FAQ
Frequently asked, honestly answered
Plain English answers on Self Assessment, Ltd companies, switching accountants, MTD, late filings — anything we get asked more than once.
About us
Are you actually accountants, or just a website?
Proper UK-qualified accountants. The firm is an ICAEW member, our team holds ACCA, ACA and AAT qualifications, and we're an HMRC Authorised Agent. Every return is reviewed and signed off by a qualified human — not auto-generated by software.
Where are you based?
We're a UK-only firm with our team distributed across the UK. All client data is stored on UK-hosted servers. UK office hours are 9am–6pm, Monday to Friday.
Are my records secure?
Yes. UK-hosted ISO 27001-certified servers, TLS 1.2+ encryption in transit, AES-256 at rest, multi-factor authentication on every staff account, ICO-registered, and GDPR compliant.
Pricing & service
How does the pricing work?
Fixed fees only. We quote you upfront before any work starts and the price is what you pay — even if it turns out to be more complicated than expected. The only exception: if you give us false or hidden information, we'll re-quote.
Do you charge VAT?
Yes, we're VAT-registered. All prices on the site are shown ex-VAT. VAT (20%) is added at invoice and is reclaimable if your business is VAT-registered.
Can I pay monthly?
All annual packages can be split into 12 monthly payments via Direct Debit. Per-filing work is paid on completion.
How fast do you actually file?
Most Self Assessment returns are filed within 24 hours of receiving complete paperwork. Ltd company accounts typically take 3–5 working days. Complex cases take longer — we'll always quote a turnaround upfront.
What if I don't like the service?
Cancel any time, no exit fees. We'll do free professional handover to your next accountant and hand back all your records within 7 days.
Self Assessment
Who needs to file Self Assessment?
Sole traders / freelancers earning over £1,000, landlords with rental income over £1,000, anyone with untaxed income (dividends over £500, savings interest, capital gains), high earners (£100k+), partners in partnerships, and anyone HMRC has registered for SA.
When are Self Assessment returns due?
Online returns: 31 January following the end of the tax year (5 April). Paper returns: 31 October. Tax owed is due by 31 January. Payments on account are due 31 January and 31 July.
I haven't filed for 3 years. Am I in trouble?
Probably less than you think. We'll file all overdue years at once, calculate the realistic total of penalties, and where possible argue them down (HMRC accepts "reasonable excuse" more often than people realise). For CIS workers we often find HMRC owes you, not the other way round.
Can you handle CIS sub-contractor refunds?
CIS is a big chunk of our SA work. Average refund we recover is £600–£1,800. We claim back over-deducted CIS tax and apply expenses HMRC let you off (mileage at 45p/mile, tools, PPE, training, CSCS card).
Do you do crypto / shares / capital gains?
Yes — we'll work from your exchange CSVs (Coinbase, Binance, Kraken) and broker statements (Trading 212, Hargreaves Lansdown, IBKR). We compute the gain, apply your annual exemption (£3,000 for 2025/26) and bed-and-breakfast rules.
Ltd company
Should I go Ltd or stay sole trader?
Rough rule: under £40k profit, sole trader is fine and simpler. Over £50k, Ltd usually saves you 5–15% in tax via salary/dividend split. We'll do a free 10-min call to model both for you with your actual numbers.
When are Ltd company accounts due?
9 months after your accounting period end-date for Companies House, 12 months for HMRC corporation tax. Confirmation Statement is due annually based on incorporation date. We track all three deadlines and chase you well in advance.
Do you handle complex Ltd structures?
Yes — group structures, intercompany loans, transfer pricing, parent/subsidiary consolidation, multiple share classes, EMI share schemes. Free scoping call first to quote properly.
What's the most tax-efficient salary for a director?
For 2025/26: typically pay yourself a salary at the NI Secondary Threshold (£12,570/year) so you bank a qualifying year for state pension, then top up via dividends. Saves £1,000–£3,000/year vs. paying yourself wrong.
My company is dormant — do I really need to file?
Yes — every UK Ltd has to file dormant accounts every year, even with zero activity. If you don't, Companies House will strike the company off (and can fine you up to £1,500).
Making Tax Digital (MTD)
Do you do Making Tax Digital?
Yes. MTD-compliant software is included on Compliance and Business packages, and we offer MTD-only software access from £15/month for landlords and sole traders who just want the tool.
When does MTD for Income Tax start?
From April 2026, sole traders and landlords with combined income over £50,000 must keep digital records and submit quarterly updates. From April 2027 it drops to £30,000. We'll get you set up well in advance.
Which MTD-compatible software do you support?
We work with FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage. Subscription is included on the Business package. If you're already using one of these, we connect to it directly.
Switching to MyTaxFile
Can I switch to you mid-year from another accountant?
Yes, and it costs you nothing. We handle the professional clearance with your old firm, transfer your records, and pick up where they left off. Most switches complete inside two weeks.
Do you do everything online, or do I need to post things?
Everything online. Documents upload via secure UK-hosted portal. Photos of receipts work fine. We can request paper records by post if HMRC requires it, but it's rare.
Will you talk to HMRC for me?
Yes — we're HMRC Authorised Agents, which means we can talk to HMRC, file on your behalf, and handle correspondence. You appoint us via a 64-8 form (we'll send it during onboarding).
Late filings & HMRC enquiries
What if I'm late or HMRC's already chasing me?
Late filers and people with HMRC letters are about a third of our work. We don't judge, we don't add panic-charges. Send us what you've got and we'll prioritise stopping the penalty clock.
What if I owe more than I expected?
If you can't pay it all at once, we'll set up a Time to Pay arrangement with HMRC at no extra charge. Most are agreed within a week, typically spreading the balance over 12 months.
I've had an HMRC enquiry letter — help?
We've handled hundreds. Forward the letter, we'll respond on your behalf, gather supporting documents, and negotiate where there's a genuine grey area. Included free on the Business package; per-hour basis for à la carte clients.
Stop dreading tax. Start ignoring it.
Get a fixed-fee quote in 60 seconds. No signup, no card, no sales call. We'll just tell you what it'll cost and how fast we can file it.