Whether you are an electrical contractor, building contractor, finance contractor, IT contractor, consultant, health and safety consultant, SME consultant or general contractor or consultant we have the contractor accountant and contractor accounting package for you from as little as £10 per month.
Whether you are contracting long term or on a short term basis, Accounting Wise can make life simple for you by helping you with your accountancy and tax requirements.
Send invoices, chase payments and track balances with connected accounting software. Keep your records organised and share the figures your accountant needs throughout the year.
Choose accounts, tax returns, bookkeeping, VAT and payroll support around how you contract. Know your monthly fee, with services and any extras agreed before starting.
Get unlimited accounting support. Discuss business expenses, pay arrangements and changing circumstances, with specialist advice scoped separately when your contracts require it.
Keep track of agreed filing and tax payment dates with timely reminders. We explain what records we need, helping you prepare ahead while managing contracts.
Choose accounting support that fits how you contract. Select your business structure, then explore accounts, tax returns, bookkeeping, VAT and payroll services to build your quote and see your monthly fee.
Customer Reviews
Clear advice. Reliable support. Hear from our clients.
★★★★★ 5 out of 5
"Very helpful company and service. The cost is highly competitive and the installments make it a great option for traders looking balance their outgoings. This low cost doesn't impact the quality received. Easy onboarding, very clear systems in place for usage and excellent service when working out yearly tax. All done 6 months before deadlines. Very happy and will continue to have their support"
"Worked with Chris for a few years. He went above and beyond what I would have expected and helped me navigate a few tricky tax situations that saved me a lot of time and money. These guys are definitely worth the price. Great service and availability."
"I moved to Accounting Wise after issues with my previous accountant, Chris and the team have been fantastic since I joined, anything I've needed help with they have been more than accommodating, taking time to explain things I didn't know or hadn't been told, efficient and trustworthy which is exactly what I was looking for"
You’re free to leave whenever you like, we’re just confident you won’t want to. Come and go as you please, no lock-ins and no catch.
Contractor accounting services built around how you work
Your accounting needs depend on whether you contract through a limited company or as a sole trader. Choose the accounts and tax returns suited to your setup, then add bookkeeping, VAT or payroll support around your workload.
Keep your contract income and business costs clearly accounted for. We prepare accounts suited to your trading structure, explain the figures and agree any required filings, giving you a clearer view of your business performance.
If you contract through a limited company, we calculate taxable profits and prepare its Corporation Tax Return. Understand relevant expenses, allowances and payment dates, with the figures reviewed before submission and the work agreed upfront.
Keep invoices, receipts and bank transactions organised while you focus on client work. Choose software guidance or managed bookkeeping, with clear service limits, so your records stay useful during busy projects and gaps between contracts.
Get help with Self Assessment where required, whether you earn sole trader profits or receive company salary and dividends. We report income within your agreed scope, explain the calculation and help you plan for payments.
Get help with VAT registration, relevant schemes and returns using compatible accounting software. We explain the records and deadlines that apply to your contracting business, with ongoing filing support and additional work agreed in your quote.
If your business needs payroll, we handle agreed calculations, payslips and Real Time Information submissions to HMRC. Confirm director or employee numbers, pay frequency and pension support, with services matched to your structure and working arrangements.
Understand how your contracts and actual working practices can affect your tax position when operating through an intermediary. We discuss relevant IR35 questions and available review support, with the scope and any specialist advice agreed upfront.
Working in construction brings additional reporting requirements. Get support with relevant CIS registration, subcontractor verification, deductions and monthly returns, or recording deductions suffered as a subcontractor, with services agreed around your role and business needs.
Get started with the right business accounting solution today!
Qualified accountants. Practical advice for your contracting career.
Work with contractor accountants who understand the demands of client projects, changing workloads and business tax responsibilities. Our fixed-fee packages provide clearly agreed services, helping you keep accounts organised and make informed decisions about your finances. Our accountants hold a range of qualifications from the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). We are also an Institute of Certified Practising Accountants (ICPA) accredited firm.
