Ask Cassie

Straight answers to the financial questions business owners actually ask — written and reviewed by the CASS team.

Categories

• Bookkeeping & Xero — Keeping the records straight, and getting Xero doing the work it should.
• Tax, VAT & MTD — What has to be reported, when, and what Making Tax Digital changes.
• Payroll & Pensions — Paying people correctly, and the duties that come with it.
• Management Accounts & Cash Flow — Knowing where the business stands, early enough to act on it.
• Outsourced Finance & Finance Directors — When a business needs more than a bookkeeper, and what that looks like.
• Solicitors' & Conveyancers' Accounts — Client account, the SRA Accounts Rules, the CLC Accounts Code and legal cashiering in practice.
• Working with CASS — What it costs and what moves the price, how switching works, onboarding and the first 90 days, and who does the work.

Questions

• Are you a Xero Platinum Partner?

  Yes. CASS is a Xero Platinum Partner, which reflects the volume of work we do in Xero and our experience supporting businesses that use it. It also means we can offer preferential pricing through CASS under our current subscription arrangements, confirmed with the VAT treatment and terms before you proceed. Taking a Xero subscription through CASS does not create an accounting engagement. Any additional services and support will be agreed separately.

• Can CASS deal with HMRC about VAT?

  Yes, once authorised, we can communicate with HMRC about your VAT affairs within the scope of our engagement.

• Can CASS help me start a business?

  Yes. We can help with structure, registration, Xero, record keeping, tax responsibilities and the financial processes needed from day one.

• Can CASS help with more than one company?

  Yes. We can support several companies or connected businesses and help organise reporting across the group.

• Can CASS manage MTD if I’m not confident using accounting software?

  Yes. We can discuss a service where CASS maintains the agreed records and prepares MTD submissions, with suitable authorisation and your approval where required. You still need to provide complete information and answer queries, but we can agree a practical way to send documents and explain what is needed. Availability and scope are confirmed in your proposal, including any ongoing bookkeeping requirement.

• Can CASS manage my MTD submissions?

  Yes. We can help set up the records, maintain the bookkeeping and complete the required submissions as part of an agreed service.

• Can CASS prepare and submit my VAT returns?

  Yes. We can prepare your VAT return from your accounting records, review it and submit it to HMRC with your approval.

• Can CASS prepare my Self Assessment tax return?

  Yes. We can prepare and submit your Self Assessment return, calculate the tax due and explain the payment dates. Personal tax work — Self Assessment and MTD for Income Tax — is available alongside our ongoing monthly bookkeeping, because it depends on the records and oversight that service provides. Our pricing tool explains the requirement and we confirm what's available to you on your Discovery Call.

• Can CASS prepare my limited company year-end accounts?

  Yes. We assess whether we can support your business based on its circumstances, complexity and the work required. We prepare the statutory accounts, explain the results and file what is required with Companies House and HMRC. Company accounts are available alongside our ongoing monthly bookkeeping, because they depend on the records and regular oversight that service provides — our pricing tool explains the requirement, and we confirm the available combination on your Discovery Call.

• Can CASS provide references or financial information for a lender?

  We can discuss providing factual financial information, references or document certification where we hold sufficient reliable information. Acceptance depends on the lender's requirements and whether we're authorised and appropriately qualified to provide what they need — please send us their requirements before assuming we can sign. Additional work or third-party forms may carry a separate fee.

• Can CASS speak directly to HMRC for me?

  Yes, once the necessary authority is in place, we can communicate with HMRC about the areas we are engaged to handle.

• Can CASS tell me whether MTD applies to me?

  Yes. We can review your qualifying income and circumstances and explain when you are expected to join.

• Can CASS work with my business remotely?

  Yes. Most of our services can be delivered remotely using Xero and secure cloud technology, with telephone, email and online meeting support whenever needed.

• Can Cassie arrange a conversation with CASS?

  Yes. Cassie can guide you to the Let's Talk enquiry process so the team can learn more about your business.

• Can Cassie give me personal tax advice?

  No. Cassie gives general information from our answer library, not advice for your circumstances, and it cannot make personalised tax, investment or pension recommendations. For advice on your own position, speak to the CASS team — and please don't share personal reference numbers or bank details in the chat.

• Can Cassie recommend which CASS service I need?

  Cassie can explain the available services and help narrow down what may be relevant, but the CASS team will confirm the right package after speaking with you.

• Can I add services later?

  Yes. Your support can be reviewed and adjusted as your business changes or grows.

• Can I arrange a payment plan with HMRC, and what information will they need?

  You may be able to agree a Time to Pay arrangement with HMRC. They will want to understand what you owe, why you cannot pay and what you can realistically afford. Approval is not automatic, and interest normally continues on overdue tax.

• Can I be exempt from MTD for Income Tax?

  Some exemptions may be available, including where it is not reasonable or practical to use digital tools. HMRC decides exemption applications, and we can help you understand the process.

• Can I buy my Xero subscription through CASS?

  Yes. We hold the subscription and bill you for it at our preferential pricing through CASS. We'll confirm the current price, VAT treatment and subscription terms before you proceed, along with your access arrangements and how a future handover would work. Taking a Xero subscription through CASS does not create an accounting engagement. Any additional services and support will be agreed separately.

• Can I call with quick questions?

  Yes. Routine questions about your agreed services are included, so you can ask without worrying about a separate charge for every conversation, and you'll have a named day-to-day contact with support from the wider team when they're unavailable. We respond during office hours. If your question needs investigation, we'll explain the next step and give you an expected response time. For urgent matters, please call us and explain the deadline. Anything that turns into a piece of work outside your engagement we'll tell you about first.

• Can I cancel or change my service package?

  Yes. If your needs change, speak to your usual CASS contact and we'll review your support with you. Your letter of engagement sets out the notice required to end the arrangement and how any outstanding fees or work in progress are handled. We explain these terms before you sign. Where annual services are paid for monthly, any applicable fee adjustment follows those agreed terms, and we agree any changes to your services and fees in writing.

• Can I change accountant part-way through my financial year?

  Yes. We will agree what information is needed and who is responsible for any work already under way.

• Can I change my Xero plan later?

  Yes. Xero plans can generally be changed as your business needs develop, subject to the features and terms available at the time.

• Can I change plan later?

  Yes, up or down, as the business changes. We'll review it with you rather than let you drift onto the wrong plan — and if your volumes have dropped, we'll tell you to downgrade.

• Can I charge my company interest on money I’ve lent it?

  Yes, you can charge interest on money you lend your company. The company normally deducts basic-rate Income Tax from interest paid to you and accounts for it to HMRC using CT61. You report the gross interest and tax deducted as part of your personal tax position.

• Can I choose only the services I need?

  Yes — we build your support around what your business needs. Some services are available only alongside our ongoing monthly bookkeeping, because they depend on the records and regular oversight that service provides. Where this applies, our pricing tool explains the requirement, and we confirm what's available to you, what's included and any minimum fees on your Discovery Call before setting it out in your written proposal.

• Can I claim 100% tax relief on a new electric car?

  A qualifying new and unused zero-emission car can receive a 100% first-year allowance. HMRC's current guidance covers purchases before April 2027. This is a separate allowance because cars do not qualify for AIA.

• Can I claim AIA on equipment bought through hire purchase?

  Qualifying equipment bought on hire purchase can be eligible. Once you start using it, relief can generally cover the capital payments under the contract, including future instalments. Interest is excluded from AIA.

• Can I claim AIA on second-hand equipment?

  Yes, second-hand plant and machinery can qualify for Annual Investment Allowance. AIA does not generally require equipment to be new, unlike some other allowances. The asset, purchase circumstances and available allowance still need checking; cars and certain non-purchase or connected-party situations have separate restrictions.

• Can I claim business expenses incurred before I started trading?

  Some qualifying revenue expenses incurred within seven years before trading starts can be relieved when the trade begins. The usual business expense conditions still apply. Assets, stock, advance payments and costs paid personally for a later company may need different treatment.

• Can I claim expenses for working from home?

  You may be able to, but the rules differ for sole traders and company directors or employees. Sole traders can consider an appropriate business share of actual costs or simplified expenses where eligible. A company’s reimbursement of homeworking costs follows different rules from an employee’s personal tax-relief claim. The claim should reflect the applicable rules and evidence. CASS can check which method fits your circumstances.

• Can I claim for meals, entertaining clients or staff events?

  These are different types of spending. Meals during qualifying business travel may be allowable, while an ordinary lunch is not automatically a business expense. Client entertaining is generally not deductible for tax, even when it has a business purpose. Staff events can have different expense, VAT and benefit rules. Keep details of the purpose and attendees so CASS can assess the correct treatment.

• Can I claim tax relief for training courses or professional qualifications?

  Training can qualify, but the rules differ for self-employed people and employer-funded training. Consider how the course relates to the existing business or employment, who pays and whether personal benefits are involved. A course being useful or awarding a qualification does not settle the tax treatment.

• Can I claim tax relief on a bad debt?

  You may get tax relief where a genuine business debt included in taxable income becomes irrecoverable, but the rules depend on how your business is taxed. Cash basis businesses generally cannot deduct an unpaid sale they never included as income. VAT bad debt relief is a separate claim with its own conditions.

• Can I contact you with a quick Xero question?

  Where Xero support is part of your agreed services, yes — routine questions are included and you can ask your named contact. We respond during office hours. If your question needs investigation, we'll explain the next step and give you an expected response time. For urgent matters, please call us and explain the deadline. Training or a larger piece of configuration work is quoted separately, and we'll say so before starting.

• Can I continue trading during the migration?

  Usually, yes. We will plan the work to minimise disruption and explain any temporary steps required during the changeover.

• Can I do my own bookkeeping?

  You can do your own bookkeeping if you understand the records required, keep them current and are confident that VAT and accounting treatments are being handled correctly.

• Can I employ my partner or another family member?

  Yes, where they genuinely work for the business. The role, pay and records should reflect the work performed, and normal employer responsibilities still apply. Paying a family member does not automatically make the cost tax deductible or remove payroll obligations.

• Can I get a price for bookkeeping, VAT and year-end accounts?

