Our process is straightforward, and it's built to be quick for you, not complicated. We collect what we need, check it over, prepare your tax return, and file directly with HMRC on your behalf.

This Is What We Need From You Before We Register Or File

If you already have a Unique Taxpayer Reference, send that over along with your earnings details and bank statements for the year. If you're filing for the first time, we register you with HMRC and set up your personal tax account first, since a UTR usually takes a few weeks to arrive by post.

We'll ask you to explain any expenses you've claimed before, plus anything new, such as home working costs, mileage or professional subscriptions. To get started, all we ask is that you sign one short engagement letter, nothing more. The more complete your documents are, the faster your accountant can move.

This Is What Happens Once We Have Your Details

We check your figures for anything that's been missed, calculate what's owed or what's due back, and prepare your self assessment tax return. Before we submit anything to HMRC, we send it over so you can sign it off and approve it yourself.

Once you approve and sign, we file with HMRC and tell you exactly what to pay and when. We also deal with any HMRC letters or queries that follow, so you're not left trying to work out what they mean on your own, and we protect you from unnecessary penalties wherever we can.

If your account shows you've paid too much tax, we make sure that refund actually gets claimed rather than sitting unclaimed in your HMRC account, which happens more often than people expect and can save you real money. There are a few exceptions where a refund can't be claimed straight away, and your accountant will always explain why if that applies to you.

How Many People File A Self Assessment Tax Return Each Year

More than 12 million taxpayers are expected to file a self assessment tax return for the 2025 to 2026 tax year, and around 97% of people now file online rather than on paper. In fact, 86,270 people filed on the very first day the 2026 to 2027 window opened, and 737,891 self assessment tax returns were filed during April 2026 alone, with close to 300,000 of those filed in the first week.

Missing the deadline is more common than people think. More than 11.5 million people filed by the January 2025 deadline, yet around 1.1 million taxpayers still missed it, and a £100 penalty applies for filing late even when no tax is actually owed. Miss it for longer and further penalties build up on top, which is exactly the kind of costly mistake a good accountant helps you avoid, and it's part of why we sign clients up for ongoing support rather than a single file-and-forget service.

How Making Tax Digital Changes Reporting From 2026 Onwards

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax began affecting qualifying sole traders and landlords from 6 April 2026, starting with anyone earning over £50,000. That threshold drops to over £30,000 from April 2027 and over £20,000 from April 2028, which means far more small businesses and self-employed people will need to keep digital records and report to HMRC more often using approved software.

This makes good bookkeeping and ongoing compliance more important than it used to be, and it's part of why we build support into our services all year round rather than only turning up once at deadline time. Our services include guidance on getting your records ready for Making Tax Digital before it applies to you.

Alongside our self assessment tax return services, we also offer wider accounting services for sole traders and small businesses across the UK. If you need help with bookkeeping, VAT or general business advice throughout the year, our team can assist, and we're always happy to talk through which additional services would suit your business best.

We also file tax returns for directors who need a personal tax return completed correctly alongside their corporate accounts, and we can submit both under one account with us so nothing falls through the gap. Personal circumstances change, so if your income tax position or tax liability looks different this year, tell us early, and we'll adjust our advice and your expenses claim accordingly, well before the file needs to go in. Every self assessment tax return service we offer, from a single tax return to full year-round support, is backed by the same accountant checking your account from start to finish. That means our tax return services stay complete and consistent, whether you file with us once or come back to file again next year. We keep clear records on your account and make sure our services reflect exactly what you need year after year as your trusted accountancy firm.