Published prices for a Self Assessment tax return start from about £50 to £59 for a basic online filing (ExpertSure check, September 2026). Sleek estimates £150 to £400 plus VAT for a typical return (October 2026). Extra income sources, rental income and messy records push the fee up.
How much does an accountant charge for Self Assessment? Published UK prices start from about £50 for a basic online filing and run to £400 or more for returns with several income sources. Where your return lands depends mostly on what you need to report: one job and a small side income costs far less than rental property, foreign income or a partnership.
House Of Accounts does not publish a price list. We quote after a short scope call, with all costs listed upfront. The prices below are other firms' published prices and estimates, each with its source and month, so you can judge any quote you receive, including ours.
Published prices from named firms
These are starting prices for Self Assessment that named firms publish. "From" means the lowest price for the simplest return.
| Firm | Service | Published price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheaper Accountant | Basic one-off Self Assessment filing | From £50 | ExpertSure, September 2026 |
| Taxez | One-off Self Assessment filing | From £59 | ExpertSure, September 2026 |
| Cheaper Accountant | Landlord return (property income) | From £125 | ExpertSure, September 2026 |
| Cheaper Accountant | Fuller sole trader filing | From £150 | ExpertSure, September 2026 |
| The Accountancy Partnership | Director's return, as an add-on to a limited company package | £10 + VAT a month | Firm's website, July 2026 |
The cheapest prices usually cover checking and submitting a return from figures you prepare. A fuller service includes reviewing your records and looking for allowable expenses.
Typical ranges by type of taxpayer
Sleek, an online accountancy firm, published these estimated ranges in its guide updated October 2026. They are Sleek's own estimates, not a survey, and exclude VAT.
| Type of return | Sleek's estimated range (+ VAT) |
|---|---|
| Employed, with a simple extra income | £150 to £250 |
| Sole trader or freelancer | £200 to £350 |
| Company director (personal return only) | £250 to £400 |
| Partnership | £300 to £600 or more |
Sleek also estimates that Central London firms charge £250 to £450, while firms in Wales and Northern Ireland charge £150 to £300, so location matters as much as the type of return.
What pushes the fee up?
- Each extra income source. Sleek estimates £75 to £200 more for each extra stream, such as rental income, dividends or foreign income.
- Cryptocurrency. Sleek estimates £300 to £500 for a return with crypto disposals.
- Messy records. Missing receipts or unsorted bank statements add an estimated £100 to £300 (Sleek).
- Leaving it until January. Some firms add a rush fee near the deadline; Sleek estimates £50 to £150.
- Missed years. Catching up costs an estimated £150 to £400 per year (Sleek).
What the fee should include
Before you compare two quotes, check each one covers the same work:
- Preparing and filing the return online with HMRC as your agent.
- Every supplementary page you need, such as property or self-employment pages.
- Your tax calculation, with the amount and date to pay.
- Payments on account, explained if they apply to you.
- Simple HMRC letters about the return, or a clear price for answering them.
- VAT on the fee, stated as included or extra.
Accountant or do it yourself?
Many people file their own return. If you have one job and a small, simple side income, HMRC's online return is designed for you, and our guide to reporting freelance income to HMRC walks through it. An accountant usually earns the fee when you have several income sources, rental property, capital gains, or records that need sorting first.
The cost of filing late
For the 2025/26 tax year, online returns are due by 31 January 2027 (paper returns by 31 October 2026). Miss the online deadline and HMRC charges £100 straight away, even if you owe no tax.
| How late | Late filing penalty |
|---|---|
| 1 day | £100 |
| 3 months | £10 a day, for up to 90 days (up to £900) |
| 6 months | 5% of the tax due or £300, whichever is greater |
| 12 months | Another 5% or £300, whichever is greater |
A sole trader with one rental property gets an estimate using Sleek's ranges: £200 to £350 for the sole trader return, plus £75 to £200 for the rental income. That is £275 to £550 plus VAT.
Filing 6 months late instead would cost at least £100 + £900 + £300 = £1,300 in late filing penalties, before any interest or late payment penalties.
How House Of Accounts quotes
At House Of Accounts we ask what you need to report on a short scope call: jobs, self-employment, property, dividends, gains and anything from abroad. You then get a written quote with every cost listed upfront, before any work starts. Our Self Assessment tax return service covers preparing and filing the return and telling you what to pay and when.
We will also tell you if you do not need us. A simple return with one small extra income is often quick to file yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an accountant charge for a Self Assessment with rental income?
Published prices start from £125 for a landlord return at Cheaper Accountant (ExpertSure check, September 2026). Sleek estimates rental income adds £75 to £200 to a standard return. The fee rises with the number of properties and whether you also report other income.
Is an online accountant cheaper for Self Assessment?
Usually, for simple returns. Online firms published starting prices of £50 to £59 in September 2026, below most estimates for traditional firms. Check what the price covers: the cheapest services often file figures you prepare, and charge extra for reviewing records or additional income pages.
How much does it cost to catch up on missed tax returns?
Sleek estimates £150 to £400 for each missed year (October 2026), so three years could cost £450 to £1,200 in fees. Late filing penalties are separate and usually larger, so it is worth filing missed returns as soon as you can rather than waiting.
Do I need an accountant for Self Assessment?
No. HMRC's online return is designed for individuals to file themselves. An accountant is most useful when you have several income sources, rental property, capital gains, foreign income or records that need sorting, or when you want someone to deal with HMRC for you.
Want a clear quote for your tax return?
List your income sources and we will send a written quote with every cost listed upfront. Simply get a fixed-fee quote, and we will tell you honestly if filing yourself makes more sense.
This article was researched and drafted with AI assistance, then fact-checked against GOV.UK and HMRC guidance and edited by the House Of Accounts team.
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