Contractor Accountants in London for IR35 and Limited Companies
Keep your accounts, Corporation Tax, VAT, payroll, Self Assessment and Companies House filings under control with contractor accounting support built around the way you work.
Contracting can give you greater control over your income, but it also creates strict reporting duties. A missed filing, weak expense record or incorrect treatment of salary and dividends can quickly lead to penalties, cash-flow pressure and unwanted HMRC correspondence.
Pearl Lemon Accountants supports limited company contractors, consultants, freelancers and CIS professionals across London. We organise your records, monitor your deadlines and explain your liabilities in plain English, so you know what must be paid, what can be retained and what needs attention next.
Whether you work from a personal service company, manage several client contracts or need help assessing the accounting impact of an inside-IR35 engagement, you receive a clear service scope based on your company structure and reporting requirements.
Contractor Accounting That Covers Every Filing, Figure and Deadline
Your accounting service should do more than produce year-end accounts. It should keep your records current, show your expected liabilities and reduce the chance of avoidable surprises.
Limited Company Accounts Without the Year-End Scramble
Your limited company has separate obligations to Companies House and HMRC, even when your contract workload changes during the year.
We prepare statutory accounts, organise the supporting records and calculate the company’s Corporation Tax position. We also review director transactions, dividends, payroll entries and company expenses before the filing stage, helping prevent unresolved bookkeeping issues from carrying into the final accounts.
This service can include:
- Statutory annual accounts
- Corporation Tax calculations
- CT600 preparation and filing
- Companies House filing support
- Director’s loan account review
- Dividend record checks
- Confirmation statement reminders
Private limited companies normally file annual accounts nine months after the financial year ends, while the Company Tax Return is normally due 12 months after the Corporation Tax accounting period ends.
Outcome: Clearer year-end records, visible liabilities and fewer last-minute document requests.
IR35 Support Built Around the Contract and the Working Arrangement
IR35 cannot be assessed from a job title alone. The written terms, the end client, the party responsible for the status decision and the way the engagement operates in practice all matter.
We help you organise the accounting information connected to inside- and outside-IR35 engagements. This can include reviewing how engagement income enters your records, separating payroll-taxed income from limited company activity and identifying when a specialist contract or employment-status review may be required.
This service can include:
- Engagement-structure review
- Inside- and outside-IR35 income separation
- Status Determination Statement record checks
- Working-practice documentation
- Personal service company accounting
- Payroll and company obligation checks
- Referral for specialist status review where required
The off-payroll working rules are designed so that contractors working in a manner similar to employees pay broadly comparable Income Tax and National Insurance.
Outcome: Better organised records and a clearer understanding of the accounting duties attached to each engagement.
VAT Returns That Match Your Invoices and Bank Records
Crossing the VAT threshold or registering voluntarily introduces quarterly reporting, evidence and bookkeeping requirements that cannot be left until year-end.
We review taxable turnover, sales invoices, purchase records and VAT coding before preparing the return. Where your work involves overseas clients, mixed supplies or unusual billing arrangements, we identify areas requiring closer technical review before figures are submitted.
This service can include:
- VAT registration support
- Quarterly VAT return preparation
- Making Tax Digital record checks
- Input and output VAT reconciliation
- Flat Rate Scheme review
- Overseas-client transaction checks
- VAT control account reconciliation
The compulsory VAT registration threshold is currently more than £90,000 of taxable turnover, although a business may register voluntarily below that level.
Outcome: VAT returns supported by consistent records rather than rushed quarterly estimates.
Payroll, Director Pay and Dividend Records Kept in Order
Taking money from a limited company is not the same as withdrawing cash from a personal account.
Salary, dividends, expense reimbursements and director’s loan transactions each require the correct records and accounting treatment. We help maintain the payroll trail, review the company’s available position and prepare the supporting dividend documents where applicable.
This service can include:
- Director payroll
- PAYE and RTI submissions
- Salary record maintenance
- Dividend vouchers
- Board-minute support
- Director’s loan monitoring
- Year-end payroll checks
We explain the difference between company cash, accounting profit and funds that may be available for distribution. This helps you avoid treating every bank balance as personal spending money.
Outcome: Cleaner director records and fewer unexplained withdrawals at year-end.
Bookkeeping That Shows What the Company Can Afford
A healthy bank balance can be misleading when VAT, Corporation Tax, payroll deductions and upcoming costs have not been separated.
