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How much does an accountant cost in the UK?

Most UK accountants charge a fixed fee rather than an hourly rate, so the real question is what each service should cost. Here is what sole traders, small businesses and contractors typically pay in 2025-26, based on published fee guides - and what pushes the number up or down.

Typical accountant fees

Typical UK accountant fees by service
ServiceTypical cost
Self Assessment tax returnSole trader or landlord return; most pay GBP 200-350. Rises with complex income or late filing.GBP 150-400one-off
Limited company accounts + Corporation TaxStatutory accounts filed at Companies House plus the CT600. Small company.GBP 750-2000per year
Full company service (accounts, CT, director tax, payroll)Complete package for a director: company accounts, Corporation Tax and personal Self Assessment.GBP 800-1500per year
VAT returnsOften folded into a monthly package rather than billed separately.GBP 100-300per quarter
PayrollUsually a minimum monthly fee of GBP 50-100 regardless of headcount.GBP 5-15per employee/month
BookkeepingOr roughly GBP 25-60 per hour. Scales with transaction volume and software.GBP 100-500per month
Contractor accountant (fixed-fee package)Plus VAT. Higher tiers add VAT returns, payroll and Self Assessment.GBP 60-150per month
Small business monthly packageMicro business; rises to GBP 300-600 with full bookkeeping, VAT and payroll.GBP 100-300per month
Management accountsRegular management reporting on top of statutory work.GBP 150-500per month
Company formationAccountant fee on top of the Companies House incorporation fee.GBP 50-150one-off

Indicative ranges, excluding VAT unless noted. Figures compiled July 2026; individual quotes vary with complexity and location.

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Cost by service, in detail

Full breakdowns for the services most people ask about:

Cost by city

Local fee guides for the biggest UK markets, each with the verified firms in that city:

What changes the price

  • Complexity. More income sources, rental property or foreign income all add time.
  • Your records. Clean bookkeeping or connected software lowers the fee; a shoebox of receipts raises it.
  • Timing. Returns filed close to the 31 January deadline often carry a premium.
  • Location. Firms in London and major cities generally charge more than regional or remote ones.
  • One-off vs ongoing. A single return is a fixed fee; bookkeeping, VAT and payroll are usually a monthly package.

Fixed fee or monthly package?

For a one-off need - a single Self Assessment, say - a fixed fee is simplest. If you run a limited company or have regular bookkeeping, VAT and payroll, a monthly package usually works out cheaper than paying for each piece separately, and spreads the cost across the year.

Check the accountant is actually regulated

Price is only half the decision. Because "accountant" is not a protected title in the UK, the cheapest quote is not always from a qualified, accountable firm. Any business doing accountancy work is legally required to be supervised for anti-money-laundering - by HMRC or a professional body - and the strongest firms are also members of a body such as ICAEW, ACCA or AAT. Before you pay, confirm the firm is AML-supervised and on the public record.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does an accountant cost in the UK?

A sole trader Self Assessment return is typically GBP 150-400. A limited company's annual accounts and Corporation Tax return usually run GBP 750-2,000 a year, and monthly packages for small businesses start around GBP 100-300 depending on bookkeeping, VAT and payroll needs.

Is it cheaper to pay per job or on a monthly package?

One-off jobs such as a single tax return are billed as a fixed fee. Ongoing needs like bookkeeping, VAT and payroll are usually cheaper bundled into a monthly package, which also spreads the cost across the year and tends to include more support.

Why do accountant fees vary so much?

The main drivers are how complex your income is, how organised your records are, whether you file close to the 31 January deadline, your location (London and major cities cost more), and how many services you need.

Do I need a chartered or regulated accountant?

The word "accountant" is not legally protected in the UK, so anyone can use it. Check two things before you pay: that the firm is supervised for anti-money-laundering (a legal requirement for accountancy businesses) and, ideally, that it is a member of a professional body such as ICAEW, ACCA or AAT. Both can be checked on the public record.

Are accountant fees tax deductible?

Fees for business accounting and tax work are an allowable business expense. The cost of the purely personal part of a return is not deductible.

Sources