SET(M) ILR - Specified Limited Company - Category F - Financial Year Ends Aug 2026 - Advice Needed

Hello,

I am hoping for some expert advice on my SET(M) ILR application. I have a specific
issue with the financial requirement relating to a specified limited company and
would be very grateful for guidance.

MY SITUATION

- I am applying for ILR under the Partner (5-Year) Route, SET(M)
- Spouse is a British citizen
- I arrived in the UK July 2021 on a spouse visa
- My first spouse visa application was made BEFORE 11 April 2024, so my
applicable minimum income threshold is £18,600 under transitional provisions
- My current FLR(M) expires 30 October 2026
- I have passed / am preparing to take the Life in the UK Test
- English language requirement met via UK-equivalent Master's degree (Ecctis verified)
- No significant absences from UK during qualifying period

EMPLOYMENT

- I was a founding director of a UK limited company (Iincorporated
August 2025)
- I resigned as director on 1 December 2025 (filed at Companies House)
- Since 1 December 2025 I have been a salaried PAYE employee of the same company
- Gross salary: £30,000 per year (£2,500/month)
- I hold a majority shareholding in the company
- The company is therefore a SPECIFIED LIMITED COMPANY under paragraph 9(a)
of Appendix FM-SE — I hold shares, I am an employee, remaining shares held
by one other person

FINANCIAL YEAR

- The company's first financial year runs 27 August 2025 to 31 August 2026
- I only commenced receiving salary in December 2025
- Total salary received within the financial year (Dec 2025 - Aug 2026):
9 months x £2,500 = £22,500
- £22,500 exceeds my applicable threshold of £18,600

THE PROBLEM

Because this is a specified limited company, I cannot use Category A or B.
I must use Category F (last full financial year).

The financial year does not complete until 31 August 2026.
My visa expires 30 October 2026.

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

1. Can I apply under Category F in September/early October 2026, after the
financial year ends on 31 August 2026, provided the director files the
CT600 voluntarily early with HMRC before my application date?

2. The Immigration Rules require the CT600 to have been filed with HMRC.
The CT600 is not legally due until August 2027. Is there any rule or
precedent preventing early voluntary filing? Will HMRC accept a CT600
filed 11 months early?

3. Under Category F, income is the total salary received during the financial
year — in my case £22,500 for 9 months. Is this calculaimted as the actual
amount received (£22,500) and compared directly to the £18,600 threshold?
Or does the Home Office annualise it (which would give ~£30,000 anyway)?

4. Is there any alternative route given my circumstances — for example, is
there any way Category B could apply despite the specified limited company
designation? I have seen conflicting information on this.

5. Given my visa expires 30 October 2026 and autumn 2026 earned settlement
rule changes are expected, is there any risk to waiting until September
to apply? My 5-year route as a spouse of a British citizen is protected
from the 10-year baseline, but I am concerned about new minimum
requirements being imposed before I can apply.

ADDITIONAL CONTEXT

- I have a brief employment gap from mid-2024 to November 2025 (was studying
and involved in company setup)
- The company only started generating revenue in December 2025
- No dividends have been paid or declared — salary only
- No savings above £10,000
- Company turnover is below VAT threshold (£90,000)
- I have a separate personal account where loan repayments from the company
will be received — these are NOT salary and I will document this clearly

Thank you in advance for any guidance. I have read the Appendix FM-SE rules
and the Home Office guidance document carefully but cannot find a definitive
answer on the early CT600 question specifically.

1. Yes
2. Yes, this is required. Submitting it to HMRC before deadline does NOT make it early
3. Income in that tax year is already the level of your annual income. What do they need to annualise ???
4. No. Cat B is not suitable for you
5. For now, no changes have been announced. We do not know what to expect and when to expect such changes. These proposals are still being discussed in the parliament

I suggest you read the requirements for category F in the official guide:

All the following must be provided:

• Company Tax Return CT600 (a copy or print-out) for the last full financial year
and evidence this has been filed with HMRC, such as electronic or written
acknowledgment from HMRC
• evidence of registration with the Registrar of Companies at Companies House -
if the company is required to produce annual audited accounts, such accounts
for the last full financial year
• if company is not required to produce annual audited accounts, unaudited
accounts for the last full financial year and an accountant’s certificate of
confirmation, from an accountant who is a member of a UK Recognised
Supervisory Body (as defined in the Companies Act 2006) or who is a member
of the Institute of Financial Accountants; Corporate / business bank statements
covering the same 12-month period as Company Tax Return CT600

One of the following documents must also be provided:

• a certificate of VAT registration and the VAT return for the last full financial year
(a copy or a print-out) confirming the VAT registration number, if turnover is in
excess of £85,000 or was in excess of the threshold which applied during the
last full financial year
• proof of ownership or lease of business premises
• original proof of registration with HMRC as an employer for the purposes of
PAYE and National Insurance, proof of PAYE reference number and Accounts
Office reference number - this evidence may be in the form of a certified copy
of the documentation issued by HMRC

Where the person is listed as either a director or employee of the company (or both)
and receives a salary from the company, all of the following documents must also be
provided:

• payslips and P60 (if issued) covering the same period as the Company Tax Return CT600
• personal bank statements covering the same 12-month period as the Company
Tax Return CT600 showing that the salary as either a director or employee of
the company (or both) was paid into an account in the name of the person or in
the name of the person and their partner jointly

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... rement.pdf

Thank you so much. I hope it's okay to post additional questions as I develop my application.