Get contractor accounting support that works around your contracts
From client invoices and business expenses to accounts and tax returns, get practical support tailored to your contracting setup, workload and reporting responsibilities.
Begin with organised records and a clear understanding of your accounting responsibilities. We discuss your trading structure, relevant registrations and invoicing, helping you prepare for your first accounts and tax return with support suited to how you plan to contract.
Keep your company accounts and personal finances clearly separated. We help with agreed company filings, director payroll and personal tax returns, while explaining expenses, salary and dividends so you can plan around your contracts and understand the figures before filing.
Get accounting support for contract income earned through your sole trader business. We help organise records, review relevant expenses and prepare your agreed Self Assessment return, with VAT and Making Tax Digital support discussed where your circumstances require additional services.
Changing contracts and working arrangements
Review your accounting needs when a new contract changes how you work or get paid. We discuss the impact on your records, payroll and tax reporting, with relevant IR35 review support and any specialist advice agreed around your circumstances.
Move with a clear handover plan for your business records and tax work. We can liaise with your previous accountant, review available information and agree outstanding returns, with approaching deadlines and any additional costs identified before we begin work.
Taking a break between contracts
Keep your accounting responsibilities clear when client work pauses. We review your business status, ongoing transactions and outstanding returns, then discuss the support required during your break, with any changes to services and fees agreed before your package changes.
Contractor accounting that understands your sector
From consultancy to work on site, contracting brings different income patterns, expenses and reporting. We tailor support to your sector, trading structure and working arrangements, helping you keep clear records between assignments.
Whether you need to track project expenses, manage payroll or record subcontractor payments, we tailor services around you. Discuss IR35 considerations where relevant, or explore our CIS services for construction.
Get started with the right accounting solution today!
Stay Connected with Accounting Wise: Your go-to source for the latest updates in contractor accounting, UK business finance news, regulatory changes, and practical resources tailored to help companies stay compliant and financially healthy.
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A contractor accountant manages the accounts, tax returns and financial records around your contract work. Depending on your structure and package, that covers company accounts, Corporation Tax, Self Assessment, bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and CIS, with IR35 guidance on your working arrangements.
Our contractor accounting packages give you a dedicated accountant, accounting software and unlimited advice, so you can focus on clients and projects.
How much do contractor accounting services cost?
Accounting Wise contractor packages start from £10 per month, with 50% off our services for the first 6 months when you sign up to a Pre-Built or Bespoke package. Your fee depends on your structure, turnover and the services you add, such as VAT, payroll or CIS.
See contractor accounting pricing or build a quote with the package builder on this page. Your quote shows the services included, any limits and VAT on fees before you start.
Should I contract through a limited company or as a sole trader?
It depends on your clients, income, risk and how much administration you accept. A limited company is a separate legal entity with more filings and different ways to take income. A sole trader is simpler but is personally liable for the business and taxed on all profits through Self Assessment.
Limited company
Sole trader
Legal status
Separate legal entity
Not separate from you
Liability
Normally limited to the company
You are personally liable for business debts
How you are taxed
The company pays Corporation Tax; you pay personal tax on salary and dividends
You pay Income Tax and National Insurance on all profits
Main filings
Company accounts, Company Tax Return, confirmation statement, payroll if you pay a salary, and your Self Assessment
Self Assessment return
Public record
Companies House record
No Companies House record
Incorporating does not automatically reduce your tax bill. We can compare both for your contracts through our limited company and sole trader accounting services.
What are the key deadlines for contractors?
The main limited company deadlines are 9 months after your year end for Companies House accounts and Corporation Tax payment (9 months and 1 day), and 12 months for the Company Tax Return. Personal Self Assessment is due 31 January, and CIS monthly returns are due on the 19th.
