Accountant fees · UK guide · 2026
How much does an accountant cost in the UK?
Clear fee ranges across every service type. What affects the price, what should be included, and what to watch for.
Get your exact fee →Short answer
UK accountancy fees typically run from £20–£60/month for volume online services, to £150–£300/month for contractors and simple limited companies, to £250–£600+/month for more complex engagements. Self-assessment only as a one-off costs £200–£600+. The cheapest option is not always the least expensive — missed reliefs, errors, and HMRC penalties cost far more than the fee differential.
UK accountant fees by service type
Contractor / PSC
RR Accountants
From £150/month
UK market range
£100–£300/month
Annual accounts, CT600, IR35 review, expense management, salary/dividend planning
Details →Landlord / property investor
RR Accountants
From £200/month
UK market range
£150–£400/month
Self-assessment, SA105 pages, MTD readiness, Section 24 modelling, portfolio reporting
Details →Limited company director
RR Accountants
From £250/month
UK market range
£200–£600/month
Annual accounts, CT600, management accounts, salary/dividend, VAT, payroll
Details →Growing business (sole trader / startup)
RR Accountants
From £100/month
UK market range
£80–£250/month
Bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, self-assessment or CT600, advisory
Details →Self-assessment only
RR Accountants
From £300 one-off
UK market range
£200–£600+
Annual return. Complexity affects price: rental income, capital gains, overseas all add cost
Details →Landlord with SPV
RR Accountants
From £300/month
UK market range
£250–£600+/month
Everything in landlord + SPV annual accounts, CT600, Companies House filing
Details →What drives accountancy fees
Complexity
Multiple entities, properties, or income streams add time. An SPV alongside personal landlord income requires more work than either alone.
Advisory depth
Filing only costs less. Year-round advisory — Section 24 planning, pension strategy, annual review — costs more and typically saves more.
Bookkeeping
If the accountant also handles bookkeeping (not just year-end), expect 30–50% more than a filing-only engagement.
Specialist vs generalist
Specialists charge a premium. The premium is typically recovered through one better-advised decision per year.
Response time standards
Accountants with published service standards and named contacts charge more. Generic portal-based services charge less — and deliver less when you need them.
Annual review process
Firms that run a structured Annual Compliance Review charge more than those that file and disappear. The review is where year-on-year savings are identified.
FAQs
How much does an accountant cost per month in the UK?
UK accountant monthly fees vary significantly by service type: volume online firms charge £20–£60/month for basic filing; generalist local firms £100–£300/month; specialist accountants £150–£600+/month depending on the service. The headline fee rarely tells the whole story — what is included and what is charged extra matters more than the starting price.
What does an accountant do for a limited company?
For a limited company, an accountant typically prepares: annual statutory accounts, CT600 corporation tax return and payment, Companies House filing, director self-assessment, VAT returns (if applicable), payroll (if applicable), management accounts, and salary/dividend planning. Not all of these are included in every engagement — confirm what is covered before signing.
Is it worth paying for a more expensive accountant?
Usually yes — if the more expensive accountant covers things that a cheaper one misses. One well-timed decision (pension contribution timing, disposal planning, correct expense treatment, avoiding an S455 charge) can save more than years of fee savings. The question is not 'what does it cost' — it is 'what does it cost to not have the right advice at the right moment'.
How much does a self-assessment cost?
A standalone self-assessment return (no ongoing engagement) costs £200–£600 as a one-off, depending on complexity — number of income sources, employment, rental income, capital gains, overseas elements. At RR Accountants, self-assessment only starts from £300.
Can I do my own accounts and self-assessment?
Legally yes. HMRC's online service accepts self-filed returns. It is practical for the simplest cases: one employment source, no investment income, no rental income, no self-employment. Once you add a rental property, self-employment, limited company, or any capital gain — errors are common and the cost of a mistake (penalties, missed reliefs, HMRC enquiries) typically exceeds the accountant's fee.
Specific fee guides
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Book a call →Iftikhar Rashid FCCA · 16 years in practice