  Yes, and without waiting for a callback. The package builder asks a handful of questions about your business — turnover, how many transactions, whether you are VAT registered, whether there is payroll — and gives you an indicative monthly price for that combination on the spot. You can change the mix and watch the price move. Prices shown are plus VAT. The figure on the pricing page is indicative, based on the information you give us: we verify the scope on your Discovery Call and confirm your fee in a written proposal before any work begins. For complex cases we may need a conversation before quoting.

• Can I get the Xero discount without becoming a client?

  Yes. You can take a Xero subscription through CASS at our preferential pricing without taking any bookkeeping, accounts or other accounting services from us. We'll confirm the current price, VAT treatment and subscription terms before you proceed. Taking a Xero subscription through CASS does not create an accounting engagement. Any additional services and support will be agreed separately.

• Can I meet the CASS team in person?

  Yes. In-person meetings can be arranged where appropriate, alongside telephone and online meetings.

• Can I put my own money into the business and repay myself later?

  Yes. If you lend money to your limited company, record it properly as a loan so the amount owed to you is clear. Repayment of the loan principal is different from salary or a dividend and is generally not income in your hands. Charging interest creates additional tax and reporting requirements. Repayment should also be considered alongside the company’s ability to meet its other obligations.

• Can I reclaim VAT if a customer doesn’t pay me?

  You may qualify for VAT bad debt relief if you have already accounted for VAT on the sale and meet the conditions. These generally include writing off the debt in your records and waiting at least six months from the later of the payment due date and supply date. Under VAT Cash Accounting, unpaid sales normally have not generated output VAT to reclaim. CASS can check eligibility and timing.

• Can I reclaim VAT on business expenses?

  Normally only once you are VAT registered, and then only on eligible business costs with a valid VAT invoice or other suitable evidence. Some costs are blocked or restricted, business entertainment and most cars among them, and special schemes change what you can recover. Keep the paperwork and we will tell you what qualifies.

• Can I reclaim VAT on buying or leasing a car or van?

  The VAT rules differ for cars and commercial vehicles. VAT on buying a car is usually blocked unless a specific exception applies. Car lease VAT is normally restricted where private use is allowed. A van may qualify for recovery, but business use, VAT registration and the invoice still matter.

• Can I reclaim VAT on expenses before I register?

  Sometimes. Once registered you may be able to recover VAT on goods you still hold and on certain services bought before registration, within the time limits HMRC sets and with suitable evidence. It depends on what was bought, when, and whether it is used for your taxable business — send us the list and we will work through it on your first return.

• Can I register for VAT voluntarily?

  Yes. Voluntary registration can be helpful in some circumstances, but it also creates additional responsibilities. We can help you weigh up the advantages and disadvantages.

• Can I take dividends if there isn’t enough profit?

  No. Dividends must be supported by available distributable profits, taking account of accumulated losses and tax. Money in the bank is not the same as profit available for dividends. The company must also follow the required approval and record-keeping procedures. If you have already taken money without sufficient profits, ask for advice promptly rather than simply labelling the withdrawal a dividend.

• Can I transfer my existing Xero subscription to you?

  Usually, yes — this is a billing transfer rather than a data migration: your organisation, history, bank feeds, users and settings stay where they are. We check the existing subscription arrangements, permissions and any approvals needed before proceeding, and confirm your access arrangements and how a future handover would work. Your business records remain yours.

• Can I use Xero on my phone?

  Yes. Xero provides mobile apps for a range of everyday tasks, although some functions are easier to complete in the full browser version.

• Can Xero automate my bookkeeping?

  Bank feeds, bank rules, repeating invoices and document capture can remove a lot of repetitive bookkeeping. Integrations can automate more of the workflow where the business needs them.

• Can Xero connect to other apps?

  Yes. Xero connects with many third-party applications for document capture, payments, expenses, reporting and industry-specific processes.

• Can Xero handle multiple currencies?

  Selected Xero plans include multi-currency features. We will check whether this is needed when recommending a plan.

• Can Xero produce invoices?

  Yes. You can create and send branded sales invoices, track whether they are paid and send reminders.

• Can Xero replace every business system?

  No. Xero is the accounting core, but some businesses also need specialist systems for stock, projects, practice management, ecommerce or other operations.

• Can Xero report separately on projects and funding streams?

  Yes. Suitable tracking categories, account codes and reporting can help separate income and costs by project or funding stream. Shared costs need a sensible, documented allocation method, and transactions must be coded consistently. Standard project reports do not automatically provide complete charity fund accounting or statutory accounts. CASS can assess the reporting you need and whether additional tools or schedules are required.

• Can Xero run payroll?

  Xero offers payroll features in the UK, with employee limits and functionality depending on the subscription. We can advise on the right setup.

• Can Xero track bills I need to pay?

  Yes. Supplier bills can be entered, approved and monitored so you can see what is due and when.

• Can Xero training be delivered online?

  Yes. Remote training allows us to work directly in your setup while sharing screens and demonstrating practical tasks.

• Can a CIC claim Gift Aid on donations?

  A CIC cannot claim Gift Aid simply because it has a community purpose. CICs are not charities, and Gift Aid is available to eligible charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs under the relevant conditions. Receiving a donation does not automatically make it tax free.

• Can a charity’s trading activities create tax or VAT obligations?

  Yes. Charity status does not make every sale tax exempt or VAT free. Treatment depends on the activity, the applicable exemptions and how profits are used. Some activities may need a separate trading company, so review the arrangement before it becomes substantial.

• Can a director join a workplace pension?

  A director can participate in a pension, but automatic-enrolment duties for directors depend on the company's circumstances and whether the director is treated as a worker for these purposes.

• Can an outsourced finance team replace an internal accounts department?

  A good outsourced finance team can cover bookkeeping, payroll, reporting, compliance and senior finance support without those roles being employed directly. For a growing SME, that can provide more breadth than one internal hire.

• Can bookkeeping help me understand my cash flow?

  Yes. Accurate, current bookkeeping gives you a much clearer picture of what is owed, what needs paying and how much cash is really available.

• Can my accountant see my Xero account?

  Xero allows you to invite your accountant or bookkeeper as a user so you can both work from the same accounting data. Access can be controlled through user permissions.

• Can my business pay for my mobile phone and internet?

  It can, but the tax treatment depends on your business structure, who holds the contract and how the service is used. A sole trader generally claims the business proportion of mixed costs. For a limited company, an employer-provided phone can be treated differently from reimbursing a personal contract. Broadband has its own conditions. Send CASS the contract details before assuming the whole bill is tax deductible or tax free.

• Can my limited company pay into my pension?

  Yes, a limited company can make employer contributions to a registered pension scheme. These may reduce its taxable profits where the business expense rules are met. They also count towards your pension allowance checks, so the amount and timing should be reviewed before payment.

• Can owning another company affect my Corporation Tax calculation?

  Yes. Companies under common control can be associated, which may reduce the profit limits used for the small profits rate and marginal relief. The answer depends on control, activity and timing, so tell your accountant about other companies before relying on the standard thresholds.

• Can payments on account be reduced?

  They may be reduced if your income or tax liability is genuinely expected to fall, but reducing them too far can lead to interest. We can help estimate a sensible amount.

• Can pension contributions affect my Child Benefit tax charge?

  Yes. Eligible pension contributions can reduce adjusted net income, which is used to calculate the High Income Child Benefit Charge. For relief-at-source contributions, the relevant deduction is normally the gross contribution, including basic-rate relief. Do not deduct contributions twice if their effect is already reflected in taxable pay. The charge also depends on your partner’s income and the Child Benefit received.

• Can purchase invoices be approved before they are paid?

  Yes. You can set up a process where the appropriate person checks the supplier, goods or services, amount and coding before payment. Tools such as Dext, Apron and ApprovalMax can support approval workflows connected to Xero, subject to the plans and configuration used. Invoice approval and payment authorisation are separate controls. CASS can help assess a suitable workflow, with your business retaining the agreed approval responsibilities.

• Can several people access Xero?

  Yes. You can invite users and give them access appropriate to their role. They call be logged in and working at the same time

• Can shareholders receive different amounts of dividends?

  They can where their holdings and share rights support it. Dividends are not simply allocated according to who needs the money. Check the company’s articles, share classes and available profits before approving different payments, particularly where family members are shareholders.

• Can training be delivered remotely?

  Yes, either remotely or in person.

• Can two separate businesses be treated as one for VAT registration?

  Yes, in some circumstances. HMRC can examine whether a business has been artificially separated to avoid VAT registration. Different names, bank accounts or legal entities do not settle the question, but genuinely independent businesses are not automatically combined.

• Can you advise on VAT for overseas sales or purchases?

  Yes, although international VAT can be complex. We will review the facts and may recommend specialist advice where necessary.

• Can you advise on dividends?

  Yes. We can explain whether sufficient profits are available, the paperwork required and the personal tax implications.

• Can you advise on rental property finance costs?

  We can explain how the tax treatment of mortgage interest and other finance costs works for your circumstances, since it depends on the ownership and the type of property business, and we can model the effect on cash flow. Mortgage and investment product recommendations have to come from an adviser authorised for that work.

• Can you advise which VAT scheme is best?

  Absolutely. We'll recommend the option that's right for your business.

• Can you bring sales from several platforms into Xero?

  Yes, where suitable integrations are available. Tools such as Dext Commerce can bring supported sales channels and payment-provider data into Xero. We agree how transactions will be posted and check that sales are not duplicated between the shop, marketplace and payment provider. Integration availability, subscription costs and the level of detail needed are confirmed as part of the setup.

• Can you calculate maternity, paternity or adoption pay?

  Yes. We can calculate and process statutory family-related payments using the information you provide.

• Can you calculate statutory sick pay?

  Yes. We can process statutory sick pay where the employee meets the relevant conditions.

• Can you catch up overdue bookkeeping?

  Yes. We regularly help businesses bring overdue records up to date. Catch-up work is priced as a one-off on top of the monthly fee, and it is on the pricing page with everything else — tell it how far behind you are and you will see an indicative cost. Prices shown are plus VAT. The figure on the pricing page is indicative, based on the information you give us: we verify the scope on your Discovery Call and confirm your fee in a written proposal before any work begins.

• Can you certify documents?

  It depends on the document and the purpose. We can discuss providing factual financial information, references or document certification, but acceptance depends on the recipient's requirements and whether we're authorised and appropriately qualified to provide what they need. Please send us their requirements before assuming we can sign.

