Accounts and tax returns
Accurate accounts. Clear tax. No last-minute scramble.
From sole trader Self Assessment to limited company accounts and Corporation Tax, we’ll bring your records together, prepare the required filings and explain the figures in plain English. You’ll know what is due, why it is due and what happens next.
Quick start
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Tell us a little about your business and what you need help with.
Who we support
The right accounts and returns for your circumstances
What needs preparing depends on how you work, how the business is structured and where your income comes from. We’ll make sure the correct accounts and returns are completed for you.
Sole traders
We’ll organise your business figures, identify allowable expenses and prepare your Self Assessment return. We’ll also explain your tax calculation, payments on account and upcoming deadlines.
Accounting for sole tradersLimited companies
We’ll prepare compliant annual accounts and the company’s Corporation Tax return, submit the required information to Companies House and HMRC, and explain what the results mean for the business and its directors.
Accounting for limited companiesLandlords
Whether property is owned personally, jointly or through a limited company, we’ll prepare the relevant rental figures, tax returns or company accounts and make sure the correct ownership treatment is applied.
Accounting for landlordsDirectors and individuals
We can prepare Self Assessment returns covering income such as salary, dividends, investments and capital gains, bringing the different elements together into one clear tax calculation.
What’s included
Everything needed to complete the year properly
We’ll take the work from reviewing your records through to approved submissions, keeping you informed at every stage.
Reviewing your records
We’ll check the information provided, identify anything missing and raise questions before preparing the final figures. If additional bookkeeping or catch-up work is needed, we’ll explain this and agree any extra cost before starting it.
Preparing your accounts
We’ll prepare the appropriate annual accounts or income-and-expense summary for your business structure, using the information and records you provide.
Completing your tax returns
We’ll calculate the taxable profit and prepare the relevant Self Assessment or Corporation Tax return, including the applicable income, expenses and reliefs.
Submitting to the right authorities
Once you have reviewed and approved the figures, we’ll make the necessary submissions to HMRC and, for limited companies, Companies House.
Explaining the numbers
We’ll talk you through the results in plain English, including the tax due, payment deadlines and anything important shown by the accounts.
Preparing for the year ahead
We’ll highlight upcoming responsibilities and practical improvements that could make the next accounting period clearer and easier to manage.
Need bookkeeping, VAT, payroll or management information as well? We can bring your services together in one tailored package.
Support beyond the deadline
Good accounts should help before the year is over
Annual accounts explain what has already happened. With ongoing support and up-to-date records, they can also help you prepare for what comes next. We’ll keep the compliance work on track while helping you understand the decisions that may affect your business and tax position.
Know what’s coming
We’ll keep you aware of filing and payment deadlines, explain upcoming liabilities and reduce the risk of unexpected tax bills.
Ask questions during the year
Your accountant is available for the everyday questions covered by your package, so you don’t have to save everything for the year-end meeting.
Make decisions earlier
When you’re considering a change—such as taking money from a company, registering for VAT, buying equipment or changing how you operate—we can help you understand the accounting and tax implications before you commit.
Keep your records ready
FreeAgent is included without a separate software charge in our ongoing accounting packages. We’ll help you use it effectively and connect suitable integrations to reduce manual bookkeeping.
The earlier we understand what is happening in your business, the more useful our support can be.
How it works
A clear route from records to submission
We’ll guide the work through a consistent process, tell you what we need and keep you informed as it moves forward.
1. Set up or continue your records
If you’re new to accounting software, we’ll set you up on FreeAgent, provide access and help you get started. If you’re changing accountant or moving from another system, we’ll manage professional clearance and help bring the relevant records across. Existing clients will already have been using FreeAgent during the year, giving us an organised starting point for the accounts.
2. Review and resolve questions
We’ll check the records for completeness, identify anything unusual or missing and send you a clear list of questions rather than approaching the work in fragments.
3. Prepare the accounts and returns
Once the information is complete, we’ll prepare the relevant accounts, tax calculations and returns for your circumstances.
4. Explain and approve
We’ll send you the figures to review and explain the important points in plain English, including the tax due and payment deadlines. Nothing is submitted until you have approved it.
5. Submit and confirm
We’ll file the approved documents with HMRC and Companies House where applicable, confirm that submission is complete and remind you of the next actions or payments.
Clear requests. Clear explanations. Clear confirmation when the work is done.
What you’ll receive
Completed accounts and tax returns appropriate to your circumstances
A plain-English explanation of the important figures
A clear summary of tax amounts and payment deadlines
Copies of the approved documents and submission confirmations
Practical next steps for the coming accounting period
Continued access to your FreeAgent records where included in your ongoing package
What our clients say
Fast, professional and reliable
“I was very pleased with the service that Forest Finance provided to me over the last couple of weeks.”
Izabela H. · Five-star Trustpilot review
★★★★★
Accounts and tax FAQs
Common questions about accounts and returns
What is the difference between annual accounts and a tax return?
Annual accounts show the business’s financial performance and position for a particular period. A tax return uses the relevant figures, with the necessary tax adjustments, to calculate and report taxable profit. Limited companies normally require statutory accounts and a Company Tax Return, while sole traders report their business results through Self Assessment.
When are limited-company accounts and Corporation Tax due?
Most private companies must file annual accounts with Companies House within nine months of the financial year end. A Company Tax Return is normally due within 12 months of the end of the accounting period, while Corporation Tax is usually payable earlier—nine months and one day after the period ends. First accounts and unusual accounting periods can follow different timelines, so we’ll confirm your company’s exact dates.
When is a Self Assessment return due?
Online Self Assessment returns and the balancing payment are normally due by 31 January following the end of the relevant tax year. A payment on account may also be due on 31 July. We’ll confirm which payments apply and explain them before the deadline.
What records will you need from me?
This depends on your circumstances, but it may include business income and expenses, bank transactions, invoices, receipts, payroll information and details of other personal income. FreeAgent will provide the main record for ongoing clients, and we’ll send a clear request for anything else required.
How soon after the year end should I provide my information?
As soon as the accounting period or tax year has ended and the records are complete. Starting early gives us more time to resolve questions, explain the figures and help you prepare for payments. Waiting until the filing deadline reduces those options.
Can you take over from my current accountant?
Yes. Once you appoint us and provide the necessary authority, we’ll contact your previous accountant through the professional-clearance process and request the records needed for a smooth handover.
Can you help if my accounts or returns are overdue?
Yes. We’ll establish what is outstanding, identify the records needed and agree a route for bringing everything up to date. Penalties and interest may already apply, but acting promptly can prevent the position from becoming worse.
Will you help me pay the right amount of tax?
Yes. We’ll apply the relevant allowable expenses, adjustments and reliefs supported by your circumstances and records. We’ll also explain legitimate planning opportunities where they form part of the agreed service. Our role is to help you meet your obligations accurately—not to make unrealistic promises about eliminating tax.
Still have a question? Let’s talk it through.
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