The boring stuff, sorted
Renewals & reminders
This is the part nobody plans for and everybody gets caught by. Almost all of it is annual, and almost all of the penalties are for lateness rather than for doing anything wrong.
Best fit for you
These are the things that actually decide it. Find the line that sounds like you.
- Limited companies Confirmation statement every 12 months (£50). Annual accounts within 9 months of your year end. Corporation Tax 9 months and 1 day after it.
- Sole traders Self Assessment by 31 January, payments on account in January and July, and quarterly updates if you are in Making Tax Digital.
- Everyone Insurance renewal, the ICO fee, your domain, and every subscription that renews without asking.
What catches people out
- Companies House late filing penalties are automatic and "I forgot" is not an appeal.
- Auto-renewing insurance gets more expensive every year unless someone re-quotes it.
- A domain that lapses can be bought by anyone. Set the renewal to automatic and keep the card on it current.
Your pal saysNo provider is named on this page on purpose. CompanyPal has no commercial deals yet, and a “best buy” we haven’t actually checked would be worth less than nothing to you. We’ll tell you when real ones land.
Is this one of yours?
The plan builder works out which of these apply to what you’re actually starting, and which you can ignore.