Corporation tax

What this covers

A company's tax return is where good record-keeping turns into a number you actually pay. Most of the value is not in completing the CT600, it is in the decisions taken during the year: how capital spending is timed, which reliefs are available, how losses are used, and how you and your fellow directors take money out.

We prepare and file the return, and we tell you what we are claiming and why. Where there is a genuine planning opportunity we raise it. Where a scheme looks aggressive, we say so. Our view is that tax planning should still look sensible if HMRC opens an enquiry.

What you get

• CT600 preparation and filing, with iXBRL tagged accounts
• Capital allowances reviewed, including full expensing and the annual investment allowance
• R&D tax relief claims, with the report HMRC now expects
• Loss relief planning: carry back, carry forward and group relief
• Profit extraction modelled across salary, dividends and pension
• Associated company and marginal relief checks
• Payment timing and instalment obligations flagged in advance
• HMRC enquiries handled on your behalf

Profit extraction

For most owner-managed companies, the corporation tax return and the director's personal tax position are one question, not two. Taking a little more salary, a little less dividend or making an employer pension contribution can change the combined bill materially, and the right answer moves as rates and thresholds change. We model it each year rather than repeating last year's split out of habit.

R&D claims

R&D relief is worth real money to companies doing genuine development work, and HMRC has tightened its approach considerably. We will tell you honestly whether your work qualifies. If it does, we prepare the claim with the technical narrative and cost breakdown that is now expected. If it does not, we will say so rather than submit something that invites an enquiry.