• Can you chase my customers for payment?

  Credit control support can be discussed as part of your service. We will agree exactly what communication and follow-up you want us to handle.

• Can you clean up inaccurate bookkeeping?

  Yes. We can identify errors, correct the records and put better processes in place so the information remains reliable.

• Can you correct VAT coding errors in Xero?

  Yes. We can review tax rates and historic entries and advise on any VAT return corrections that may be needed.

• Can you correct a payroll mistake?

  Yes. Contact us as soon as possible. We will review the issue and explain the best way to correct it.

• Can you correct duplicate transactions in Xero?

  Yes. We can identify duplicates and remove or reverse them carefully without damaging the audit trail.

• Can you correct errors on previous VAT returns?

  Yes. We can review historic errors and advise on the correct way to disclose or amend them.

• Can you deal with HMRC on my behalf?

  Yes, once you have authorised us, we can communicate with HMRC about the tax matters covered by our engagement.

• Can you deal with leavers?

  Yes. We will process final pay and produce the required leaving information.

• Can you deal with new starters?

  Yes. We will add new employees to payroll using the information you provide and process the relevant HMRC reporting.

• Can you deal with starters and leavers?

  Yes. We take care of all the necessary payroll changes.

• Can you estimate my tax before the deadline?

  Yes. The earlier we receive complete information, the sooner we can calculate your likely bill and help you plan for payment.

• Can you fix a messy Xero file?

  Yes. We can diagnose the problems, agree priorities and carry out a structured clean-up.

• Can you fix an incorrect bank balance in Xero?

  Yes. We will trace the difference, which may involve opening balances, duplicated feeds, deleted transactions or reconciliation errors.

• Can you fix unreconciled bank transactions?

  Yes. We can review the reconciliation history, identify missing or duplicated items and correct the position.

• Can you fix years of historic errors?

  Yes. We'll assess the work required and recommend the best approach.

• Can you form a limited company for me?

  Yes. We can help form the company and make sure the accounting and tax setup is handled properly.

• Can you help close a limited company?

  Yes. We can explain the accounting and tax steps, prepare final returns and coordinate with your legal adviser where necessary.

• Can you help form a new limited company?

  Yes. We can discuss whether a limited company is suitable and help with formation and the initial accounting setup.

• Can you help if I cannot pay my tax bill?

  Contact us before the deadline where possible. We can help you understand the amount due, review the position and discuss HMRC payment options, although HMRC decides whether to agree a plan.

• Can you help if I have not filed for several years?

  Yes. We will review which returns are outstanding, gather the information and agree a practical plan to bring everything up to date.

• Can you help if I'm behind on previous tax returns?

  Yes, and it's more common than you'd think. We'll work out exactly what's outstanding, bring the returns up to date, deal with HMRC on your behalf and help you get penalties and interest under control. No lectures.

• Can you help if I've made mistakes in previous bookkeeping, VAT or tax returns?

  Yes. We regularly correct historic bookkeeping, VAT and tax issues: unreconciled records, VAT errors needing adjustment or disclosure to HMRC, and returns that need amending. We start by finding out what the position actually is, tell you what needs correcting and in what order, and agree the catch-up work before we start.

• Can you help if my bookkeeping has fallen behind?

  Absolutely. We regularly help businesses catch up and get everything back on track.

• Can you help if my business is growing but cash is tight?

  Yes. Growth often uses cash before it creates cash. We can examine working capital, margins, payment terms and funding needs to identify what is causing the pressure.

• Can you help if my company accounts are overdue?

  Yes. Contact us quickly. We will establish what is outstanding, explain the potential penalties and agree a plan to complete the work.

• Can you help if my previous accountant is slow to respond?

  We will follow up professionally and keep you updated. In the meantime, we may be able to obtain some information directly from you, HMRC or Companies House.

• Can you help improve my profitability?

  Yes. We can review margins, pricing, overheads and performance trends to identify where profit may be improved.

• Can you help integrate Xero with another system?

  Yes. We can review available integrations and help with setup where practical. Some systems may require support from the software provider or an integration specialist.

• Can you help me choose accounting software?

  Yes. As a Xero-focused practice, we will explain which Xero plan and supporting tools are most suitable for your needs.

• Can you help me claim allowable expenses?

  Yes. We will review the information provided and claim expenses and reliefs that are supported by the rules and appropriate evidence.

• Can you help me decide whether to employ someone?

  Yes. We can model the full cost of employment and the additional sales or capacity needed to make the appointment affordable.

• Can you help me employ my first member of staff?

  Yes. We can set up payroll, explain PAYE and pension responsibilities and model the likely cost to the business.

• Can you help me move onto Xero?

  Absolutely.

• Can you help me plan for buying equipment?

  Yes. We can help you understand your financial position, prepare cash-flow forecasts and financial models, and prepare financial information for a lender. We can model purchase, lease and finance options side by side and show the effect on cash flow and profitability, and introduce you to a specialist adviser where appropriate, explaining our role and any referral arrangement first. Investment, pension product and other specialist recommendations should come from an adviser authorised for that work, and finance approval and outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

• Can you help me plan for growth?

  Yes. We can model the likely impact of new staff, equipment, premises, pricing changes and other growth decisions before you commit.

• Can you help me prepare a business forecast?

  Yes. We can prepare cash flow and profit forecasts to support planning, funding applications and decision-making.

• Can you help me prepare for selling my business?

  Yes. We can help improve financial information, identify issues, prepare forecasts and support the financial side of sale planning alongside your legal and corporate finance advisers.

• Can you help me raise finance?

  We can help you understand your financial position, prepare cash-flow forecasts and financial models, and prepare financial information for a lender. We can also assess how borrowing would affect cash flow, and introduce you to a specialist adviser where appropriate, explaining our role and any referral arrangement first. Investment, pension product and other specialist recommendations should come from an adviser authorised for that work, and finance approval and outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

• Can you help me register for Self Assessment?

  Yes. We can help you register with HMRC and make sure the right records are in place from the beginning.

• Can you help me set business targets?

  Yes. We can help translate your goals into realistic financial targets and measures that can be reviewed regularly.

• Can you help me set prices?

  Yes. Through our Strategic Review & Insights service, we can help you understand costs, margins and the sales levels needed to achieve your goals.

• Can you help me understand my business numbers?

  Yes. We explain the figures in straightforward language and focus on what they mean for the decisions you need to make.

• Can you help reduce my Corporation Tax?

  We review legitimate expenses, allowances and reliefs relevant to your circumstances, using the information and evidence available. Where appropriate, we discuss planning before the relevant deadlines. Tax savings depend on eligibility and are not guaranteed.

• Can you help with Capital Gains Tax?

  Yes. We can calculate gains and advise on reporting requirements for property, shares and other assets. More complex cases may require additional specialist input.

• Can you help with Cash Accounting for VAT?

  Yes. We can explain how cash accounting works and whether it suits the way your business gets paid.

• Can you help with Companies House identity verification?

  Yes. CASS can support relevant Companies House identity verification requirements as an authorised corporate service provider where the service is available and appropriate.

• Can you help with PAYE and National Insurance?

  Yes. We calculate payroll deductions and tell you what needs to be paid to HMRC and by when.

• Can you help with a VAT inspection?

  Yes. We can help gather records, explain the figures and communicate with HMRC where we are authorised to do so.

• Can you help with an HMRC enquiry?

  Yes. We can review the enquiry, help prepare information and communicate with HMRC where authorised. Additional fees may apply depending on the work involved.

• Can you help with business budgeting?

  Yes. We can prepare a practical budget and compare actual results against it throughout the year.

• Can you help with the Flat Rate Scheme?

  Yes. We can assess whether the Flat Rate Scheme is available and whether it is likely to be beneficial for your business.

• Can you import contacts and opening balances?

  Yes. We can import suitable customer and supplier details and establish agreed opening balances.

• Can you make payroll payments for me?

  We can discuss payment options and suitable software. The exact process will depend on the service agreed and the controls you want to retain.

• Can you manage my sales ledger?

  Yes. We can help maintain customer balances, allocate receipts and provide information to support credit control.

• Can you manage workplace pensions?

  Absolutely. We can manage pension submissions and auto-enrolment requirements.

• Can you manage workplace pensions?

  Yes. We can support auto-enrolment assessments, pension deductions and regular pension submissions.

• Can you move me from FreeAgent to Xero?

  Yes. We can transfer the relevant information and configure Xero around the way your business works.

• Can you move me from QuickBooks to Xero?

  Yes. We can plan and manage a migration from QuickBooks to Xero.

• Can you move me from Sage to Xero?

  Yes. We can review your Sage data, agree what should be transferred and manage the move to Xero with as little disruption as possible.

• Can you move me from spreadsheets to Xero?

  Yes. We can use the available records to create a suitable opening position and help you move to a more reliable cloud-based system.

• Can you prepare confirmation statements?

  Yes. Companies House compliance work, including confirmation statements, is available alongside our ongoing monthly bookkeeping, because it relies on us holding current records for your company. Our pricing tool explains where that requirement applies, and we confirm what's included and any minimum fees on your Discovery Call before setting it out in your written proposal.

• Can you prepare management accounts?

  Yes. We prepare clear financial reports — traditional management accounts, giving you a regular snapshot of your business's financial performance, including your profit and loss, balance sheet and key financial information. However, we believe business owners need more than just historical reports. Through our Strategic Review & Insights service, we transform those figures into meaningful insights, helping you understand what's driving your business today and what actions you should take next. By combining regular reporting with cash flow forecasting, profitability analysis, strategic planning and practical advice, we help you use your numbers to make better business decisions—not just look back at what's already happened.

• Can you prepare tax returns for company directors?

  Yes. A director does not automatically need a tax return in every case, but we can check whether one is required and prepare it where necessary.

• Can you prepare tax returns for landlords?

  Yes. We can prepare property income figures, review allowable costs and complete the relevant parts of your return.

• Can you prepare tax returns for sole traders?

  Yes. We can prepare the business figures, complete the tax return and help you plan for the tax due.

• Can you process bonuses and overtime?

  Yes. You provide the approved figures before the payroll deadline and we will include them in the relevant pay run.

