What is Corporation Tax?
Corporation Tax is the tax a UK limited company, foreign company with a UK branch, or unincorporated association pays to HM Revenue and Customs on its profits for an accounting period. There is no bill: the company works out what it owes in a Company Tax Return and pays it, usually 9 months and 1 day after the period ends.
What to know
- The amount depends on the profit made; allowances and reliefs may reduce it.
- The Company Tax Return must be filed even if the company made a loss or has nothing to pay, and late filing carries penalties.
- Companies with taxable profits over £1.5 million pay in instalments.
- The payment reference is 17 characters and changes with every accounting period.
Sources: GOV.UK, "Corporation Tax"; GOV.UK, "Pay your Corporation Tax bill". Checked 1 October 2026.
Corporation Tax and RewardsPilot
A Corporation Tax bill paid through RewardsPilot earns 4 RewardsPilot points per £1 of net spend.
Related
All terms
PAYE · VAT · National Insurance · UTR number · Business rates · VAT registration number · VAT return · VAT invoice · Avios
Official facts are quoted from GOV.UK and can change. This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Programme facts come from the published RewardsPilot rate and the Rewards Programme Rules.