Every pilot's situation is different, so we build our accounting service around how you're paid rather than a one-size-fits-all package. We prepare tax returns for pilots across the UK every year, from First Officers to senior Captains, and these services are included as standard for every client. Pilot accounting doesn't fit neatly into standard software, and that's exactly why we built ours around real flying patterns instead.

Support If You're Employed By A Commercial Airline On PAYE

If you fly for a commercial airline and pay tax through PAYE, we check whether HMRC has applied the right tax code and claimed the reliefs you're due. Many pilots overpay simply because their employer doesn't submit every allowable expense on their behalf, which quietly reduces their take-home pay year after year.

We handle your self assessment tax return if you need one, chase tax refunds for unclaimed employment expenses, and make sure flat rate expenses and other pilot reliefs are applied correctly every tax year. This is one of the core services we provide to airline pilot clients across the UK.

Support If You Fly As A Self-Employed Or Independent Contract Pilot

Self-employed and independent contract pilots have to manage their own books, expenses and tax payments, often while juggling contract work and income from more than one source. We keep your records straight throughout the year, not just when your tax return is due, and we understand the job security concerns that come with contract flying.

This covers flight instructor income, freelance flying work, and any other aviation income alongside your main flying role. Many self-employed pilots have worked for different companies over their career, and we make sure nothing from an earlier contract gets missed on this year's return.

Support If You Operate Through Your Own Limited Company

A growing number of contract pilots and airline pilot contractors work through their own limited company. We handle your statutory accounts, financial statements, corporation tax return and Companies House filings every year, and we advise on the most tax-efficient way to pay yourself through salary and dividends to protect your take-home pay.

We also look at VAT registration where relevant, plus your general business expenses, so your limited company stays compliant without you having to chase paperwork. Running your own limited company brings genuine tax benefits, but only if the compliance side is managed properly.

Most accountants have never heard of flat rate expenses for pilots. HMRC sets a standard flat rate expenses allowance of £1,022 a year for eligible pilots, and we make sure this is claimed through proper tax planning alongside anything else you're entitled to.

HMRC guidance also recognises pilot-related costs such as uniform maintenance, specialist equipment, noise-cancelling headsets, flight cases and luggage. We also check whether you qualify for wider tax relief on professional fees and subscriptions, not just the pilot-specific allowances. We build these into your tax return preparation so nothing gets missed. Costs we typically claim for pilots include:

• Uniform cleaning and specialist flying kit
• Simulator sessions, technical refresher and CRM training
• Medical examinations and related travel expenses
• Licence renewals and type rating costs
• Professional subscriptions and licensing fees

Self Assessment Deadlines And Wider Tax Relief We Also Check

If you're a self-employed pilot earning over £100,000, a self assessment tax return becomes a legal requirement rather than a choice, and the deadlines and penalties get stricter. Late tax returns can trigger automatic HMRC penalties, so we work to your deadline, not the last minute. Our tax return preparation and tax compliance work tracks this for you so you're never caught out. The UK tax year runs to 5 April, and tax returns are due by 31 January the following year, with any tax deducted through PAYE reconciled against what's actually owed.

Beyond the basics, our tax services cover tax advice on taxable income, tax liability and tax relief across your flying and any other work you do, because paying UK tax correctly depends on getting every detail right, not just the big numbers.

Flying internationally raises real questions around UK tax residence, overseas duties and overseas income. Pilots who move abroad for an airline job, or who fly for an overseas airline while still living in the UK, often end up owing tax in the UK as well as abroad on the same income.

We manage the double taxation paperwork so you don't have to deal with two tax authorities on your own. We work through your double taxation agreement position on your behalf, convert foreign currency income correctly, and make sure you're not paying more UK tax than you need to. This covers pilots living overseas, UK-based pilots working for overseas carriers, and pilots returning to the UK after time abroad. Where flying duties involve overseas travel expenses, we make sure these are recorded correctly for both UK and foreign tax purposes.

Whether you're an airline pilot on PAYE or running your limited company, we quote a fixed monthly price up front. Based on the accounting work we've completed recently, an independent or limited company pilot typically pays somewhere between £90 and £180 a month for ongoing accounting support, covering your accounts, tax return and Companies House filings. That fixed price already includes your corporation tax return, with no extra charge for last-minute questions. A standalone self assessment tax return for an employed pilot on PAYE usually costs between £150 and £350.

This is a rough guide based on recent client work, and the actual cost will vary depending on your income, whether you run your own limited company, and how much support you need. We'll always give you a clear, fixed-price quote before any work begins, and it will always match the services agreed. Our services are priced clearly from the outset, with no hidden extras.

If you fly for a living and want an accountant who already understands your pay, your expenses, and your tax position, we're ready to help. Get in touch with Vexo Accounting today for a free, no-obligation quote, wherever you're based in the UK.