• Can you process purchase invoices?

  Yes. We can help capture, review and record supplier invoices using suitable cloud software and agreed approval processes.

• Can you process weekly payroll?

  Yes. We can process weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly or monthly payroll depending on how your business pays its team.

• Can you produce a cash flow forecast?

  Yes. We can build and update cash flow forecasts to help you anticipate pressure points, plan spending and make funding decisions.

• Can you provide Xero support without doing all my accounts?

  Possibly. You can take a Xero subscription through CASS without any accounting services. Taking a Xero subscription through CASS does not create an accounting engagement. Any additional services and support will be agreed separately. We'll talk through the level of support you need and confirm what we can provide and the fee before anything starts — some services are only available alongside our ongoing monthly bookkeeping.

• Can you provide Xero training in person?

  Yes, where appropriate and agreed in advance.

• Can you provide advanced Xero training?

  Yes. Training can cover more detailed reporting, controls, tracking, workflows and other features relevant to experienced users.

• Can you provide financial reports from my bookkeeping?

  Yes. We can turn up-to-date bookkeeping into regular reports and practical insights through our Strategic Review & Insights service.

• Can you provide regular financial reports as well as year-end accounts?

  Absolutely. While we'll prepare your year-end accounts and the financial reports and management accounts you need, we believe your numbers should do much more than tell you what's already happened. Our Strategic Review & Insights service goes a step further by turning your financial information into meaningful insights. Alongside regular reporting, we can provide cash flow forecasts, profitability analysis, key performance indicators and strategic planning support to help you make informed decisions throughout the year. In short, we'll not only show you where your business has been—we'll help you plan where it's going next.

• Can you provide remote support?

  Yes. We work with clients across the UK, with everything handled in the cloud — shared software, document portals, video calls and phone. You'll have a named day-to-day contact. We respond during office hours. If your question needs investigation, we'll explain the next step and give you an expected response time. For urgent matters, please call us and explain the deadline.

• Can you provide year-end payroll documents?

  Yes. We complete the required year-end payroll reporting and make employees' annual pay information available.

• Can you recommend apps that work with Xero?

  Yes. We recommend apps only where they solve a real problem and fit the way your business works.

• Can you recommend other professional advisers?

  Where appropriate we can introduce you to solicitors, authorised financial advisers, finance providers or other specialists, and we'll explain our role and any referral arrangement before proceeding. Investment, pension product and other specialist recommendations should come from an adviser authorised for that work.

• Can you reconcile my bank accounts?

  Yes. Regular bank and credit card reconciliations are an important part of making sure your records are complete and accurate.

• Can you reduce my Corporation Tax?

  We review legitimate expenses, allowances and reliefs relevant to your circumstances, using the information and evidence available. Where appropriate, we discuss planning before the relevant deadlines. Tax savings depend on eligibility and are not guaranteed.

• Can you register me as self-employed?

  Yes. We can help with the necessary HMRC registration and explain the records you need to keep.

• Can you register my business for VAT?

  Yes. We can help assess whether registration is needed and complete the registration process.

• Can you review my existing Xero setup?

  Yes. We can assess settings, accounts, bank reconciliations, tax rates, user access and reporting to identify improvements.

• Can you run payroll for just one employee?

  Yes. We support businesses of every size.

• Can you run payroll for one employee?

  Yes. We support businesses with a single employee as well as larger teams.

• Can you set up Xero for MTD for Income Tax?

  Yes. We can set up Xero and the related processes needed to keep suitable digital records.

• Can you set up bank feeds?

  Yes. We can guide you through connecting eligible bank and credit card accounts securely.

• Can you set up invoice templates?

  Yes. We can help configure sales invoice branding, payment details and standard wording.

• Can you set up tracking categories?

  Yes, where they will provide useful reporting by department, location, service or another meaningful area.

• Can you submit my VAT returns?

  Yes, where VAT is included in your letter of engagement. We need to be authorised to act for you with HMRC, the records for the period, and your approval of the figures before we submit. We agree dates for receiving records and approval so the return is filed on time.

• Can you submit my quarterly updates?

  Yes, where MTD for Income Tax work is included in your letter of engagement. We need HMRC authorisation, the records for the quarter and your approval before we submit. We agree when records reach us so each update can be filed inside the deadline.

• Can you support a group of companies?

  Often, yes. We assess whether we can support your business based on its circumstances, complexity and the work required. Groups bring intercompany balances, consolidation questions and more than one filing timetable, so we look at the structure and what is actually needed before confirming what we can take on and what would need a specialist.

• Can you tailor Xero to my business?

  Yes. We configure Xero around your reporting needs, processes and responsibilities rather than relying on a generic setup.

• Can you tailor the training?

  Every training session is built around your business and the way you work.

• Can you take over close to a filing deadline?

  Possibly, but we need to assess whether there is enough time and information to complete the work properly. Contact us as early as possible.

• Can you take over my Xero organisation from another accountant?

  Usually, yes. We check the existing subscription arrangements, the permissions and any approvals needed, then arrange the appropriate access and, where relevant, the subscription transfer. Your business records remain yours, and we confirm your access arrangements and how a future handover would work. Timing depends on cooperation from the existing provider.

• Can you tidy my chart of accounts?

  Yes. We can simplify and reorganise the chart of accounts so reports are clearer and easier to use.

• Can you work with my existing accountant?

  Yes, where you need specialist Xero, bookkeeping or finance support alongside your existing accountant, we can agree a practical way of working together.

• Can you work with my existing accountant?

  Absolutely.

• Can you work with my existing bookkeeper or finance team?

  Yes. We can work alongside internal staff or another bookkeeper, with clear responsibilities agreed from the outset.

• Can you work with my existing bookkeeping?

  Yes. Whether you're starting from scratch or already have records in place, we'll pick things up from where you are.

• Do CIS deductions apply to materials as well as labour?

  CIS deductions are calculated after excluding VAT and eligible materials costs directly paid by the subcontractor for that contract. An amount labelled “materials” on an invoice is not enough by itself: the actual cost and supporting evidence matter. Labour and other elements may remain within the deduction calculation. CASS can check the breakdown before payment so deductions and statements are prepared correctly.

• Do I charge VAT when selling to a customer overseas?

  An overseas customer does not automatically make a sale VAT free. The treatment depends on whether you sell goods or services, where the supply takes place, the customer’s status and the countries involved. Export evidence or overseas registration obligations may also matter. Ask CASS to check the transaction before issuing the invoice; specialist advice may be needed for more complex international arrangements.

• Do I have to use Xero to work with CASS?

  Our practice is built around Xero, so businesses using our ongoing accounting services will normally need to use or move to Xero.

• Do I have to use Xero?

  Yes, we specialise exclusively in Xero because we believe it offers the best experience for our clients. If you’re not currently using Xero we can help move you across.

• Do I need a bookkeeper and an accountant?

  Bookkeeping keeps the underlying financial records accurate and current. Accounting turns those records into statutory accounts, tax returns and other formal reporting.

• Do I need a full-time Finance Director?

  Many growing businesses need senior financial thinking before they have enough work to justify a full-time Finance Director. A Virtual FD can provide that input on a part-time or outsourced basis.

• Do I need a separate business bank account?

  A limited company should use a separate company bank account. It is also strongly recommended for sole traders because it makes records clearer and easier to manage.

• Do I need accounting software for MTD for Income Tax?

  Yes. You will need compatible software or a suitable combination of connected software to keep digital records and submit information to HMRC.

• Do I need to be based in Tamworth to work with you?

  No. We look after personal tax clients across Tamworth, Cannock, Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham and further afield. Everything can be handled by email, phone or video, and you're welcome at the office in Amington if you'd rather do it face to face.

• Do I need to be on Xero?

  It's not essential, but it helps. Because we work in the cloud with Xero, we can keep your forecast updated automatically from real transactions rather than relying on manual figures.

• Do I need to be on Xero?

  It isn't essential, but it makes a real difference. Because we work in the cloud with Xero, your reporting can be built from live transactions rather than figures typed up weeks later — so it's accurate and it's timely.

• Do I need to charge VAT on a deposit?

  If you are VAT registered and the deposit is an advance payment for a taxable supply, VAT normally becomes due when you receive it or issue a VAT invoice, whichever happens first. A genuinely refundable security deposit can be different. The underlying supply and your VAT scheme also matter. CASS can check the arrangement so the deposit is recorded in the correct VAT period.

• Do I need to declare savings interest or dividend income?

  It depends on the income, allowances and whether you already submit a tax return. If you complete Self Assessment, report relevant savings interest and dividend income even where an allowance means no tax is due; income from within an ISA is generally excluded. Outside Self Assessment, HMRC may collect tax through another route. Give your accountant the full figures rather than assuming your bank, pension provider or company has dealt with your personal tax.

• Do I need to register for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?

  It depends on your qualifying income in the reference tax year: over £50,000 in 2024/25 brought you in from 6 April 2026, over £30,000 in 2025/26 from 6 April 2027, and over £20,000 in 2026/27 from 6 April 2028. Qualifying income is combined gross self-employment and property income before expenses, and exemptions and exclusions apply. Our MTD checker gives an indication from the answers you give; we confirm it against your full circumstances.

• Do I need to report income from a side business?

  Possibly. A small business alongside your job can still create reporting obligations. The trading allowance is based on qualifying gross income, not profit, and has conditions. Keep records and check the rules even if the activity feels informal or payments arrive through an app.

• Do I need to run payroll if I'm the only director?

  Taking a salary may mean your company must register for PAYE and report it to HMRC, even when no Income Tax is due. Whether registration is required depends on the amount paid and other circumstances, such as other employment, pension income or benefits. We can check the current rules and the appropriate payroll setup before you pay yourself.

• Do I need to sign a contract?

  You'll receive a written proposal and a letter of engagement setting out the services we'll provide, the fees, your responsibilities and ours, and the arrangements for ending the engagement. Your letter of engagement sets out the notice required to end the arrangement and how any outstanding fees or work in progress are handled. We explain these terms before you sign.

• Do I need to submit a CIS return if I haven’t paid any subcontractors?

