“I am not sure what I need to do.”
We help you check whether a return is needed, what information matters and how to get started.
Find your starting pointYour tax return can come with a lot of questions. We help you bring everything together, understand the figures and get your return filed—with a person to turn to along the way.
For sole traders, landlords, freelancers, directors and people with several sources of income. A clear fixed fee, agreed before we begin.
No obligation. You do not need perfect records or all the answers to start a conversation.
Perhaps this is your first return. Perhaps your income has changed. Perhaps you have been meaning to deal with it for a while. We begin by understanding your situation.
We help you check whether a return is needed, what information matters and how to get started.
Find your starting pointFrom a straightforward return to several income sources, we agree the work and explain the result.
See how we helpMissing records, an overdue return or a letter from HMRC? Tell us where things stand. We can discuss the next step.
Talk through a concernA change of job, a rental property, freelance work or a growing business can all change the questions you need answered.
We review the income and records relevant to your return, consider applicable expenses and reliefs, and explain your tax calculation. You have the opportunity to ask questions and approve the return before we submit it.
You should finish the process understanding your position, with a copy of your return and a clear view of the next dates to plan for.
| The work | How we help | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding your income | Review the relevant employment, business, property, pension, savings and dividend information. | A return that considers the different parts of your situation. |
| Expenses & reliefs | Check potential claims against the rules and supporting records. | Help claiming what you are entitled to, with an appropriate basis. |
| Preparation & review | Prepare the return and calculation, raise questions and ask for your approval. | Space to understand the figures before submission. |
| Filing & payment guidance | Submit the approved return and explain the amounts and payment dates, including payments on account where relevant. | A clearer view of what comes next. |
| Documents & continuing support | Provide your return and calculation, discuss SA302 requirements and agree support for later questions. | Useful records and a contact you can come back to. |
Your proposal confirms the scope. Bookkeeping, complex gains, overseas matters, earlier years, investigations and Making Tax Digital work may need separate consideration and pricing.
Self Assessment is HMRC’s system for reporting income and gains that need a tax return. Whether you need one depends on your circumstances; receiving income does not automatically mean tax is due.
Gross self-employed trading income above £1,000 in a tax year will usually mean a return is required. That test is before expenses.
Support for sole tradersRental income may need to be reported. We consider ownership, income, allowable costs and the reporting route.
Property accounting supportSalary, dividends and other income need to be considered together. A personal return is separate from the company’s accounts and tax return.
Limited company supportCIS deductions are payments towards tax. We review income, costs and deduction statements to establish the final position.
Construction accounting supportPAYE earnings alongside untaxed income, gains or certain tax charges can require a closer look.
Partnership income, foreign income, residence changes and asset disposals can involve additional returns or specialist work.
Read our Self Assessment checklist or use HMRC’s checker. Tell us if you have sold property or another asset; a separate reporting deadline may apply.
We agree a fixed fee after understanding your income sources, records and the help you need. You receive a clear explanation of what is included before we start.
| Your income sources | The types of income, properties, businesses or gains involved. |
|---|---|
| Your records | Whether information is ready or bookkeeping and reconstruction are needed. |
| The work required | The tax year, additional calculations and any ongoing or MTD support. |
We explain the difference between preparing your annual return and additional work such as regular bookkeeping, quarterly MTD updates or historical corrections. Any extra work is discussed and agreed.
Tell us the tax year and the types of income involved. That is enough to begin.
We discuss your circumstances, deadlines, service and fixed fee.
We provide a checklist and arrange authorisation and secure document sharing.
We review the information, clarify questions and explain the return for your approval.
We submit the approved return and explain the next payment and reporting dates.
A record of the information submitted.
Clarity on the tax position and relevant credits.
The amounts, dates and actions to plan for.
You remain responsible for complete, accurate information and paying HMRC. We agree the work, information deadlines and approval process with you.
Your checklist depends on your circumstances. You may need:
Missing something? Tell us. We can discuss obtaining copies, identifying gaps and any extra work needed. We will explain how incomplete information affects the return and timing.
We ask about relevant costs and reliefs because the right treatment depends on what happened, how you paid and the evidence available.
Business travel, equipment, software and working-from-home costs may need reviewing. Personal use, accounting method and eligibility affect the claim.
Personal pension contributions and Gift Aid may affect your tax calculation. Tell us how contributions were made so relief is considered correctly.
PAYE tax, CIS deductions and payments on account need to be considered when establishing the amount still payable or potentially repayable.
Claims depend on the rules and your circumstances. See HMRC guidance on self-employed expenses and pension tax relief. We do not promise a particular saving or refund.
The usual deadlines below relate to your 2025/26 return. Starting early gives us time to review the information and explain the position.
| Date | What it relates to | Who needs to consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| 5 October 2026 | Tell HMRC you need to complete a return. | First-time filers and some people returning to Self Assessment. |
| 31 October 2026 | Paper return filing deadline. | People submitting a paper return under the usual timetable. |
| 30 December 2026 | Online filing deadline for eligible PAYE collection. | People seeking to pay a qualifying bill through their tax code. |
| 31 January 2027 | Online filing and balancing payment deadline; first 2026/27 payment on account where due. | Online filers and people with amounts payable. |
| 31 July 2027 | Second 2026/27 payment on account. | People required to make payments on account. |
Checked 28 September 2026 against HMRC’s deadlines. A notice from HMRC or particular circumstances can change a filing deadline. MTD obligations are explained separately below. Read our deadline guide.
Payments on account are advances towards the following year’s bill. Where they apply, January can include both the balance for the completed year and the first advance payment.
Each instalment is usually half the relevant previous year’s liability. Exceptions include a bill below £1,000 or more than 80% of the tax having been paid outside Self Assessment.
