How much does a Self Assessment tax return cost?

Most accountants charge a fixed fee to prepare and file a Self Assessment return, so you can get a firm quote up front. Here is what sole traders, landlords and company directors typically pay for 2025-26, and what moves the price.

Typical cost: GBP 150-400 one-off

Typical cost, in context

Typical UK accountant fees by service
Service	Typical 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
VAT returnsOften folded into a monthly package rather than billed separately.	GBP 100-300per quarter
BookkeepingOr roughly GBP 25-60 per hour. Scales with transaction volume and software.	GBP 100-500per month

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

What changes the price

Income type: a single employment or one rental property is at the low end; multiple income sources, foreign income or capital gains add work.
Record quality: a tidy spreadsheet or bookkeeping software lowers the fee; a bag of receipts raises it.
Timing: returns handed over close to the 31 January deadline often carry a rush premium.
Whether the fee is standalone or bundled: directors usually get the personal return folded into a company package (see below).

Who has to file - and who actually needs an accountant

You must file a return if you are self-employed and earned over GBP 1,000, are a partner in a partnership, have untaxed income (rent, dividends, savings, foreign income) above the allowances, or earn over GBP 150,000. A simple return you can file yourself for free on GOV.UK. An accountant earns their fee when your affairs are less obvious: side income alongside a job, a first year of self-employment, rental property, capital gains, or anything where the tax treatment is not clear-cut.

Fixed fee versus doing it yourself

Filing direct with HMRC costs nothing but your time and carries the risk of missed allowances or errors. An accountant charges GBP 150-400 for a standard return but will typically find deductions you would miss and takes on the accuracy risk. If your return is genuinely simple and you are comfortable with the online form, DIY is fine; the moment there is judgement involved, a fixed-fee return usually pays for itself.

Check the firm is actually regulated

Price is only half the decision. "Accountant" is not a protected title in the UK, so 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, 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.

Find a verified, AML-supervised accountant near you →

Frequently asked questions

How much does an accountant charge for a Self Assessment tax return?

For a straightforward sole trader or landlord return, most UK accountants charge GBP 150-400, with the typical fee around GBP 200-350. It rises with complex income, multiple sources, or late filing near the 31 January deadline.

Is it cheaper to do my own Self Assessment?

Filing yourself on GOV.UK is free. An accountant costs GBP 150-400 but often recovers the fee through allowances you would miss and removes the risk of errors and penalties. DIY suits genuinely simple returns; anything with judgement is usually worth paying for.

When should I hand my return to an accountant?

As early as possible after the 5 April year end. The self-employed can file from 6 April, and early filers avoid the December-January rush premium and get more time to plan for the payment due on 31 January.

Is the accountant fee tax deductible?

The cost of preparing the business or rental parts of your return is an allowable expense. The portion relating to your purely personal tax affairs is not deductible.