  If you are registered as a CIS contractor, a month with no subcontractor payments still needs action. Normally, submit a nil return or make an inactivity request to HMRC if you have temporarily stopped using subcontractors. The monthly return deadline is the 19th after the CIS tax month ends; CIS tax months run from the 6th to the 5th. Check that an inactivity request covers the period before assuming no return is needed. Payments to subcontractors with gross payment status still count as payments, even though no CIS tax was deducted. Tell whoever handles your CIS returns when activity stops or restarts.

• Do I need to tell my current accountant that I am leaving?

  You can tell them yourself, or we can make the formal professional approach once you have appointed us.

• Do I still need a tax return if I have no tax to pay?

  Possibly. Filing requirements are not based only on whether tax is due. We can check whether HMRC still expects a return.

• Do I still need an accountant if I use Xero?

  Xero records, organises and reports financial data. An accountant checks the treatment, deals with tax and statutory obligations and helps interpret what the figures mean.

• Do landlords need to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?

  Where qualifying income reaches a phase threshold, yes: over £50,000 in 2024/25 (from 6 April 2026), over £30,000 in 2025/26 (from 6 April 2027), over £20,000 in 2026/27 (from 6 April 2028). It means digital records and quarterly updates for property income, with a final declaration after the tax year. Exemptions and exclusions apply — check your own position rather than assuming.

• Do quarterly updates need to be perfectly adjusted accounts?

  Quarterly updates are based on the digital records for the period and do not generally require every year-end accounting adjustment at that stage. We will make sure the required information is submitted correctly.

• Do small businesses need management accounts?

  A small business doesn't automatically need a formal monthly management pack. The better question is whether the owner is making decisions that would be improved by current financial information.

• Do small companies need an audit?

  Whether a company needs an audit depends on the relevant legal conditions and its circumstances — size, group structure, its articles, shareholder requests and other factors — rather than turnover alone. CASS is not a registered statutory auditor. We can look at your circumstances and tell you whether an audit looks likely, and we prepare the accounts and records an auditor would work from. We assess whether we can support your business based on its circumstances, complexity and the work required.

• Do you act as a personal tax adviser as well as filing my return?

  Yes, within the scope we agree. Filing is the mechanical part; the value is in what we spot while doing it — expenses being missed, a more efficient way to take income, a payment on account that could be reduced — and we raise those rather than wait to be asked. Personal tax work is available alongside our ongoing monthly bookkeeping. Investment and pension product recommendations have to come from an adviser authorised for that work.

• Do you audit charities?

  No. CASS is not a registered statutory auditor. Whether a company needs an audit depends on the relevant legal conditions and its circumstances, rather than turnover alone. We do not carry out statutory audits, charity audits or independent examinations — those are distinct pieces of work and need an appropriately registered or qualified firm. What we can do is the bookkeeping, management accounts and year-end preparation underneath them, so whoever does the audit or examination has clean records to work from.

• Do you charge an onboarding fee?

  Yes — a one-off New Client Onboarding Fee, which covers identification, anti-money-laundering checks and the work to set the relationship up properly. It is not hidden until later: when you build your package on our pricing page the indicative amount is shown alongside your monthly fee, plus VAT, before you give us anything. Prices shown are plus VAT. The figure on the pricing page is indicative, based on the information you give us: we verify the scope on your Discovery Call and confirm your fee in a written proposal before any work begins.

• Do you do crypto tax for LLPs and partnerships?

  Not as things stand. Crypto reporting for a partnership or LLP means reconstructing trades across exchanges and wallets and taking a position on how each one is taxed, and that is specialist work we do not currently take on. If crypto is a small part of an otherwise ordinary business we are happy to talk it through and work alongside a specialist; if it is the business, you want somebody who does only that.

• Do you handle EMI share option scheme valuations?

  No. EMI valuations and scheme documentation are specialist work that we do not currently undertake. A specialist can advise on the valuation, whether to seek HMRC agreement, and the relevant scheme and reporting requirements. We can provide the agreed accounting and payroll support around the scheme.

• Do you help businesses switch to Xero?

  Yes. We can manage the move from your current software to Xero, including planning, data transfer, setup, checks and support after going live.

• Do you offer Xero training for teams?

  Yes. We can train several team members and tailor the session to their different responsibilities.

• Do you offer a free initial conversation?

  Yes. Our initial conversation is free and carries no obligation. It is simply an opportunity to understand your business and see whether we are the right fit.

• Do you offer discounted Xero subscriptions?

  Yes — preferential pricing through CASS, under our current subscription arrangements, with or without accounting services from us. We'll confirm the current price, VAT treatment and subscription terms before you proceed. Taking a Xero subscription through CASS does not create an accounting engagement. Any additional services and support will be agreed separately.

• Do you offer fixed monthly fees?

  Yes. Most of our services are provided for a fixed monthly fee for the scope we agree, so you know what you will pay each month. If the scope changes materially — more transactions, more people on payroll, extra services — we agree a fee review with you rather than issuing a surprise invoice. Prices shown are plus VAT. The figure on the pricing page is indicative, based on the information you give us: we verify the scope on your Discovery Call and confirm your fee in a written proposal before any work begins.

• Do you offer one-to-one Xero training?

  Yes. Training can be delivered one-to-one and tailored to the tasks you need to complete.

• Do you offer quarterly business reviews?

  Yes. Quarterly reviews can be included to discuss performance, priorities, risks and actions for the next period.

• Do you offer tax planning as part of this?

  Yes, within your agreed scope. We look ahead rather than simply reporting the bill after the year has ended — discussing the position and the options before the relevant deadlines. Tax planning is provided alongside our ongoing services, because it depends on current records; our pricing tool explains where that applies. Specialist areas and anything requiring an authorised adviser are referred on, and tax savings depend on eligibility.

• Do you only work with businesses in Tamworth?

  No. Although we are based in Tamworth, our cloud-based way of working means we can support clients throughout the UK.

• Do you only work with local businesses?

  We're based in Tamworth and support businesses across Tamworth, Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, Solihull and Burton upon Trent, but because we work in the cloud with Xero we can support clients anywhere in the UK.

• Do you provide CIS payroll support?

  We can support Construction Industry Scheme requirements where agreed as part of the service. We will confirm the exact scope after discussing your business.

• Do you provide bookkeeping for charities or social enterprises?

  Yes. We support a range of organisations, including social enterprises. We will first make sure our experience and service are suitable for your particular requirements.

• Do you provide ongoing Xero support after training?

  Yes, where it's part of your agreed services, so you have someone to ask when questions arise. We respond during office hours. If your question needs investigation, we'll explain the next step and give you an expected response time. For urgent matters, please call us and explain the deadline. We'll confirm what's included, and anything beyond it is quoted separately.

• Do you provide outsourced legal cashiering for CLC-regulated licensed conveyancers?

  Yes — it is a division of its own. We work with CLC-regulated licensed conveyancers and property firms in England and Wales, exclusively in InTouch, keeping the client account posted, reconciled and evidenced in line with the CLC Accounts Code. We also know the SRA Accounts Rules, so we can do the same for an SRA-regulated firm doing conveyancing. Your managers remain responsible for compliance; outsourcing the cashiering does not move that.

• Do you publish your prices?

  Yes. You can see an indicative monthly price and any identified one-off costs on our pricing page, based on the information you provide, without giving us your email address. Prices shown are plus VAT. The figure on the pricing page is indicative, based on the information you give us: we verify the scope on your Discovery Call and confirm your fee in a written proposal before any work begins.

• Do you support all versions of Xero?

  Yes.

• Do you support businesses selling through Shopify, Amazon or Etsy?

  Yes. CASS can support online sellers with bookkeeping in Xero and help connect suitable sales platforms using tools such as Dext Commerce. We look at sales, fees, refunds, settlements and VAT rather than recording only the amount that reaches your bank. The right setup depends on your platforms, volumes and countries of sale, and we confirm the integrations and service scope before starting.

• Do you use accounting jargon?

  We avoid unnecessary jargon and explain things in plain English. Our job is to make your finances easier to understand, not more complicated.

• Do you work with IT consultancies and contractors?

  Yes. Consultancies and contractors are a good fit for how we work: the numbers are usually clean, the questions are about drawing money out sensibly, keeping the tax predictable and knowing what the company can afford. We run the bookkeeping, payroll, VAT and year-end in Xero, and the conversation is about what the figures mean rather than what they were.

• Do you work with growing businesses?

  Yes. We support growing businesses with scalable bookkeeping, payroll, reporting, forecasting and advice to help them stay in control as they expand.

• Do you work with start-ups?

  Yes. We can help new businesses choose the right structure, set up Xero, understand their responsibilities and put good financial processes in place from the beginning.

• Does AIA mean I get the cost of my equipment back?

  No. AIA reduces taxable profits rather than refunding the purchase price. The tax saving depends on the tax rate applying to those profits and your business's overall tax position.

• Does CASS provide legal advice?

  No. We can explain accounting and tax implications, but legal matters should be handled by a suitably qualified solicitor.

• Does CASS provide regulated financial advice?

  We can help you understand your financial position, prepare cash-flow forecasts and financial models, and prepare financial information for a lender. Where appropriate we can introduce you to a specialist adviser, and we'll explain our role and any referral arrangement before proceeding. Investment, pension product and other specialist recommendations should come from an adviser authorised for that work, and finance approval and outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

• Does CASS support QuickBooks or FreeAgent?

  Our ongoing accounting and software support is centred on Xero. We can, however, help you migrate from QuickBooks, FreeAgent or another system to Xero.

• Does CASS support Sage?

  CASS is a Xero-focused practice. We can help businesses move from Sage to Xero, but we do not provide ongoing Sage support.

• Does Making Tax Digital apply to landlords?

  Yes, where qualifying income reaches a phase threshold: over £50,000 in 2024/25 (from 6 April 2026), over £30,000 in 2025/26 (from 6 April 2027), over £20,000 in 2026/27 (from 6 April 2028). Property income counts as gross rents before expenses and is added to any self-employment income. Jointly owned property, some trusts and certain other cases follow different rules, and exemptions exist.

• Does Making Tax Digital apply to sole traders?

  Yes, where qualifying income reaches a phase threshold: over £50,000 in 2024/25 (from 6 April 2026), over £30,000 in 2025/26 (from 6 April 2027), over £20,000 in 2026/27 (from 6 April 2028). Qualifying income is gross self-employment turnover before expenses, added to any property income. Exemptions and exclusions apply.

