Location: Ipswich, UK

Category: Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping, Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

Could VT be the right software for you?

I love VT. I’ve used it right from when I first became self-employed. Other bookkeeping software has come on to the market, which on the face of it might seem like an improvement. Maybe it’s cloud-based, or has the facility to connect to my bank and download transactions directly into the software. Yet still I…
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Who is VT bookkeeping software suitable for?

If you’re looking for an easy way to transition from spreadsheets to software, VT may be the answer. VT Cash Book is a brilliant free option for people who keep cash basis accounts and still complete a Self Assessment Tax Return. You can also use the software to keep track of your personal finances. The…
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I’ve missed the Making Tax Digital deadline. What do I do?

From September 2026, HMRC are going to start auto-enrolling anyone who they believe should be in the new Making Tax Digital tax system who hasn’t signed up voluntarily. The disadvantage of HMRC signing you up is that you lose the opportunity to check the business and rental property details that HMRC hold about you. There…
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I don’t understand what my software has done

“I don’t understand what my software has done but I’m sure the figures are wrong” – a statement I have encountered more than once over the last couple of months. With the first Making Tax Digital filing deadline only 10 days away now, it’s crucial that you feel able to trust the software or app…
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Does your bookkeeping system make you feel like you’re stuck in the mud?

𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗱? Have you been ploughing on with the same old package or spreadsheet for years? Or have you recently subscribed to a new software package that just doesn’t seem to be working for you? Using software that doesn’t suit you or…
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Image by Laurin Steffens on Unsplash

How to choose bookkeeping software – case study 1

Earlier this month I met with a lady who has kindly agreed to be a bookkeeping case study for me. We discussed the nature of her business, how she currently keeps her receipts and records, and any other software she uses in running her business. We started by looking at what she’s doing currently: keeping…
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Transition from Self Assessment to Making Tax Digital

My aim is to make your transition from Self Assessment to Making Tax Digital as smooth and painless as possible. Minimum cost. Minimum upheaval. If you’re happy using spreadsheets, and your spreadsheets contain the information HMRC needs, you don’t need to use bookkeeping software to comply with Making Tax Digital. All you need is bridging…
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Software needs to work for you, your accountant and HMRC

Making Tax Digital is a big change for everyone. The challenge is to find a solution that works for everyone – 𝘆𝗼𝘂 (as the business owner), 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 and 𝗛𝗠𝗥𝗖. I read a post recently about how accountants need to be looking for efficiencies in Making Tax Digital (MTD) by streamlining processes and making use…
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Is my software testing journey at an end?

Making Tax Digital is here now. Does that mean my software testing journey is at an end? Absolutely not! Some software is still in development; other software providers have only recently made their Making Tax Digital for Income Tax features available. 𝗩𝗧 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 is a UK-based company offering free and low-cost bookkeeping software. Their paid-for…
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Why I’m moving from compliance towards training

For the last 17 years, I’ve been self-employed running my own accountancy practice. Here’s why I’m scaling back the amount of “done-for-you” compliance work that I do. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax has been on the cards for 8 years now. That’s given me plenty of time…
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