Safe Hands for Your Annual Accounts and Tax Returns

Annual Accounts That Don’t Build Trepidation

You want to know you’re in safe hands. Annual accounts handled swiftly, effectively, without surprise. That’s the baseline, and we deliver it every time.

But here’s what most accountants won’t tell you: annual accounts alone, without regular review and goal setting, focus too much on the past. You spend the year working hard, only to discover months later what actually happened. That’s not good enough for ambitious businesses.

At FD Works, we believe in embracing the numbers to shape your business more than once a year. Our quarterly Health Checks mean you know your financial position throughout the year, not just at year-end. We move the conversation from “what happened last year” to “how do we want next year to look.”

Year-end becomes a confirmation of what you already know, not a reconstruction of what you’ve forgotten.

Year-End Accounts: More Than Compliance Theatre

What’s included in statutory annual accounts

Every limited company must file statutory annual accounts with Companies House. These include your profit and loss account (what you earned and spent), balance sheet (what you own and owe), directors’ report, and notes to the accounts.

Small companies can file abbreviated accounts to minimise public disclosure. FD Works prepares full accounts internally but files abbreviated where eligible, keeping your competitive information private whilst maintaining full compliance.

Filing deadlines and requirements

Two deadlines matter for every limited company:

• Companies House: File annual accounts within 9 months of your company year-end.
• HMRC Corporation Tax return: File within 12 months of your year-end. Payment is due 9 months and 1 day after year-end.

Late filing triggers automatic penalties from £150, escalating quickly for persistent late filing. FD Works tracks every deadline and prepares accounts well in advance. Our clients never face penalties.

The cost of poor year-end accounts

Late or inaccurate accounts create consequences beyond financial penalties. Banking relationships suffer when accounts are incomplete. Investor conversations stall without clean financials. HMRC investigations triggered by errors cost thousands to resolve.

Clean, timely annual accounts aren’t just compliance. They’re the foundation for growth planning, fundraising readiness, and strategic decision-making. Investors expect accurate financials. Lenders assess your accounts before approving facilities. Potential acquirers scrutinise your numbers before any conversation moves forward.

Your year-end accounts tell the story of your business. Make sure it’s accurate, timely, and strategically useful.

Corporation Tax: From Reactive Filing to Proactive Planning

What is Corporation Tax

Corporation Tax is the tax your limited company pays on profits. Current UK rates are 19% for profits up to £50,000, 25% for profits over £250,000, with marginal relief between those thresholds.

Payment is due 9 months and 1 day after your accounting year-end. The CT600 corporation tax return must be filed within 12 months.

Proactive tax planning throughout the year

Most accountants file your corporation tax return and move on. We take a fundamentally different approach.

FD Works plans your tax position throughout the year, not just at year-end:

• Capital allowances: Maximising deductions for equipment, vehicles, and technology purchases before year-end.
• R&D tax credits: Identifying eligibility and facilitating claims that many businesses overlook. R&D credits can be worth 20-25% of qualifying expenditure as cash back or Corporation Tax reduction.
• Corporation Tax forecasting: Know your liability months in advance so you plan cash flow accordingly. No scrambling, no surprises.
• Quarterly tax reviews: Adjust projections as your business evolves, rather than discovering your tax bill after year-end.

Tax planning informs your year-end accounts rather than simply following them. That’s the difference between reactive filing and proactive partnership. We stand in your corner to ensure you keep more of what you earn.

For growing businesses, the difference between reactive and proactive tax planning can amount to tens of thousands of pounds. Capital allowances claimed at the right time, R&D credits identified before year-end, and Corporation Tax liability forecast quarterly all contribute to a stronger financial position.

FD Works Corporation Tax calculators

Estimate your corporation tax liability using our Corporation Tax Calculator, or reverse-engineer the profit you need with our Profit Target Calculator. Both tools help you plan strategically, not just understand historically.

Real-Time Bookkeeping Means No Surprises at Year-End

Year-round bookkeeping = fast year-end close

Being on top of your records through year-round bookkeeping means we produce accounts quickly. Every transaction is categorised correctly as it happens. Bank reconciliation happens monthly, not annually.

You’re never scrambling for receipts or piecing together transactions from memory. When year-end arrives, your accounts are practically done. Year-end becomes confirmation, not chaos.

Tech stack that minimises your to-do list

Our tech stack minimises your to-do list. Xero gives you real-time cloud accounting with instant access to your numbers. Dext receipt capture means you snap a photo and we handle data extraction and categorisation. Automatic bank feeds eliminate manual entry entirely.

Everything is digital, MTD-compliant, and audit-ready. We handle configuration and maintenance. You focus on running your business.

We prepare accounts within weeks of year-end, not months. You control when to submit and when to pay Corporation Tax. We ensure you have accounts ready with plenty of lead time before any deadline.

This seamless integration between year-round bookkeeping and year-end accounts preparation is what makes our approach different. Annual accounts become the natural output of clean, accurate records maintained throughout the year, not a separate project requiring months of catch-up work.

Health Checks: Know Your Position More Often Than Once a Year

What are FD Works Health Checks?

Health Checks are quarterly strategic reviews that go well beyond compliance. We forecast your year-end profit and corporation tax liability, compare actuals against budget and goals, and identify issues before they become year-end problems.

Coupled with regular bookkeeping, Health Checks mean you feel in control of your current position throughout the year. If a business stands still, it’s going backwards. Quarterly monitoring keeps you moving forward with clarity and confidence.