• Does Making Tax Digital for Income Tax apply to limited companies?

  No. The current Income Tax rules are aimed at qualifying sole traders and landlords, rather than income earned through a limited company.

• Does Xero connect to my bank?

  Xero can connect to many banks and automatically import transactions through bank feeds, subject to bank availability and authorisation.

• Does being registered for CIS mean someone is definitely self-employed?

  No. CIS registration does not establish employment status. You need to assess the actual working arrangement, including factors such as control, personal service and financial risk. A contract label or a subcontractor’s preference does not decide the result. HMRC’s employment-status tool can help assess tax status, while employment rights are a separate consideration. CASS can help identify when further tax or employment advice is needed.

• Does letting through Airbnb change the accounting or tax questions I need to consider?

  Yes. Short-term letting raises questions about platform fees, refunds, private use, ownership, VAT and local requirements. Record gross bookings and deductions rather than only the payout. Using Airbnb does not automatically make the activity a trade or give it special tax reliefs. The former furnished holiday lettings tax regime ended from April 2025.

• How are mortgage interest and repayments treated differently?

  A mortgage payment can include interest and repayment of the amount borrowed. Repaying the loan principal is not a rental expense. For individuals letting residential property, eligible finance costs normally receive relief through a basic-rate tax reduction rather than a deduction from rental profit, subject to the applicable limits. Companies and commercial property can be treated differently. CASS can help separate the amounts and check the relevant tax treatment.

• How can I check whether I’m too dependent on one customer?

  Measure that customer’s share of revenue, contribution to profit and outstanding debts. Then model what would happen if they paid late, reduced orders or left. The risk is not captured by turnover alone: a smaller customer can still dominate your cash flow or capacity. CASS can help assess the exposure and plan practical steps to diversify income and strengthen reserves.

• How can I improve cash flow in my business?

  Invoice promptly, make payment terms clear, follow up overdue debts consistently and remove unnecessary friction from the way customers pay. A sale isn't useful cash until the money reaches the bank.

• How can I report an answer that looks incorrect?

  Contact CASS through the website contact page or your usual CASS contact. Include the question, a link to the answer if available, and a short explanation of what looks wrong. Avoid sending sensitive information through the public chatbot. If the answer affects a decision or deadline, ask the team to confirm the position before relying on it.

• How can I stop using money set aside for VAT and tax?

  Build expected tax payments into your cash-flow forecast and set aside an appropriate amount regularly, using a separate account if helpful. A fixed percentage of sales may be misleading because VAT recovery, profits and other factors affect what is due. Review the amount as your figures change. If you need the reserve to cover everyday bills, investigate the underlying cash shortfall rather than treating it as spare money.

• How can I tell whether my prices cover my time and overheads?

  Calculate the time and direct costs involved in delivering the work, then allow for overheads, non-billable time and your desired profit. Base the calculation on realistic billable hours rather than every hour you work. Review actual jobs against the estimate to spot overruns and unpaid extras. CASS can help you assess whether your pricing supports both the business and the income you need from it.

• How can I track the profit and cash position of each job?

  Give every job a consistent code and track its sales, direct costs, remaining work and cash movements against the original budget. Profit and cash need separate views: a job can earn a good margin while money is tied up in unfinished work, unpaid invoices or retentions.

• How can a finance director help a business grow?

  A finance director can turn growth ambitions into budgets, forecasts and measurable targets. That makes it easier to see what resources are required and whether the plan is financially sustainable.

• How can financial insight help me make better decisions?

  Business owners know their businesses well, but instinct is strongest when it can be checked against reliable evidence. Financial insight helps confirm when the instinct is right and exposes where the numbers tell a different story.

• How can financial reporting help me plan for growth?

  Reporting shows whether higher sales are actually improving gross margin, profit and cash. Without that, it is easy to celebrate turnover while the business becomes less efficient.

• How can management accounts help me make better business decisions?

  Regular reporting makes trends visible before they become year-end surprises. Falling margin, rising payroll cost or slower customer payments can be investigated while the underlying issue is still manageable.

• How do I book a meeting with CASS?

  Contact your usual CASS team member and we will arrange a suitable telephone, online or in-person meeting.

• How do I calculate my break-even point?

  Your break-even point is the sales level needed to cover your costs without making a profit or loss. For one product, divide fixed costs by the contribution per unit: selling price less variable cost. For a business with mixed sales, use an appropriate contribution margin and sales mix. Include a realistic cost for your own work. CASS can help turn the calculation into a useful sales target.

• How do I change my direct debit?

  Contact us and we will explain the secure process for updating your payment details.

• How do I check that pay meets National Minimum Wage rules?

  Check qualifying pay against the hours that count under minimum wage rules for each pay reference period. The correct rate depends on the worker’s age and apprentice status. Deductions, salary sacrifice and unpaid working time can cause a shortfall even where the headline hourly rate looks high enough.

• How do I claim Annual Investment Allowance?

  Claim AIA through your business tax return. Sole traders use Self Assessment, partnerships use their partnership return, and limited companies use a Company Tax Return with a separate capital allowances calculation.

• How do I claim additional tax relief on my pension contributions?

  If your pension uses relief at source and you pay Income Tax above the basic rate, you may need to claim extra relief from HMRC. First check how your contributions are treated: relief already given through payroll should not be claimed again, and employer contributions are handled differently.

• How do I decide whether growth should be funded by cash or borrowing?

  Compare the expected return, timing of cash generated, repayments, financing costs and the reserves needed to keep trading safely. Using cash avoids repayment obligations but can leave the business short of working capital. Borrowing creates commitments even if growth is slower than expected. CASS can model scenarios and prepare financial information; product recommendations or arranging finance require an appropriately authorised provider where applicable.

• How do I get started with CASS?

  Start by selecting Let's Talk on our website and telling us a little about your business. We will arrange a conversation, understand what you need and recommend the right support.

• How do I know if my business can afford to recruit?

  Salary is only part of the commitment. Include employer costs, pension, recruitment, equipment, software and any other costs associated with the role.

• How do I know when an answer was last reviewed?

  Check the answer page for its review or update date and reviewer details, where displayed. A last-updated date and a completed review are different, and a reviewer badge should relate to a recorded review. If no date is shown, or you need to rely on a tax figure or deadline, ask CASS to confirm the current position before acting.

• How do I know when cash-flow difficulties need specialist insolvency advice?

  Seek advice early if bills repeatedly go unpaid, you cannot meet debts when due, liabilities may exceed assets, or creditors are taking formal action. Temporary cash pressure and insolvency are not the same, but either can require urgent assessment. Directors’ duties can change as insolvency becomes a concern. CASS can help establish the financial facts; a licensed insolvency practitioner or solicitor should advise on insolvency options and decisions about continued trading.

• How do I know whether an online product is profitable after fees, delivery and returns?

  Start with sales excluding VAT where applicable, then deduct product costs, platform and payment fees, packaging, fulfilment, delivery and the expected cost of returns. Advertising costs can also change the picture. Look at profit by product or channel rather than relying on the headline selling price. CASS can help build reporting that shows which sales contribute enough towards overheads and profit.

• How do I know whether my business is growing profitably?

  Revenue growth is only useful if the business keeps enough of it. Track gross margin and operating profit alongside sales so you can see whether growth is creating value or simply creating more work.

• How do I know which products, services or clients make money?

  Compare the income from each with the costs needed to deliver it, including staff time, materials, subcontractors and other directly attributable costs. Then consider how each contributes towards shared overheads. A busy client or popular product can still be unprofitable if delivery costs are high. CASS can help organise your records and reporting so you can make decisions using more than total turnover.

• How do I make my business easier to hand over or sell?

  Keep reliable records, explainable profits and documented processes. Understand customer concentration, recurring income, working capital and how much the business depends on you. Resolve unclear balances and keep contracts and ownership records organised. These steps can support due diligence, but they do not guarantee a sale or valuation. CASS can help prepare the financial information alongside suitable legal and transaction specialists.

• How do I prevent the same invoice being entered or paid twice?

  Use one agreed collection process and check supplier names, invoice references, dates and amounts before posting or paying. Distinguish original invoices from copies, reminders and statements. Duplicate-detection tools can help, but they do not replace review. Before a payment run, check what is already paid or scheduled and reconcile supplier balances. CASS can help establish controls that reduce the risk without promising every duplicate will be caught.

• How do I reclaim CIS deductions from my business?

  The process depends on your business structure. Sole traders and partnerships normally account for deductions through Self Assessment. Limited companies normally report deductions suffered through an Employer Payment Summary and offset them against relevant PAYE liabilities, with a separate process for any repayment due. Keep contractor payment and deduction statements and reconcile them to receipts. CASS can help check the records and the correct claim route.

• How do I reduce my business’s dependence on me?

  Start by identifying the decisions, relationships and processes that stop when you are unavailable. Document key routines, give suitable people responsibility and introduce clear approval limits and regular reporting. Financially, the aim is to make cash, performance and commitments visible without everything relying on your memory. CASS can help strengthen the finance processes and reporting that support a more resilient business.

• How do I reimburse myself for business expenses I paid personally?

  Keep the receipt, explain the business purpose and record the cost through the correct expense or asset account. For a company, record what it owes you before matching the repayment. For a sole trader, money taken back is usually drawings rather than a second business expense.

• How do I send documents to CASS?

  Use the secure cloud system or process agreed with your account manager. Avoid sending sensitive information through unapproved channels.

• How do I send receipts and invoices to CASS?

  We use secure cloud tools that allow you to photograph, upload or email documents, reducing the need to keep and deliver paper records.

• How do I stress-test a business decision before committing?

  Model how the decision affects profit, cash and capacity under realistic alternatives. Change the assumptions that could genuinely vary, then agree what you would do if the weaker outcome occurs. A stress test helps expose risk and choices; it does not predict the future or guarantee an investment will succeed.

• How do I update my bank details with CASS?

  Contact your usual CASS team member. For security, changes to payment or bank details may require additional verification.

• How do I verify a subcontractor before paying them?

  First check that the working arrangement is genuinely self-employed. Where verification is required, use HMRC’s CIS service with the subcontractor’s correct business and tax details. HMRC confirms the applicable deduction treatment and provides a verification reference. Keep the result and supporting records. A new subcontractor usually needs verification, and previously used subcontractors may need it again depending on when they last appeared on your returns.

