Answer

Marginal relief reduces the Corporation Tax bill for companies with profits between £50,000 and £250,000 (for the financial year starting April 2023 onwards). Instead of jumping from 19% to 25%, the effective rate increases gradually. Taxpipe calculates marginal relief automatically — you don't need to work it out yourself.

Question 28

What's the difference between FRS 105 and FRS 102 Section 1A accounts?

Accepted Answer

FRS 105 (Micro-entity) is the simplest format — just a balance sheet with minimal notes. FRS 102 Section 1A (Small company) includes a profit and loss account, balance sheet, and more detailed notes. Most small companies with turnover under £632,000 can use FRS 105. Taxpipe generates the correct iXBRL accounts format based on your company size.

Question 29

What are Government Gateway credentials?

Accepted Answer

Government Gateway credentials are a user ID and password issued by HMRC that let you access HMRC online services — including filing your Corporation Tax return. How to find them: If you've ever logged into HMRC online (to file a Self Assessment, VAT return, or previous CT600), you already have Government Gateway credentials. Your user ID is a 12-digit number that was emailed to you when you first registered. How to set them up: If you don't have them yet, visit gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services and select "create sign in details". You'll need your company UTR to enrol for Corporation Tax. Note: HMRC will post an activation code to your registered office address, which takes 7–10 working days to arrive. Why Taxpipe needs them: To submit your CT600 directly to HMRC, we use your Government Gateway credentials at the moment of submission. They are encrypted and never stored in plain text.

Question 30

When is my CT600 deadline?

Accepted Answer

Your CT600 must be filed within 12 months of the end of your accounting period. For example, if your accounting period ends on 31 March 2025, your filing deadline is 31 March 2026. Late filing attracts automatic penalties: £100 immediately, another £100 after 3 months, then 10% of unpaid tax after 6 and 12 months.

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