We organise your sales, purchases and bank activity throughout the year. Transactions are classified consistently, missing documents are identified early and outstanding balances are reviewed before they become year-end problems.
This service can include:
- Bank reconciliation
- Sales and purchase coding
- Receipt and invoice checks
- Expense-category review
- Debtor and creditor monitoring
- Monthly bookkeeping
- Accounting software support
The bookkeeping process can also create a rolling view of tax provisions and operating cash, helping you plan around quieter periods, contract gaps and time away from client work.
Outcome: A more reliable picture of available cash and upcoming liabilities.
Self Assessment and Contractor Expense Reviews
Your personal tax return may need to include salary, dividends, benefits, savings income, property income or income from additional freelance work.
We collect the relevant records, prepare the return and explain the resulting liability. We also review contractor expenses against the business purpose, evidence and working arrangement rather than relying on broad assumptions.
This service can include:
- Self Assessment preparation
- Salary and dividend reporting
- Additional income reporting
- Payment-on-account calculations
- Business expense review
- Mileage and travel records
- Professional subscription checks
Common areas requiring attention include equipment, software, insurance, training, home working, business travel and temporary workplace rules. Eligibility always depends on the circumstances and supporting evidence.
Outcome: A return based on documented income and expenses, with the payment position explained before the deadline.
Put Your Next Accounting Deadline on the Calendar
Tell us your company structure, current software and next filing date. We will identify the services that need immediate attention and provide a written scope.
Contractor Feedback That Speaks to the Work That Matters
Moving accountants midway through the company year had been sitting on my to-do list for months. The handover structure made it clear which records were needed, which filings were approaching and which bookkeeping entries required correction. I finally had one view of VAT, Corporation Tax and company cash rather than three separate estimates.
My income came from a mixture of limited company work and an inside-IR35 assignment, which made my records difficult to follow. The accounting review separated the income streams and clarified what still needed to be completed through the company. The explanations were straightforward and focused on the figures I needed for planning.
My CIS deductions, travel records and equipment purchases had been stored across emails, spreadsheets and bank statements. The records were reorganised into a monthly process that was much easier to maintain. By year-end, the supporting documents were already in place rather than being chased weeks before filing.
London contracting can be full-on, especially when a project closes just before Christmas and the paperwork follows you into the bank holiday period. Having the bookkeeping and expected liabilities visible meant I could take time off without wondering what had been missed. The process felt properly sorted from the first review.
No more faffing about with scattered receipts and mystery tax figures. Everything was properly sorted, clearly explained and ready before the deadline.
Contractor Accounting Across London's Main Business Districts
From the Square Mile to Greater London, we support contractors working with finance, technology, consultancy, creative and construction clients.
City of London
Accounting support for finance, insurance, compliance, cyber, risk and programme contractors working across the Square Mile.
Canary Wharf
Company accounts, VAT and payroll support for contractors serving banks, fintech firms, professional services groups and major corporate clients.
Shoreditch and Old Street
Bookkeeping and limited company support for software developers, product consultants, designers, marketers and other digital specialists.
Holborn and Chancery Lane
Access contractor accounting support close to our central London office, with online and office-based consultations subject to availability.
King's Cross and Camden
Accounting support for contractors working with technology firms, research groups, agencies, universities and growing professional-services companies.
Westminster and Greater London
Tax-return, company-account and expense support for consultants, public-sector contractors and independent professionals working across the capital.
Contractor accounting planned around the way London projects actually work.
London contracts often move quickly. A project may finish before the August bank holiday, a client may close its finance team over Christmas, or a new engagement may begin immediately after Easter.
Those gaps can delay timesheets, purchase orders, invoices and document approvals. We help you prepare before holiday periods so that VAT returns, payroll submissions and year-end records are not left waiting for a client contact to return.
Whether you are based in the City, north of the river, south London or further out in the commuter belt, your bookkeeping and filings can be handled online. Where an office meeting is appropriate, our Chancery Lane location provides a central option close to Holborn and the City.
A Clear Route From Scattered Records to Filed Accounts
Every stage follows an agreed process so responsibilities, deadlines and financial records remain clear from the outset.
-
1
Review
We assess your company structure, current records, software, income sources and upcoming deadlines.
-
2
Scope
You receive a written service outline covering the filings, bookkeeping work and responsibilities included.
-
3
Transfer
We collect the required records and, where applicable, manage professional clearance with your previous accountant.
