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Have you checked your tax code recently?P11Ds have now gone through for this year, which means a lot of people will have...
26/10/2026

Have you checked your tax code recently?

P11Ds have now gone through for this year, which means a lot of people will have had their tax code updated as a result. Taking five minutes to check now will avoid an unpleasant surprise in the future. It's rare for someone to end up paying too little tax. In our experience, it usually works the other way.

We've recently helped a couple of clients who were paying more than they should have. In one case, that meant securing a refund of almost £9,000. In another, just over £2,500. Both had simply carried on as normal, assuming their tax code was correct, without realising HMRC had made an error.

It's one of the benefits of having an accountant which isn't really shouted about enough. It's not just about filing on time. You will have someone in your corner who will query something that doesn't look right and chase it up with HMRC on your behalf, rather than you having to find the time (or the patience) to do it yourself.

Could paying your VAT and PAYE soon be out of your hands?HMRC has been consulting on plans to make Direct Debit the requ...
22/10/2026

Could paying your VAT and PAYE soon be out of your hands?

HMRC has been consulting on plans to make Direct Debit the required payment method for VAT and PAYE liabilities, rather than one option among several. Their reasoning is that it's not that businesses are refusing to pay and falling into arrears; it's because they've missed a deadline or used the wrong payment reference. The hope is that automatic collection would remove this risk.

On paper, that sounds sensible. In practice, it's a significant shift.

Right now, paying manually means:
👍 You choose exactly when money leaves your account
👍 You can time payments around your own cash position
👍 You have flexibility if a payment date lands awkwardly

Under mandatory Direct Debit, that would change:
➡️ HMRC collects automatically shortly after your return is submitted
➡️ You'll need to know your cash position well in advance, not just on the day
➡️ Less room to flex timing if cash is tight, so budgeting ahead becomes essential

The consultation has now closed, and HMRC's response, along with any draft legislation, is still awaited. So nothing is confirmed yet. But if this does go ahead, it would affect a huge number of UK businesses, so it's worth having on your radar rather than being caught out further down the line.

We'll keep you posted as we know more. In the meantime, if cash flow visibility isn't where it needs to be, now is a good time to get it sorted, whichever way HMRC lands on this one.

We understand that there are lots of accountants to choose from, so where does Accounting Clarkes add value to limited c...
19/10/2026

We understand that there are lots of accountants to choose from, so where does Accounting Clarkes add value to limited companies?

We see our role as covering three areas.

Compliance, done properly - so you can build your business on a solid foundation.
Tax, handled proactively - where many of our clients see the biggest difference compared to a purely compliance-led service.
Insight, not just information - helping you to understand what the numbers mean and make decisions.

Scroll through or read our latest blog in full here:

https://accountingclarkes.com/blog/limited-company-director-heres-where-we-add-the-most-value/

Buy-to-let landlords - a quick reminder about the expenses you can claim against tax...Allowable expenses must be wholly...
15/10/2026

Buy-to-let landlords - a quick reminder about the expenses you can claim against tax...

Allowable expenses must be wholly and exclusively for the purpose of renting out the property, for example:

📌 General property maintenance and repairs (e.g. fixing a boiler, repainting between tenants)
📌 Utility bills (if paid by you): water, gas, electricity
📌 Insurance (e.g. building, contents and public liability)
📌 Letting agency fees/management fees
📌 Accountant’s fees

This list is not exhaustive!

The area of expenses which causes the most confusion with sole trader landlords is mortgage interest relief. Before April 2020, landlords could deduct mortgage interest from their rental income to reduce their taxable profits. This relief was phased out between 2017 and 2020.

Today, landlords cannot deduct mortgage interest from rental income. Instead, they receive a 20% tax credit on mortgage interest paid.

We explain how to calculate mortgage interest relief in more detail here: https://accountingclarkes.com/blog/what-expenses-can-a-buy-to-let-landlord-claim-against-tax/

A new testimonial has arrived, this time from one of our newest clients!Thank you, Denise, for your kind words:"Due to p...
13/10/2026

A new testimonial has arrived, this time from one of our newest clients!

Thank you, Denise, for your kind words:

"Due to personal recommendations, I have begun working with Accounting Clarkes following the retirement of my previous taxation advisor. Gillian has been my main point of contact, and I have been pleased with the strong communication, prompt responses and robust support/advice."