• How do benefits such as company cars and medical insurance affect payroll?

  Benefits can create employee tax charges and employer National Insurance or reporting obligations. The treatment depends on the benefit, who pays for it and the rules for the relevant tax year. Some benefits are handled through payroll, while others may require separate reporting. Tell CASS before introducing or changing a benefit so we can check the agreed payroll work and any additional requirements.

• How do existing clients contact CASS?

  Use your usual CASS contact details by telephone or email. Your dedicated contact will make sure the question reaches the right person.

• How do pension contributions affect my tax position?

  The effect depends on how the contribution is made. Under relief at source, the pension provider adds basic-rate relief and you may need to claim further relief. Under net pay, eligible relief is normally given through payroll. Salary sacrifice and employer contributions follow different rules. Earnings limits and pension allowances also matter. Your accountant can check the tax treatment and reporting; recommendations about a pension product require an appropriately authorised adviser.

• How does MTD work if I own a rental property jointly?

  MTD applies to each individual’s circumstances and reportable share of property income, rather than automatically treating every owner as receiving the whole rent. Joint ownership does not necessarily mean a 50:50 split. Where MTD applies, your share needs appropriate records. HMRC allows a specific quarterly reporting option for jointly let property expenses, with completion after year end. CASS can check the ownership, income allocation and reporting approach.

• How does an outsourced finance team work day to day?

  The finance team should have agreed routines for bookkeeping, invoices, payroll, VAT, payments and queries. Everyone should know what information is needed, who provides it and by when.

• How does postponed VAT accounting work when I import goods?

  Eligible UK VAT-registered businesses can account for import VAT on their VAT return instead of paying it at import. Recovery remains subject to the normal rules. Customs declarations, monthly statements and bookkeeping must agree; postponed VAT accounting does not remove customs duty or make every import cost recoverable.

• How does stock affect my profit?

  Under accruals accounting, buying stock does not necessarily make the whole purchase an expense immediately. Unsold stock is normally held as an asset, with its cost recognised as the goods are sold. Missing stock counts, obsolete items or incorrect valuations can distort profit. Cash-basis treatment can differ. CASS can help check how stock is recorded and whether your reports reflect what is actually on hand.

• How easy is it to change accountants?

  Changing accountants is usually straightforward. Once you appoint us, we can contact your previous accountant, request the professional information needed and manage the transition.

• How far ahead should I forecast cash flow?

  A short-term weekly view is useful when cash is tight, while a rolling 12-month forecast is often more useful for planning tax, recruitment and investment.

• How is Business Advisory different from your Outsourced Finance & Virtual FD service?

  Outsourced Finance & Virtual FD is a hands-on finance function: the day-to-day processing, reporting, cash management and board-level numbers. Business Advisory is the strategic layer on top: regular planning, goal-setting and decision support. Some services are only available alongside our ongoing bookkeeping, so we will confirm the available combination and any eligibility requirements before quoting.

• How is Business Growth and Planning different from year-end accounts?

  Year-end accounts report what has already happened. Business growth and planning work uses current information, forecasts and regular conversations to help you decide what to do next. It is available alongside our ongoing monthly bookkeeping, because current records are what make the forecasting worth anything — our pricing tool explains the requirement and we confirm what's included before you commit.

• How is rental income split between spouses or civil partners?

  For spouses or civil partners living together, income from jointly held property is generally taxed equally unless a relevant exception or valid declaration applies. You cannot simply choose the split that gives the lowest tax. Beneficial ownership, evidence and Form 17 requirements need checking before using unequal shares.

• How long does a Xero migration take?

  The timetable depends on the quality and volume of the data, the system you are leaving and the complexity of your setup. We review it, agree what information and historical periods are brought across and give you a clear plan — including anything that needs to remain in an accessible archive. Cooperation from existing providers affects timing.

• How long does it take to switch accountants?

  It depends on the records available, the systems involved and cooperation from your existing provider. We write for professional clearance and the records, agree what information and historical periods come across, set up software access and agree a cut-off date so nothing falls between the two of us. You don't have to have an awkward conversation first, and there is no need to wait for your year end.

• How long does migration take?

  It depends on your existing software, the volume and quality of the records and what history you want brought across. We review it first, agree the scope and give you a clear plan — and we explain any limitations, including anything that needs to stay in an accessible archive rather than transfer.

• How long has CASS been established?

  CASS was founded in 2017 and has grown by building long-term relationships with businesses that value practical advice and reliable support.

• How long should I keep my accounting records?

  HMRC and Companies House record-retention requirements vary depending on whether you trade through a company, as a sole trader or partnership, and on the type of record. Keep records for at least the statutory period that applies to you.

• How much Annual Investment Allowance can my business claim?

  The standard AIA limit is £1 million for a 12-month period. Shorter periods reduce the limit, and some businesses under common ownership or control must share an allowance.

• How much can I safely take out of my company?

  That depends on both the money available and how the payment is treated. Salary, dividends, repayment of money you have lent the company and expense reimbursements have different rules. A healthy bank balance does not automatically mean you can pay a dividend. Check available profits after tax, upcoming bills and cash reserves before withdrawing money. CASS can help you review the position and agree an appropriate approach.

• How much cash should my business keep in reserve?

  How much cash you should keep back depends on how predictable revenue is, how quickly customers pay, the fixed monthly cost base and how easily the business could reduce spending or access funding.

• How much does Xero cost?

  Xero subscriptions are on our pricing page with everything else, with our preferential pricing through CASS already applied, so you see a current figure rather than a stale one. Tell it roughly how many invoices and bills you handle and whether you need payroll, and it works out which plan fits and what it costs. Prices are plus VAT, and we confirm the current price, VAT treatment and subscription terms before you proceed. Taking a Xero subscription through CASS does not create an accounting engagement. Any additional services and support will be agreed separately.

• How much extra work do I need to sell to cover a discount?

  It depends on your contribution margin and whether costs rise as sales increase. For example, a £100 sale with £60 of variable costs contributes £40. A 10% price discount reduces that contribution to £30, so you need about 33% more sales volume to generate the same total contribution, assuming costs and capacity stay unchanged. Check this before discounting: extra turnover does not necessarily mean extra profit.

• How often do I need to submit a VAT return?

  Most VAT-registered businesses submit VAT returns every three months, although alternative arrangements can apply. Your VAT periods and filing dates are shown in your VAT account.

• How often must a law firm reconcile its client account?

  In England and Wales it depends on your regulator. Under the SRA Accounts Rules, the client bank statements, cash book and client ledger total must be agreed at least every five weeks, with the reconciliation signed off by the COFA or a manager. Under the CLC Accounts Code, bank reconciliation statements must be produced within seven days of each calendar month end, with reconciling items reviewed and cleared promptly. Either way, firms that reconcile monthly on a fixed date find the exceptions while they are still small.

• How often must a licensed conveyancer reconcile the client account?

  Under the CLC Accounts Code (England and Wales), bank reconciliation statements must be produced within seven days of each calendar month end. They compare the bank and cash book balances, list the reconciling items and reconcile the client bank accounts to the client account listing. Reconciling items must be reviewed and cleared promptly and any shortfall made good without delay. More frequent checks are a useful internal control, and in conveyancing most firms reconcile more often than the Code requires.

• How often should I look at my management accounts?

  Monthly for most businesses, and within a few weeks of the month ending — late figures are history, not management information. Quarterly can be enough if the business is stable and predictable, but if cash is tight or growing quickly, monthly is the minimum.

• How often should I speak to my accountant?

  If the only conversation with your accountant is when the year-end accounts are due, most of the information is historical. Growing businesses usually benefit from contact during the year so tax, cash and performance issues can be discussed while there is still time to act.

• How often should I update my cash flow forecast?

  Monthly updates are a sensible minimum for many businesses, while businesses with tight cash or rapid change may need a weekly rolling forecast.

• How often should payroll be run?

  Payroll should be run according to the employees' contractual pay frequency — commonly monthly, but weekly and other cycles are possible.

• How often will I hear from CASS?

  That depends on the services you choose. Some clients speak to us regularly throughout the month, while others have scheduled monthly or quarterly reviews.

• How often will my bookkeeping be updated?

  We update your bookkeeping at the frequency agreed for your business. Where daily processing is included, that means working days, and it depends on records being available — missing information, queries and adjustments can affect when transactions are finalised. Other packages are weekly or monthly.

• How often will my bookkeeping be updated?

  We update your bookkeeping at the frequency agreed for your business. Where daily processing is included, that means working days, and it depends on records being available — missing information, queries and adjustments can affect when transactions are finalised. Other packages are weekly or monthly.

• How often will we review the forecast?

  As often as it's useful for you — many clients find a monthly or quarterly review keeps them firmly in control of cash and growth plans, with the forecast kept live in between.

• How often would I get them?

  Monthly works best for most businesses, because it keeps you close to what's happening. Quarterly can be right if your business is steadier or seasonal. We'll recommend what genuinely suits how you trade rather than selling you the biggest package.

• How quickly can you take on a new client?

  This depends on the services required and the condition of your existing records. We will explain the likely timetable after the initial conversation.

• How quickly will CASS reply to my message?

  We respond during office hours. If your question needs investigation, we'll explain the next step and give you an expected response time. For urgent matters, please call us and explain the deadline.

• How should I prepare my business for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?

  Start by establishing whether your qualifying income brings you into the regime and from which tax year. The timetable and detailed rules can change, so use current HMRC guidance for the final position.

• How should I reconcile cash takings and till differences?

  Reconcile recorded sales to the cash counted, card settlements, refunds and other movements. The amount banked is not always the day’s sales. Keep a clear cash record and investigate differences promptly instead of changing sales figures simply to force the till or bank reconciliation to balance.

• How should I record a grant received by my business?

  Keep the award letter, conditions, payment details and evidence of how the money is used. The accounting treatment depends on the purpose, conditions and accounting framework, not simply when cash arrives. A grant may relate to running costs or an asset, and repayment conditions can matter. Tax treatment is a separate question: grants are not automatically tax free. Your accountant can assess the records and agree how the grant should be reported.

• How should I record customer deposits and payments received before work starts?

