Tax and bookkeeping, handled — without the jargon.
Books & Returns takes Self Assessment, Corporation Tax, VAT and everyday bookkeeping off your plate, so you can get back to running your business. Fixed fees, real humans, no surprises.
- Fixed-fee pricing
- Xero & QuickBooks certified
- Deadlines never missed
Trusted by small businesses across the UK
A snapshot of what clients come to us for:
UK tax services we handle
A quick look at what's covered — full details further down the page.
VAT Returns
Registration, returns & MTD compliance.
Self Assessment (SA100)
Personal tax returns for sole traders & landlords.
Capital Gains Tax
Reported as part of your Self Assessment return.
Corporation Tax (CT600)
Statutory accounts & Corporation Tax filing.
PAYE / Payroll
Monthly payroll, RTI, payslips & auto enrolment.
CIS
Monthly returns for contractors & subcontractors.
MTD ITSA
Digital reporting for landlords & the self-employed.
Prefer one all-in monthly package?
The Complete Accounting & Tax Package covers everything below — bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, Corporation Tax, Self Assessment and HMRC correspondence — under a single fee, so we act as your outsourced finance department.
Every UK filing and deadline, covered
Seven service areas covering the full lifecycle of a UK sole trader, contractor or limited company.
VAT Services
VAT (Value Added Tax) is a tax on most goods and services; businesses above the turnover threshold must register and file returns.
- VAT registration & deregistration
- Monthly / quarterly VAT returns
- MTD (Making Tax Digital — HMRC's digital record-keeping and filing requirement) compliance
- VAT planning
- Refund claims
- HMRC compliance checks
- Penalty appeals
Accounts & Corporation Tax
Statutory accounts and tax compliance for limited companies.
- Annual statutory accounts
- CT600 (the Corporation Tax return filed with HMRC) preparation & filing
- Corporation Tax computation
- Companies House filing
- Companies House authentication codes
Payroll
PAYE (Pay As You Earn) is HMRC's system for collecting income tax and National Insurance directly from wages.
- PAYE registration
- Monthly payroll processing
- RTI (Real Time Information — reporting payroll data to HMRC on or before every payday)
- Payslips
- P45 (issued when an employee leaves) & P60 (annual pay/tax summary)
- Auto enrolment (workplace pensions)
Self Assessment
SA100 is the standard personal tax return form for sole traders, landlords and anyone with untaxed income.
- SA100 preparation & filing
- MTD ITSA (Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment — the upcoming digital reporting requirement for landlords and the self-employed)
- Rental income
- CIS income
- Dividends
- Capital Gains
- Payment on account planning
CIS
CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) is HMRC's tax deduction scheme for contractors and subcontractors in construction.
- Monthly CIS returns
- CIS refund claims
- Subcontractor verification
Company Secretarial
Keeping your company's statutory record up to date and compliant with Companies House.
- Company incorporation
- Confirmation statement
- DS01 (the form used to formally dissolve/strike off a company)
Business Advisory
Beyond compliance — the numbers you need to make decisions.
- Management accounts
- Budgets
- Forecasts
- Virtual CFO support
Accountancy that actually explains itself
No confusing invoices, no chasing us for updates. Here's what you can expect.
Fixed, upfront pricing
You'll know the cost before we start — no hourly billing surprises.
Deadlines managed for you
We track every filing date and chase you (kindly) well before it's due.
Cloud-based, always up to date
Certified on Xero and QuickBooks, so your numbers are live, not last quarter's.
A named accountant, not a call centre
You deal with the same person every time — no re-explaining your business.
Plain-English advice
We explain what a number means and what to do about it — no jargon.
HMRC-registered agent
Fully compliant and insured, so your filings are in safe hands.
Onboarding in four simple steps
Switching accountants — or starting from scratch — is easier than you think.
Free consultation
Tell us about your business and what you need help with — no obligation.
Fixed-fee proposal
We send a clear quote covering exactly what's included, with no hidden extras.
We handle the handover
We contact your previous accountant and HMRC directly, so you don't have to.
Ongoing support
Regular check-ins, deadline reminders, and a named contact whenever you need us.
What clients say
Placeholder testimonials — replace with real client quotes (with permission) before publishing.
"Switched from our old accountant and the difference was night and day. Everything is explained clearly and nothing gets missed."
"Our VAT returns used to be a scramble every quarter. Now it's completely handled and we get a heads-up well in advance."
"Fast replies, fair pricing, and they actually got our Xero set up properly instead of leaving it half-done."
Common questions
Do you work with sole traders as well as limited companies?
Yes — we support sole traders, partnerships, contractors and limited companies, from just-starting-out to established small businesses.
What's the difference between Self Assessment and Corporation Tax?
Self Assessment is your personal tax return, needed if you're a sole trader, landlord, or have other untaxed income. Corporation Tax applies to limited companies on their profits, filed separately via a CT600.
I'm not currently using Xero or QuickBooks — can you help me set up?
Absolutely. We're certified on both platforms and can get you set up from scratch, or tidy up an existing account that's fallen behind.
How much do your services cost?
Pricing depends on your business size and needs. We agree a fixed monthly or annual fee upfront, after a free initial consultation — no surprise invoices. See our Pricing page for illustrative tiers.
Can you take over from my current accountant mid-year?
Yes, this is very common. We handle the professional handover directly with your previous accountant and update HMRC, so there's minimal disruption for you.
Ready to hand off the paperwork?
Book a free, no-obligation consultation and get a fixed-fee quote within 24 hours.