Summary
- Compliance work costs $1,200–3,500 (US) or £800–2,500 (UK) per year.
- Monthly bookkeeping adds $200–600 or £120–400 per month.
- Fixed monthly fees make costs predictable and questions free.
- Always get scope, exclusions and deadlines in a written engagement letter.
- Clean digital records are the cheapest way to cut the bill.
Quick answer
A small limited company typically pays $1,200–3,500 per year in the US and £800–2,500 per year in the UK for annual accounts and tax filings. Add monthly bookkeeping and payroll and the total commonly doubles.
Typical 2026 fees
| Service | US | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Annual accounts and company tax return | $800–2,500 | £600–1,800 |
| Personal tax return | $250–800 | £150–450 |
| Monthly bookkeeping (small company) | $200–600/month | £120–400/month |
| Payroll, per employee per month | $8–20 | £5–15 |
| Sales tax / VAT returns, quarterly | $150–450 | £100–300 |
| Hourly advisory rate | $150–400 | £100–250 |
| Company formation and setup | $200–700 | £150–500 |
What you actually need
Fixed fee or hourly?
A fixed monthly fee makes cash flow predictable and removes the fear of being billed for every phone call. Hourly billing can be cheaper if your needs are genuinely occasional. Whichever you choose, get the scope in writing: what is included, what is extra, and how late or messy records are charged.
Questions to ask before signing
Warning signs
No written engagement letter, vague fees, pressure to use one software they control, reluctance to explain a tax position in plain language, or slow replies during the quote stage — that is as fast as they will ever be.
How to reduce the bill
Summary
Budget £800–2,500 or $1,200–3,500 a year for compliance, more with bookkeeping and payroll. Choose on scope, communication and relevant experience — the cheapest quote usually reappears as extra charges later.