No, it’s not a legal requirement. However, the responsibilities are significant. You must ensure your statutory accounts meet UK GAAP, file accurate returns with Companies House and HMRC, and manage complex areas like VAT and payroll. Most directors find that using a specialist accountant saves them time, stress, and money by avoiding costly penalties and ensuring tax efficiency.

The key deadlines are:

• Confirmation Statement: Filed at Companies House annually, due one year after incorporation.

• Statutory Accounts: Filed at Companies House 9 months after your year-end.

• Corporation Tax: Paid to HMRC 9 months and 1 day after your year-end.

• Corporation Tax Return (CT600): Filed with HMRC 12 months after your year-end.

• VAT Returns: Typically filed quarterly or monthly, with payment due 1 month and 7 days after the period ends.
  We manage all these deadlines for you as part of our service.

We are certified experts in Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage. Using cloud software like this will save you a significant amount of time. You can snap and upload receipts via your phone, automate bank feeds, and see your live financial position 24/7, making bookkeeping simple and efficient.

Absolutely. This is a core part of our service for director-shareholders. We analyse the current tax bands and allowances to recommend an optimal split between a director’s salary and dividends, minimising your overall National Insurance and income tax liability.

You can claim any expense that is wholly and exclusively for business purposes. Common examples include office costs, travel, professional subscriptions (e.g., your business insurance), marketing, and use-of-home expenses. We provide all our clients with a clear guide to ensure claims are valid and maximised.

Yes, we have specific expertise in preparing and submitting R&D tax credit claims. We help Bristol-based companies in sectors like tech, engineering, and manufacturing identify qualifying activities and costs, securing significant cash rebates or corporation tax reductions.

MTD is a HMRC initiative to digitalise the UK tax system. It’s now mandatory for VAT-registered businesses. We ensure you are fully compliant by using approved cloud accounting software that seamlessly submits your digital VAT returns directly to HMRC.

Yes, we provide a full payroll service. This includes running your payroll, making RTI submissions to HMRC, and managing all aspects of auto-enrolment, from initial assessment to ongoing compliance, even if you just have director-only payroll.

As your appointed agents, we can act on your behalf. Simply forward any correspondence to us, and we will handle it, providing expert representation and support, especially in the event of an enquiry or inspection.

We move beyond compliance to become your strategic partner. This includes creating cash flow forecasts, analysing profitability, advising on funding options specific to Bristol businesses, and helping you set and track financial goals.

Congratulations! The first steps are: 1) Register your company with Companies House, 2) Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC, 3) Determine if you need to register for VAT, and 4) Set up a business bank account and a record-keeping system. We can guide you through every single step.

You must keep all records of sales, purchases, expenses, assets, debts, and payroll. This includes invoices, receipts, bank statements, and contracts. Using cloud accounting software makes storing and organising these records incredibly simple.

Yes, you can shorten or extend your accounting reference period (year-end date), but there are specific rules and limits. We can advise on the pros and cons and handle the process with Companies House for you.

A P11D form is used to report certain benefits and expenses provided to directors or employees (e.g., private health insurance, company cars). If you provide any such benefits, you must file a P11D. We can manage this process for you to ensure it’s accurate and on time.

As a limited company, it is a separate legal entity from you. Its finances must be kept completely separate. You pay yourself via a formal payroll or dividends. Mixing personal and business spending is a common pitfall we help our clients avoid.

Yes, we believe in transparent, fixed-fee pricing. Our packages are tailored but typically include preparation and filing of your annual statutory accounts and corporation tax return, quarterly VAT returns, payroll processing, and ongoing telephone and email support. We provide a clear breakdown upfront.

We offer full investigation support. This means we will manage all communication with HMRC, prepare the necessary documentation, and provide expert representation to achieve the best possible outcome, giving you complete peace of mind.

Yes. We provide a professional registered office address service for our clients. You can use our Bristol, Bath, or Trowbridge address to keep your personal address off the public record and maintain a professional image.

Definitely. As a modern firm, we use cloud technology to serve clients across the whole of Bristol and the UK seamlessly. All meetings can be held via video call, and all documents are shared securely online.