Calculate the tax for a limited company

Unlike other types of business, you have to calculate the amount of tax you owe yourself. This process is called 'corporation tax self-assessment' - but it uses completely different methods and deadlines to the self-assessment used by other types of businesses and self-employed people.

To work out how much tax you owe as a limited company, you fill out a company tax return.

For further business advice, download our free e-book, for calculating tax and keeping on top of administration.

Using an accountant or advisor

Before we start getting into all this, it's well worth pointing out that trying to calculate your tax as a limited company can be very complicated, very challenging and very time-consuming.

That's not to say it's not doable without a lot of time and perseverance - just that it's one of those areas where paying for an accountant is usually worth the money.

What you pay tax on as a limited company

The company tax return, or your accountant, will take you through the following stages, but here's a quick run-down so you know what to expect: You pay tax on your pre-tax profit, otherwise known as your taxable profits, which is the sum of:

• Income from trading profits (sales) less allowable expenses

• Income from renting out land or property

• Interest on money held on deposit

• Capital gains (selling company assets)

• Most other types of income (if you're unsure, call HMRC or check with a tax advisor)

Having added these, you then take off any relevant deductions, reliefs, losses or allowances. You then apply the relevant tax rate to calculate your gross corporation tax payable.

• There is one main rate for all businesses, set at 19%.

• A special-rate is applied for trusts and other open-ended companies, and this is set at 20%.

You can then deduct any relevant tax credits, any income tax already deducted from interest income, and any corporation tax you've already paid.

How you pay tax as a limited company

The accounting period for limited companies doesn't necessarily coincide with the tax year. It is, instead, your company's own accounting period, beginning and ending with the dates of your financial accounts as you submitted to Companies House. As a limited company, your deadlines for filing your company tax return and paying what you owe also differ - unlike with other types of business.  You should note that for corporation tax bills that exceed £1.5 million, you need to pay the fee in instalments.

Doing it online

• You must pay your corporation tax and file your Company tax return online.

• You can pay your corporation tax by following this guide.

Checklist: your tax-paying responsibilities as a limited company

• First off, you're legally obliged to tell HMRC that you're liable for corporation tax. Do this by sending in a CT41G form.

• Get an accountant or start going through your corporation tax early on.

• Pay corporation tax on any profits that are taxable within nine months of the end of your accounting period.

• File a Company Tax Return within 12 months of the end of your accounting period.

• If your company is 'dormant' - that is, not trading or active - procedures are different. Contact HMRC if this applies to you.

FAQ

Your corporation tax accounting period can be shorter than 12 months - just file one tax return covering that period.

If your company accounts cover a period longer than 12 months, you have to split it into two corporation tax accounting periods and file two separate company tax returns - one for either period. The first accounting period will cover the first 12 months, the second will cover the rest of the time.

As you're a limited company, you have to operate a PAYE system and pay employees' National Insurance contributions (NICs).

Because you've set up a limited company, you get taxed as an employee of that company - meaning income tax and NI contributions will be deducted from your salary using the PAYE system.  If you earn ROI, dividends, benefits or loans from the company more than a certain amount, you may have to complete an income tax return as well - the standard self-assessment tax return. But this only applies over certain thresholds. Find out more here.

Providing your company is based in the UK, you still have to pay corporation tax on all taxable profits, regardless of what country they were made in.

Resources

• HMRC's up-to-date table of corporation tax rates.

• The Chartered Institute of Taxation will point you in the direction of a local chartered tax advisor: 0207 235 9381 or www.tax.org.uk

• To contact HMRC for help with corporation tax, you need to find your local tax office. You can do that here.