-
4
Complete
Your bookkeeping, returns, accounts and supporting documents are prepared according to the agreed timetable.
-
5
Report
You receive an explanation of completed filings, expected liabilities, missing actions and the next reporting dates.
Accounting Support Built for the Way Contractors Actually Work
Project gaps, changing day rates, mixed engagements and irregular payment dates require more than a standard year-end routine.
One View of Every Deadline
We organise Companies House, Corporation Tax, VAT, payroll and Self Assessment dates into one reporting schedule.
Contractor-Specific Record Checks
Your review can cover contracts, invoices, expenses, director payments, dividend records and engagement-specific income.
Written Service Responsibilities
You receive a clear scope showing what we prepare, what you must provide and which work may require a separate specialist.
Support Through Contract Gaps
Liability forecasts and current bookkeeping help you assess company cash before quieter periods, summer leave or the Christmas shutdown.
London and Remote Access
Work with the team online or arrange a central London consultation from our Chancery Lane office, subject to availability.
Clear Accounting Explanations
We explain the figures without burying the answer under technical language, so you can act on deadlines and payment requirements.
Expertise Checklist
- Limited company annual accounts
- Corporation Tax returns
- Contractor bookkeeping
- VAT and Making Tax Digital
- Director payroll
- Dividend documentation
- Self Assessment
- CIS record reviews
- Inside- and outside-IR35 income separation
- Accountant handovers
- Cloud accounting software
- Filing and payment schedules
Contractor Accounting Questions Answered Clearly
The cost depends on your company structure, VAT status, payroll requirements, bookkeeping volume, Self Assessment position and whether catch-up work is required. You should receive a written quote that lists the included filings, meeting allowance, software responsibilities and any separately charged work.
A limited company package may include annual accounts, the Corporation Tax return, confirmation statement support, director payroll, dividend records, bookkeeping, VAT returns and personal Self Assessment. Not every contractor requires every service, so the final scope should reflect the company’s actual activity.
Yes, subject to the normal professional-clearance process and availability of your records. The transfer may include requesting prior accounts, tax returns, working papers, HMRC authorisations and accounting software access. We will also review immediate deadlines before the handover is treated as complete.
We can account for income connected to both types of engagement and help keep the records separated. A formal employment-status or legal opinion may require a specialist review beyond routine accounting work. The required service will be explained before work begins.
The IR35 position depends on more than the wording of the contract. Working practices, client responsibilities and the applicable off-payroll rules also matter. We can review the accounting impact and arrange or recommend a specialist status assessment where the engagement requires one.
An umbrella company usually operates payroll for the umbrella engagement, but you may still require Self Assessment support if you have other income, a limited company, property income, dividends or additional tax-reporting obligations. Your circumstances should be reviewed before assuming no return is required.
Compulsory registration normally applies when taxable turnover exceeds the current registration threshold or is expected to exceed it under HMRC’s forward-looking test. The current threshold is more than £90,000, but registration timing and taxable-turnover calculations should be checked against current HMRC guidance.
Keep client contracts, sales invoices, business bank statements, purchase invoices, receipts, mileage records, payroll documents, dividend records, VAT records and relevant correspondence. Records should show the business purpose of an expense rather than relying only on the payment description.
Yes. The first step is to identify the outstanding periods, statutory deadlines, missing records and any returns already submitted. Catch-up work should be quoted separately from ongoing accounting because the volume and condition of the records can vary considerably.
List only the platforms currently supported by Pearl Lemon Accountants. The final answer should state which subscriptions are included, whether migration is available and who is responsible for maintaining bank feeds and document uploads.
Online consultations are suitable for most accounting work. Where an office meeting is required, appointments may be available from our Chancery Lane location. Confirm current availability before travelling to the office.
We review your working structure, company status, existing accountant, current software, bookkeeping condition and next deadlines. The purpose is to identify the required accounting work and prepare a written service scope, not to provide an unsupported answer before the relevant records have been reviewed.
Put Your Contractor Accounts on a Clear Timetable
Your company should not reach the filing deadline with unreconciled transactions, missing receipts and an unknown tax bill.
Book a consultation with Pearl Lemon Accountants to review your company structure, current accounting records and upcoming obligations. We will identify which filings require attention, which documents are missing and which services belong in your written scope.
Whether you are working through a limited company in Canary Wharf, consulting from Shoreditch, managing construction projects across Greater London or serving clients remotely, the next step is the same: establish the deadlines and organise the records before pressure builds.
