First-year checklist for new UK limited companies.

Your first Company Tax Return (CT600) is due 12 months after the end of your first accounting period, which normally ends on the anniversary of the month you incorporated. Note the trap: the tax itself is due earlier — 9 months and 1 day after the period end — so most companies pay before they file. You must also tell HMRC the company is active within 3 months of starting to trade.

Not unless you expect taxable turnover to reach the £90,000 registration threshold. Below that, registration is optional — registering voluntarily lets you reclaim input VAT but means charging VAT to your customers. Keep an eye on your rolling 12-month turnover: once it passes £90,000 you must register within 30 days, so it pays to watch the figure as you approach it.

The Confirmation Statement (form CS01) is an annual Companies House filing confirming your registered details. Your first review period normally ends 12 months after incorporation and you then have 14 days to file. The online fee is £50. It is separate from your accounts and is required even if nothing has changed.

Only if the company pays you a salary. If you draw a director's salary through the company you must register as an employer and run PAYE, submitting Real Time Information to HMRC on or before each payday — even with one director. Many owner-managed companies take a small salary plus dividends, which still requires a PAYE scheme. If you take dividends only and no salary, you may not need PAYE, but it's worth checking the most tax-efficient mix with us first.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) means keeping digital records and filing through compatible software. MTD for VAT already applies to all VAT-registered businesses. MTD for Income Tax Self-Assessment is being phased in from April 2026 for individuals with qualifying income over £50,000, which can affect you personally as a director. For the company itself, the key digital requirement today is MTD for VAT once you register — so choosing cloud accounting software from day one keeps you compliant and saves work later.