This is how we unlock your ambition. Not through more paperwork, but through financial clarity that empowers bold decisions throughout the year.

How Health Checks transform year-end

• No surprises: Know your year-end profit forecast months in advance.
• Proactive tax planning: Maximise capital allowances and R&D tax credits before year-end, not after.
• Goal monitoring: Are you on track? Adjust quarterly rather than discovering the answer annually.
• Cash planning: Know your Corporation Tax bill months before payment is due.
• Strategic decisions: Budget for next year based on current performance, not last year’s history.

Benefits by business stage

• Start-ups and scaling (£85k-£500k): Build financial discipline and forecast your first year-end with confidence.
• Growing businesses (£500k-£1m): Quarterly goal tracking and proactive tax planning as profits increase.
• Established businesses (£1m+): Strategic planning for growth, R&D credits, and complex capital allowances.

Complete Compliance Plus Strategic Planning

Annual accounts and Corporation Tax returns are included as standard across all FD Works service tiers. No separate year-end invoices. No surprise bills. Accounts are the natural output of year-round bookkeeping, not a standalone event.

Optional add-ons

• R&D Tax Credit Claims: We facilitate claims with specialist partners, fee based on claim value.
• Abbreviated Accounts: Small company filing to minimise public disclosure, included where eligible.

Error protection: If we make a mistake, we pay any penalties. It’s never happened.

Straightforward Pricing, No Hidden Fees

FD Works doesn’t charge separately for year-end accounts. They’re included in monthly service tiers because annual accounts should be the natural output of year-round bookkeeping, not a stressful annual event with a surprise invoice.

Competitors typically charge £1,000-£3,000+ as a separate year-end fee on top of monthly bookkeeping costs. That’s the old model: do your books all year, then get a large invoice when accounts are due. Our approach is different. Continuous bookkeeping means fast, accurate year-end close with no surprise bills. You pay one monthly fee and year-end accounts are included because they’re the natural output of clean records.

What affects your monthly fee

• Business complexity (transaction volume, revenue streams, entities)
• Filing requirements (abbreviated vs full accounts, group structures)
• Additional compliance needs (R&D claims, international operations)
• Current state of records (year-round bookkeeping vs catch-up required)

Annual Accounts and Tax Returns: Your Questions Answered

When are annual accounts due?

Annual accounts must be filed with Companies House within 9 months of your company’s year-end. Corporation Tax returns are due within 12 months, with payment due 9 months and 1 day after year-end.

Late filing triggers automatic penalties starting at £150 from Companies House, escalating for persistent delays. FD Works tracks all deadlines and prepares accounts well in advance so you never face penalties.

What is included in statutory annual accounts?

Statutory accounts include a profit and loss account, balance sheet, directors’ report, and notes to the accounts. Small companies can file abbreviated accounts to minimise public disclosure.

FD Works prepares full accounts internally and files abbreviated where eligible, maintaining compliance whilst protecting your competitive information.

How much do accountants charge for annual accounts?

Accountants typically charge £1,000-£3,000+ as a separate year-end fee. Costs depend on business complexity, transaction volume, and whether bookkeeping records are current.

FD Works includes annual accounts in monthly service tiers, bundled with bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, and quarterly Health Checks. No separate year-end bills. Contact us for a quote.

What is Corporation Tax and when do I pay it?

Corporation Tax is the tax on limited company profits. Current rates are 19% (up to £50,000 profit) and 25% (over £250,000), with marginal relief between. Payment is due 9 months and 1 day after year-end.

FD Works forecasts your liability quarterly via Health Checks so you plan cash flow months in advance.

Can I prepare my own annual accounts?

Yes, with accounting knowledge and appropriate software. However, mistakes in accounts or Corporation Tax returns can trigger HMRC investigations costing thousands to resolve.

FD Works clients receive professional accounts, proactive tax planning, and quarterly forecasting included in their monthly service, often working out cheaper than DIY software plus the cost of your time.

What are R&D tax credits and am I eligible?

R&D tax credits reward companies for innovation, potentially worth 20-25% of qualifying expenditure. Eligibility includes developing new products, processes, or services that advance your industry.

Most companies underestimate their eligibility. FD Works identifies R&D opportunities during quarterly Health Checks and facilitates claims with specialist partners.

How long does it take to prepare annual accounts?

With current bookkeeping, accounts take two to four weeks to prepare. Without current records, preparation can stretch to two to three months or longer.

FD Works clients have real-time bookkeeping throughout the year via Xero, so year-end preparation typically completes within two to three weeks. You control submission timing.

What happens if I file annual accounts late?

Late Companies House filing triggers automatic penalties: £150 (up to one month late), £375 (one to three months), £750 (three to six months), £1,500 (over six months). Persistent late filing risks director disqualification and company strike-off.

FD Works maintains a 100% on-time filing record. Zero late filing penalties for our clients.

Ready to Stop Dreading Year-End?

Start-ups and scaling businesses (£85k-£500k)

Approaching your first year-end or tired of the annual scramble? The Organise tier includes annual accounts, Corporation Tax return, bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, and quarterly Health Checks. Year-end becomes confirmation, not reconstruction.

Growing businesses (£500k-£1m)

Want year-end profit visibility throughout the year? The Understand tier adds monthly management accounts and proactive tax planning. Never surprised by year-end again.

Established businesses (£1m+)

Complex tax planning, R&D credits, group structures, or growth strategy? The Advise tier delivers FD-level strategic support. Accounts and tax become growth tools, not compliance exercises.