We explain how this affects you. If the next year’s liability is expected to fall, we can discuss whether a reduction is appropriate; reducing too far can lead to interest.
Assume a £2,400 relevant tax liability for 2025/26, with no earlier payments on account and no reduction.
£2,400 for 2025/26
+ £1,200 towards 2026/27
The second advance towards 2026/27.
Illustration only, not your tax calculation. Assumes the whole £2,400 is within the payments-on-account calculation; excludes Capital Gains Tax and student loan amounts.
MTD already applies to some sole traders and landlords. It involves digital records, quarterly updates and an annual return using compatible software.
The entry test broadly looks at combined gross income from self-employment and property, before expenses—not your profit. We can help you check your position, including possible exemptions, and discuss the support needed.
Starting MTD in April 2026 does not remove the need to complete your 2025/26 return. MTD itself does not change your tax payment dates.
| Relevant tax year | Qualifying income | Start date |
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | Over £50,000 | 6 April 2026 |
| 2025/26 | Over £30,000 | 6 April 2027 |
| 2026/27 | Over £20,000 | 6 April 2028 |
Checked 28 September 2026. See HMRC guidance on who must use MTD and when, qualifying income and the annual return and payment dates.
An unopened letter or an unfinished return can stay on your mind. You can tell us what has happened without having everything sorted first.
Tell us the tax year, what HMRC has requested and any deadline. We assess the work and timing, then explain a practical way forward.
We can review the issue and discuss correction options. The usual amendment window is 12 months after the filing deadline; older issues may need another route.
Filing still matters. We help you understand the amount and discuss whether an HMRC payment arrangement may be available.
Penalties and interest can apply; the rules depend on your reporting regime and circumstances. See HMRC guidance on Self Assessment penalties, corrections and payment plans, or read our penalty guide.
Please mention urgent deadlines at the start. We confirm availability and what is achievable after reviewing your circumstances.
You deserve to feel heard, to understand the answer and to know whom to ask next.
Some questions are easier on the phone. Some need a screen shared over Teams. Others deserve a proper sit-down conversation. We agree a way of working that suits you, with a dedicated contact and year-round support within your agreed service.
When your circumstances change, let us know. A new income source, a property sale or a move abroad can bring questions worth discussing before the next return.
Talk through a question and ask us to explain anything that feels unclear.
Meet from your computer and go through information together.
Keep a useful written record of questions, answers and agreed next steps.
Share documents through the agreed secure process. Existing clients: open your portal.
Arrange an appointment at our Tattenhall office for a face-to-face conversation.
Meetings at your business premises can be arranged where practical. We agree the details together.
These short excerpts are from reviews of Swift’s wider accountancy service.
“Nothing is too much trouble”
“professional, friendly and very helpful”
“made the process very simple”
These answers are a starting point. We take account of your circumstances when agreeing advice and support.
You do not need to know the right tax terminology. Tell us what has happened, and we will work through the questions with you.
You can complete your own return if you are comfortable doing so. An accountant can help you understand the requirements, review relevant claims and prepare and submit the return. Our first conversation helps establish the support you need.
No. Your personal Self Assessment return and a limited company’s Corporation Tax return are separate. Being a director alone does not automatically mean you need a personal return; we consider your income and circumstances.
Yes, we can discuss your situation and registration requirements. A Unique Taxpayer Reference and appropriate authorisation will be needed for the relevant filing work, so allow time for the HMRC process.
You should still check whether your circumstances mean you need to register or report income. The absence of a letter does not decide the position. HMRC’s checker is a useful starting point.
Yes. We can review PAYE earnings alongside relevant freelance income, rent, dividends, savings or other amounts and help establish what needs reporting.
It depends on the income and your circumstances. We ask about ownership, rental receipts, costs and any other income before advising on the reporting needed.
No. Deductions are credited against the final liability. The result depends on your income, allowable costs, other tax and amounts already paid. A refund cannot be guaranteed.
No. The partnership’s return and the individual partners’ returns have different purposes. We can discuss the returns required and quote for the relevant work.
Generally, filing early does not bring forward the normal payment deadline. It gives you earlier sight of your bill. We explain the dates applicable to you and any payments on account.
It is an advance towards the next tax year where the rules apply. Our worked example above shows how a January payment can include both the completed year’s balance and an advance.
Tell us what is missing. We can discuss replacement statements, other evidence and the additional work needed. We explain any limitations and the appropriate treatment of incomplete information.
Yes, filing and paying are separate requirements. Contact us promptly so we can discuss the return, the bill and possible HMRC payment-plan options. HMRC decides whether to accept an arrangement.
HMRC controls repayment processing and may carry out checks. We can explain the repayment shown by the calculation, but cannot guarantee a refund or its arrival date.
We can review it and explain the available route. The usual amendment period runs for 12 months after the filing deadline. Earlier years and particular claims can follow different procedures, so tell us the year and the issue.
We can discuss your tax calculation and the tax year overview. Lenders have their own document requirements, and these documents do not guarantee mortgage approval. Read our SA302 guide.
MTD introduces quarterly reporting for people within its rules. It does not itself change the tax payment dates. See the MTD section to understand when it may apply and how the work differs from annual return preparation.
Your proposal explains the support included. A formal enquiry, investigation or substantial work on earlier years may need a separate agreement and fee. Tell us about existing correspondence when we first speak.
We listen to your circumstances, identify the tax year and deadlines, and discuss the work and information needed. You can ask about our process and fees before deciding whether to proceed. There is no obligation.
Our guides take a closer look at the practical details.
Tell us where you are with your Self Assessment. We will listen, explain how we can help and agree the way forward with you.
No obligation. Clear scope and fees before work begins.
Listening,
Understanding,
Advising
Tell us what you need help with. We’ll call you to understand your situation, explain how we can help and agree the next steps.