One of my favourite moments in this job?
When clients are totally relaxed with the January deadline
No drama
No scramble
No "how am I going to find that by Friday."
Just a shrug
Because they already knew
They'd known since the autumn
That's what proper tax planning looks like - and it's something every SME owner deserves
Here's the reality: the self-assessment deadline is the finish line, not the starting gun
By the time January arrives, the work should already be done
The liability should be known, budgeted for and completely unsurprising
The clients I work with don't get nasty shocks in January
Why?
Because we start the conversation now - in May, when the 2025/26 tax year has just closed, the records are fresh and there's no pressure bearing down
That gives us time to review the numbers properly
To ensure all allowable expenses are captured
To consider whether Payments on Account need adjusting
To plan ahead rather than react
The 31st January 2027 deadline sounds distant
It isn't
SME owners who leave things to December are the ones facing late nights, rushed figures and unwelcome surprises
Those who engage early are the ones with clarity, control and options
If you run your own business and you haven't yet sat down with your accountant to review 2025/26 - now is exactly the right time to do that.
Feel free to get in touch
That's what we're here for!
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