Requirement
Who it applies to
Deadline
Annual accounts to Companies House
Limited company
9 months after the financial year end
Corporation Tax payment
Limited company
9 months and 1 day after the accounting period ends
Company Tax Return
Limited company
12 months after the accounting period ends
Self Assessment return and payment (online)
Sole traders and directors who need to file
31 January after the tax year ends
CIS monthly return
Construction contractors
19th of the month after each tax month (6th to 5th)
VAT registration
Sole traders and companies
When VAT taxable turnover goes over £90,000
We track the dates that apply to you and send reminders. Companies House also requires a confirmation statement each year, which is included in our limited company packages.
Can you help with IR35?
Yes. We discuss your working arrangements and the IR35 support available within your chosen package. A review considers both your contract terms and how you actually work, and no review can guarantee a particular tax status.
Formal contract reviews and any specialist advice are scoped and agreed before work starts. Speak to us about your contracts through contractor accounting.
Who decides whether my contract is inside or outside IR35?
For public-sector clients and medium or large private-sector clients, the client decides your employment status for tax. For small private-sector clients, your intermediary, usually your company, decides. The rules apply contract by contract, so different contracts can have different outcomes.
Does being inside IR35 remove my company’s accounting responsibilities?
No. A contract inside IR35 does not remove your company’s duty to keep records, file accounts and meet its tax obligations. It changes how payments for that contract are taxed, not whether your company needs an accountant.
Share the status determination, any deductions made and the payments received. We will establish the correct accounting treatment and the work your company still needs.
How should I take money from my contractor company: salary or dividends?
Most limited company contractors take a mix of salary and dividends. Dividends can only be paid from available profits, and they are taxed after a £500 dividend allowance at 10.75% (basic rate), 35.75% (higher rate) or 39.35% (additional rate) for 2026 to 2027.
The right balance depends on your income, other earnings and any off-payroll deductions. Use our take home pay calculator for an estimate, then speak to us. We can also explain director’s loans.
How much Corporation Tax will my contractor company pay?
For profits of £50,000 or less, the Corporation Tax rate is 19%. The main rate is 25% on profits over £250,000, and profits between those figures are taxed at an effective rate between the two, using marginal relief.
Yes. Our CIS return service covers registration, subcontractor verification, deductions and monthly returns, and recording deductions suffered if you are a subcontractor. The support depends on whether you are a contractor, subcontractor or both.
Monthly returns are due by the 19th of the following month, and a late return is charged a £100 penalty from the first day. CIS deductions are advance payments toward tax, not your final liability.
Are bookkeeping, VAT and payroll included?
They depend on the services you select. Software access is different from managed bookkeeping, and payroll may have limits on the number of directors or employees. Your quote sets out the work included, the service limits and any additional fees.
You can add or remove services as your contracts change. See VAT returns and payroll.
Do you help construction contractors with CIS?
Yes. Our CIS services can support relevant registration, subcontractor verification, deductions and monthly returns. We also help record deductions suffered by subcontractors. The work required depends on your role; CIS deductions are advance tax payments, rather than your final tax liability.
What information do you need to get started?
We usually need your business and tax details, recent accounts or returns, your accounting records and information about how you contract. Relevant documents can include contracts, status determinations and CIS statements.
We explain exactly what is needed for your agreed services and how to share it securely. If you are switching, we request the handover records from your previous accountant for you.
Switching Contractor Accountants Is Simple
1 Choose Your Package
Compare our contractor packages or build your own quote. Choose accounts, tax returns and any bookkeeping, VAT or payroll support you need, with services matched to your trading structure and monthly fees confirmed upfront.
2 Confirm Your Details
Sign up online or speak to our team. Tell us how you contract, your business setup and the support you need. We’ll confirm the agreed services, records required and a start date around your commitments.
3 We Arrange the Handover
We can contact your previous accountant, request relevant records and arrange HMRC authorisations. We’ll agree responsibility for outstanding accounts and returns, identify approaching deadlines and explain the next steps, helping you stay focused on your contracts.
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