The team at Accounting Clarkes is personal, proactive and professional. We’re a close-knit team that brings together years of extensive industry qualifications and knowledge with our friendly and responsive nature.

We'd love to hear more about your business and how we could help you achieve your goals. Get in touch and book a discovery call today!

Running a limited company brings a different level of responsibility than being a sole trader. Statutory accounts, decis...
07/10/2026

Running a limited company brings a different level of responsibility than being a sole trader. Statutory accounts, decisions on how you pay yourself, and a structure that has to be maintained properly, not just set up and left alone.

In our latest blog, we've set out where we think a good accountant adds the most value for limited company directors, from getting the compliance basics right, through to the kind of tax planning and management reporting that actually helps you make decisions.

https://accountingclarkes.com/blog/limited-company-director-heres-where-we-add-the-most-value/

📢 Final call for new self-assessment clients! 📢As we mentioned last week, we are making great progress through the 2025/...
05/10/2026

📢 Final call for new self-assessment clients! 📢

As we mentioned last week, we are making great progress through the 2025/2026 self-assessment tax returns for our clients. We have limited availability for anyone who follows Accounting Clarkes and would like our assistance.

➡️ We officially close our books for new self-assessment clients on 31 October.

There's still time, but you must be quick. Email [email protected] or call 01252 612484 to book a discovery call.

Could you be our next client?We're looking for…➡️ landlords and sole traders getting to grips with Making Tax Digital, w...
01/10/2026

Could you be our next client?

We're looking for…
➡️ landlords and sole traders getting to grips with Making Tax Digital, who want it done properly, not left to the last minute
➡️ fellow Fleet-based* businesses, looking to work with a local accountant
➡️ small businesses looking for an experienced and proactive accountant to help them grow their business

If this sounds like you, we'd love to meet you! Call or email me at [email protected] to set up a meeting.

* We love working with businesses in the towns and villages surrounding Fleet too!

MTD is bringing some very specific challenges for landlords.Yes, MTD is changing a lot for the self-employed too, but fo...
28/09/2026

MTD is bringing some very specific challenges for landlords.

Yes, MTD is changing a lot for the self-employed too, but for landlords specifically, the learning curve might be steeper, and the impact more significant.

Here's why:

1. Implementing and working with software for the first time.
Many landlords have managed their properties through spreadsheets and paper records. Some might not have needed to track anything formally at all, but now they are having to adopt accounting software - something they have never used before.

2. Navigating more frequent reporting.
Instead of one tax return a year, landlords will now be working to quarterly deadlines. The admin burden quadrupled overnight!

3. Working out joint ownership calculations.
If a landlord jointly owns a property, they'll need to establish exactly what share of the income is theirs to declare.

4. Managing multiple properties.
For those with more than one property, they'll have to work out how to allocate expenses correctly, whether to a specific property or shared across the portfolio.

These changes aren't minor. They are going to have a real impact on landlords, and we know that there are still many out there, with their head in the sand about it all.

If you're a landlord, or you know one who could use some support with this, we'd love to talk. Get in touch, or pass this on to someone who needs it.

If you're a landlord exploring accountancy software options because of the introduction of MTD, you will need to invest ...
24/09/2026

If you're a landlord exploring accountancy software options because of the introduction of MTD, you will need to invest time exploring your software options. There are platforms designed specifically with landlords in mind (like Hammock). Many of the major plaforms, like Xero and FreeAgent, also remain solid choices for landlords - especially if they have self-employed income to factor in too.

The right software really does depend on your situation, which is exactly why it's worth exploring what's out there. Top tip - look out for free trials and get a feel for how the software works with your own numbers before deciding it's the right long-term fit.

If you're really stuck on where to start, come and have a conversation with us about what would suit you best.

A point we must emphasise… Even software built specifically for landlords still takes some getting used to, particularly if you've never used any accountancy software before. Give yourself time to learn it properly. It won’t become second nature straightaway. It is a significant change you’re adapting to (but you will get there!)

Take five minutes to read our latest article first.

https://accountingclarkes.com/blog/choosing-mtd-software-as-a-landlord-what-to-consider/

Address

Sentinel House
Fleet
GU512UZ

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+441252612484

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