TAXCA Accountants

"We moved to TAXCA after a bad experience with another accountant. It was definitely the best decision."

That's a real review from a real client. And it describes a situation we hear about constantly.

Most people don't leave their accountant because of price. They leave because of one of these:

→ Emails that go unanswered for days
→ Being told what to do, but never why
→ An invoice bigger than expected, with no explanation
→ The feeling that you're one of hundreds, and not a priority

If any of that sounds familiar, here's the part that usually stops people: they think switching is a hassle.

It isn't. You don't need to have an awkward conversation with your current accountant, and you don't need to chase your own records. We write to them, request the handover, and deal with it directly. Most switches are done in a couple of weeks and you barely notice it happening.

You also don't have to wait for a year-end. You can move at any point.

Thinking about it but not sure where to start? Message us — we'll explain exactly how it works, and there's no pressure either way.

Your first tax bill: £3,000.
What HMRC actually asks for in January: £4,500.

The extra £1,500 is a payment on account — half your bill again, in advance for next year. Then another £1,500 in July.

It's not extra tax. It's just nobody warns you.

Want the real number before January? Ask us.

Do you actually need to file a tax return? Tick any of these:

☑ Self-employed and earned over £1,000
☑ Rental income over £1,000
☑ Side income — Etsy, eBay, freelancing, tutoring
☑ Untaxed income — savings interest, dividends, tips
☑ You or your partner earn over £60,000 and claim Child Benefit

That last one catches more people out than all the others combined.

You're salaried. PAYE takes your tax automatically. You've never filed a return in your life. But if your adjusted net income goes over £60,000 and your household claims Child Benefit, you're liable for the High Income Child Benefit Charge — and you have to register for Self Assessment to pay it.

Plenty of people find out when a penalty letter arrives.

A pay rise or a one-off bonus is often what tips someone over. If you crossed £60,000 for the first time this year, this is worth checking.

One useful thing to know: if HICBC is the only reason you'd need to file, you can now opt to pay it through your PAYE code instead of filing a full return. Not everyone realises that option exists.

Registration deadline is 5 October — and it takes longer than people expect, because your UTR and activation code arrive separately by post.

Not sure where you stand? Ask us. Two minutes, no obligation.

First time filing a Self Assessment? We'll register you with HMRC — free.

Here's what nobody warns you about: the return itself isn't the hard part. Registration is.

HMRC posts your UTR number. Then a separate activation code arrives, days later. Two waits, two letters, and if either goes missing you're starting again.

That's why people put it off. And then 5 October arrives.

Miss it and HMRC can charge a penalty — even if you don't owe a penny in tax.

So we've taken that job off your plate. Become a client and we'll handle the whole registration process for you at no cost. You'll also get:

→ A clear list of what records to actually keep from day one
→ Your return filed properly when it's due
→ Fixed monthly fees, agreed upfront — no hourly billing, no surprise invoice

This applies if you've:
Started self-employed work this tax year · Started renting out a property · Earned more than £1,000 in side income · Left PAYE to go freelance

Not sure whether it applies to you? Message us — we'll tell you straight, and there's no obligation either way.

"I made a loss, so I don't need to file."

We hear this every year. It's an honest assumption — and it costs people money.

Two things are wrong with it:

1. If HMRC has sent you a notice to file, you have to file. Profit, loss, or no trading at all. The obligation comes from the notice, not from whether you owe anything.

2. Your loss is worth something — but only if you report it.

That's the part most people miss. A trading loss can be carried forward indefinitely against future profits from the same trade. Make a £5,000 loss this year, then £10,000 profit next year, and you're only taxed on £5,000.

If you're newly self-employed (within your first four years), you may also be able to carry the loss back against earlier income — which can generate an actual refund.

But none of it happens automatically. You have to notify HMRC of the loss on a return, and there's a time limit — generally within four years of the end of the tax year the loss was made.

Skip the return because "there's no tax to pay," and you've quietly thrown away relief you were entitled to.

Made a loss last year? Message us before you write the year off.

Three dates left this tax year. That's it.

5 October — register for Self Assessment.
If this is your first time filing, or you've started earning outside PAYE this year, this is your date. Miss it and HMRC can charge a penalty even before any tax is due. It also takes time — your UTR arrives by post, then an activation code arrives separately. Leaving it to late September is cutting it fine.

31 October — paper return deadline.
Only relevant if you're filing on paper. Filing online? Ignore this one entirely.

31 January — file online and pay.
The big one. Your return and your payment are due the same day. And if your bill was over £1,000 last year, there's a payment on account on top.

That's the whole year. Three dates, and only one of them is coming up soon.

Not sure whether you need to register? Ask us — takes two minutes to check.

Six reasons our clients stay with us.

Fixed fees. An agreed monthly amount. No hourly billing, no invoice that arrives bigger than you expected.

We actually pick up. No call queue, no "someone will get back to you in 48 hours."

Plain English. No jargon. Ask the same question twice if you need to — nobody here will make you feel silly for it.

20+ years. Chartered certified, ACCA and AAT Fellow, trading since 2017.

We know your trade. Construction and CIS, care homes, dentists, contractors, solicitors.

Real-time numbers. Xero, QuickBooks, Sage — your figures live, not six months late.

Still with an accountant who leaves you guessing? Switching is easier than most people think.

Send us a message. Free consultation, no obligation.

⭐ What Our Clients Say About TAXCA! ⭐

We’re proud to help businesses and individuals with reliable, professional and stress-free accounting support. 💙💚
But don’t just take our word for it — hear directly from our clients! 🙌
Your trust and feedback mean a lot to us. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their experience with TAXCA Accountants. ❤️
📞 020 3369 7867
🌐 www.taxca.co.uk
📧 [email protected]

Repair or improvement? It's the distinction that changes your tax bill.

Both cost you money. Only one comes off this year's rental profit.

A repair puts something back to how it was — a broken boiler replaced with a similar one, repainting between tenancies, fixing the roof. Claim it as an expense this year.

An improvement makes the property better than it was — an extension, upgrading to a smarter kitchen, converting the loft. That's capital expenditure. It doesn't come off your rental income at all.

Here's the part people miss: improvements aren't lost. They reduce your Capital Gains Tax when you eventually sell. Different timing, not a wasted cost.

The grey area is where it gets interesting — replacing single glazing with double glazing, for example, is generally treated as a repair even though it's technically better, because it's the modern equivalent of what was there.

Not sure which side yours falls on? Message us before you file.

For the first time since 2011, the mileage rate has gone up.

45p → 55p for the first 10,000 business miles. Backdated to 6 April 2026.

On 8,000 miles that's £800 more you can claim.

Still using 45p? Message us.