Accounting services by job

Pick the job. Each guide explains the deadlines, what a good accountant will ask you for, and how to check they are registered. Or ask for a quote and choose the one firm it goes to.

Not sure which one? Read the fee guides or browse by city.

Which accounting service do I need?

Most people need one of four things. If you are self-employed, let out property or have income that is not taxed at source, you need a Self Assessment tax return. If you run a limited company, you need year-end accounts for Companies House and a Company Tax Return for HMRC, and the directors may need their own returns too, for example to report dividends.

Once your taxable turnover passes £90,000 in any 12 months, you must register for VAT (GOV.UK, when to register) and file VAT returns, usually every quarter. If you pay staff, or pay yourself a salary through your company, you need payroll: HMRC expects a report each time you pay someone (GOV.UK, reporting to HMRC), and eligible staff must be enrolled in a workplace pension.

The other services support those four. Bookkeeping keeps the records every return is built from, and tidy monthly books usually make the year-end work quicker. Tax planning is advice before you act: taking money out of a company, selling a property or passing on a business. Company formation sets up a limited company properly, and R&D tax credits is a specialist claim for companies doing qualifying research and development.

Most firms offer several of these together. If you need more than one, ask for a single quote that lists each piece of work and its fee, and check what is excluded.

Accounting services: what people ask

Can one accountant do my company accounts and my personal tax return?

Yes, and many directors prefer it, because the salary and dividends on the company side feed straight into the personal return. Ask for both in the same quote, with the fee for each shown separately, so you can see what you are paying for.

What is the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?

A bookkeeper records the day-to-day transactions: sales, purchases, bank lines and receipts. An accountant uses those records to prepare accounts and tax returns and to advise you. Some firms do both; others take your bookkeeper's records at year end. Either way, ask who is responsible for which part in the engagement letter.

Do I have to use Making Tax Digital software?

For VAT, GOV.UK says every VAT-registered business should now be signed up, so records and returns go through software. For Income Tax, GOV.UK says sole traders and landlords must use it from 6 April 2026 if their qualifying income (turnover before expenses) from self-employment and property is over £50,000, and from April 2027 if it is over £30,000. Your accountant can tell you which applies and which software they support.

Which service do I need if I have just started a business?

If you are a sole trader, register for Self Assessment and keep records from day one; bookkeeping help can follow. If you are setting up a limited company, company formation comes first, then year-end accounts, a Company Tax Return and payroll if the company pays anyone. A short first meeting with an accountant before you choose the structure can save a costly change later.

Are the fees on a firm's profile fixed?

They are what the firm has chosen to publish, so treat them as a starting point. The final fee depends on your records and the scope of the work. Ask for a fixed fee in writing before anything starts, and check what would be charged as extra.

Sources: GOV.UK, Making Tax Digital for VAT and GOV.UK, use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.