  Record the payment against the customer and contract, then check when it becomes earned income. Under accruals accounting, an advance payment is often held as a liability until the relevant goods or services are provided. VAT may become due sooner, so the two treatments need separate checks.

• How should annual subscriptions paid upfront by customers be accounted for?

  Receiving a year’s subscription upfront does not always mean the whole amount is income earned immediately. Under accrual accounting, recognition follows the service promised and delivered. VAT timing can differ, and cash-basis rules may give another result. Keep the contract, billing period and accounting basis clear.

• How should construction retention payments be recorded?

  A retention is an amount held back under the contract, usually until specified conditions are met. Track it separately from normal invoice balances and record its expected release dates. Revenue recognition, VAT and CIS each have their own rules, so the retention should not simply be treated as a discount.

• How should damaged, obsolete or missing stock be recorded?

  Check the quantity, condition and recoverable value, then record a supported adjustment under the accounting basis used. Stock should not stay at its original value simply because it was expensive to buy. Missing items also need investigation rather than an unexplained write-off.

• How should gift vouchers sold to customers be recorded for accounts and VAT?

  Selling a gift voucher brings in cash, but the accounting income and VAT may arise at different times. VAT treatment depends on whether the voucher is single-purpose or multi-purpose. Track sales, redemptions, refunds and expiry so vouchers are not counted twice or treated as ordinary sales without checking.

• How should holiday pay work for irregular-hours and part-year workers?

  In Great Britain, qualifying irregular-hours and part-year workers have specific holiday accrual and pay rules. You need to check the contract, record hours and distinguish time off from holiday pay. Rolled-up holiday pay is an option for eligible workers, not a method for every employee.

• How should marketplace fees, refunds and chargebacks be recorded?

  Record them separately from gross sales, using the platform’s transaction and settlement reports. A refund reduces the original sale where appropriate, fees are assessed as costs, and chargebacks need review to establish what happened. VAT treatment can differ between the sale and each fee. CASS can help map these transactions into Xero and reconcile the resulting payouts without double-counting sales.

• How should restricted funding be tracked?

  Start with the funding agreement and identify what the money can be used for, the period covered and any reporting or repayment conditions. Record relevant income and expenditure separately so you can see the remaining balance. For charities, externally restricted funds are different from unrestricted money trustees designate internally. A separate bank account is not automatically required, but fund accounting and controls must be appropriate. CASS can help design suitable bookkeeping and reports.

• How should student and postgraduate loan deductions be handled through payroll?

  Use the employee’s correct loan plan, current payroll thresholds and HMRC instructions. Student and postgraduate loan deductions can apply together. Check starter information and notices promptly, and follow the proper correction or refund route rather than changing deductions informally.

• How should tips, service charges and troncs be handled in payroll?

  The treatment depends on how tips are received, who distributes them and who decides the allocation. Tips are not automatically tax free, and a tronc does not automatically remove National Insurance. Payroll treatment and the legal requirements for fair distribution need separate consideration.

• How should transactions between companies I own be recorded?

  Each company needs its own record of money, goods and services exchanged with the other. Common ownership does not turn the companies into one bank account. Identify whether each transaction is a loan, payment on behalf of another company, recharge or sale, then check the accounting and tax treatment.

• How should unfinished work be reflected in my accounts?

  Unfinished work may need recognition in your accounts even if the customer has not been invoiced. The treatment depends on the contract, work completed and accounting basis. Invoice dates alone do not always show when income or costs belong in the results.

• How should website development and software costs be treated in my accounts?

  The treatment depends on what you are buying. Routine subscriptions, hosting and maintenance are different from creating or acquiring an asset with lasting value. Check the accounting and tax rules separately: describing everything as software or marketing does not decide whether it can be deducted immediately.

• How will we communicate?

  We use a mixture of telephone, email, online meetings and in-person meetings where appropriate. We will agree the best approach for you.

• Is AIA relevant if I use cash basis accounting?

  Sole traders and partnerships using cash basis normally deduct qualifying equipment purchases as business expenses instead of claiming AIA. Cars have separate capital allowance rules and do not qualify for AIA.

• Is CASS a cloud accounting firm?

  Yes. We use cloud technology to give clients faster access to information, simpler processes and better visibility over their finances.

• Is VAT included on every sale?

  No. VAT treatment depends on what you sell, where the customer is based and whether the supply is standard-rated, reduced-rated, zero-rated, exempt or outside the scope.

• Is Xero cheaper through an accountant?

  It can be. We can offer preferential pricing through CASS under our current subscription arrangements, compared with subscribing direct, and you don't need to take any accounting services from us to use it. We'll confirm the current price, VAT treatment and subscription terms before you proceed. Taking a Xero subscription through CASS does not create an accounting engagement. Any additional services and support will be agreed separately.

• Is Xero enough on its own?

  Xero is excellent at holding accurate records and showing you what is in them. What it cannot do is decide what should go in, check that it went in correctly, or tell you what the numbers mean for the decision you are about to make. Good software plus nobody looking at it is still nobody looking at it.

• Is Xero right for my business?

  Xero suits many small and growing businesses that want cloud access, bank feeds, invoicing, digital records and an accounting platform that can connect with other business apps. It's particularly useful when the business and its accountant need to work from the same live data.

• Is Xero secure?

  Xero uses established security measures, but users must also protect their accounts with strong passwords, multi-factor authentication and sensible access controls.

• Is cash flow forecasting only for businesses in trouble?

  Not at all. It's just as valuable for healthy, growing businesses — it's how you plan investment, hiring and tax with confidence rather than crossing your fingers.

• Is information from Cassie a substitute for professional advice?

  No. Cassie provides general information only. Tax and accounting decisions should be confirmed with the CASS team after considering your specific circumstances.

• Is my company dormant if it has no sales?

  Not necessarily. Companies House and HMRC use different tests for dormancy. Having no sales does not automatically make a company dormant if it has other activity or transactions. Check both positions before filing dormant accounts or assuming tax reporting has stopped.

• Is outsourced finance suitable for a small business?

  A small business with staff, VAT, multiple income streams or fast growth can need more finance support than a larger but very simple business. Turnover alone is a poor test.

• Is payroll information kept confidential?

  Yes. Payroll information is handled securely and only shared with authorised people.

• Is replacing something in a rental property a repair or an improvement?

  A repair normally restores an existing item or part of the property; an improvement changes or enhances it beyond repair. Replacing something with a modern equivalent can still be a repair where the improvement is incidental. Replacing furnishings can follow separate domestic-items rules. Initial refurbishment and work before letting can need particular care. Keep invoices, descriptions and photographs so your accountant can assess the treatment rather than relying on the contractor’s label.

• Is selling my unwanted belongings different from buying things to resell?

  Yes. Occasionally selling possessions you already own is different from buying or making goods to sell for profit. The activity determines whether you are trading, not simply the platform used. Valuable personal possessions can also raise separate Capital Gains Tax questions.

• Is this only for larger businesses?

  No. Ambitious small businesses and start-ups often gain the most from having an experienced sounding board and a clear plan to grow toward.

• Is this service only for large businesses?

  No. Any business owner who wants clearer information and more confidence in decision-making can benefit from forward-looking support.

• Is this the same as outsourcing my finance department?

  Yes. We can act as your complete outsourced finance department, or top up your existing team with the bits you're missing — from bookkeeping through to board-level reporting.

• Is this the same as your Outsourced Finance service?

  No. Strategic Review & Insights is the reporting and interpretation layer: management accounts, the numbers explained, and regular conversations about what to do next. Outsourced Finance & Virtual FD is the whole finance function — bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, reporting and FD-level support together. Strategic Review & Insights is available alongside our ongoing monthly bookkeeping, because it depends on current records; our pricing tool explains where that requirement applies.

• Is training suitable for beginners?

  Absolutely.

• Is your Xero training suitable for beginners?

  Yes. We can start with the basics and build confidence at a comfortable pace.

• My bookkeeping is behind. Can you still do this?

  Yes — we'd start by getting the bookkeeping accurate and up to date, because reporting is only ever as reliable as the records behind it. We take over from an existing bookkeeper or accountant regularly, including part-way through a year, and we'll tell you honestly what needs putting right first.

• Should I build an in-house finance team or outsource it?

  In-house buys you presence and control; outsourcing buys you breadth and cover. Most owner-managed businesses do better outsourced until the work is genuinely full-time and the processes are stable then the first in-house hire lands into something that works, rather than into a mess.

• Should I buy equipment before my year end to reduce tax?

  Buying qualifying equipment before year end may bring tax relief into that period. However, contract terms and payment timing matter. The purchase should also make business sense and fit your cash flow.

• Should I claim mileage or put a vehicle through the business?

  The best approach depends on whether you are a sole trader or company director, the vehicle, business mileage, private use and how it is bought or leased. Company vehicles can create personal benefit charges, and VAT recovery can be restricted. Mileage and actual vehicle costs cannot simply be claimed twice for the same use. CASS can compare the overall cost and tax treatment before you commit.

• Should I outsource my payroll?

  Payroll is a good candidate for outsourcing when the process is taking too much internal time, the business lacks cover for holidays or absence, or the person running it isn't confident with payroll changes and deadlines.

• Should I prepare for MTD before it becomes mandatory?

  Yes. Moving to suitable software and establishing good record keeping early will make the transition much easier.

• Should I register for VAT voluntarily?

  Voluntary registration can make sense if most customers are VAT registered, you have significant VAT-bearing costs, or being VAT registered fits the commercial position you want to present. It can also avoid having to change pricing and systems suddenly when compulsory registration arrives.

• Should I start as a sole trader or a limited company?

  There is no single answer. We will consider tax, risk, administration, ownership and your plans before recommending a structure.

• Should I trade as a sole trader or limited company?

  The right structure depends on tax, risk, administrative responsibilities and your longer-term plans. We can compare the options based on your circumstances.

• Should a law firm outsource its legal cashiering?

  It depends on the size of the firm and who currently does the work. Outsourcing gives you a specialist doing the postings and reconciliations to the relevant SRA Accounts Rules or CLC Accounts Code (England and Wales), cover when people are away, and a second pair of eyes on the client account. What it never does is move the firm's own responsibility: the COFA, HOFA, managers and authorised persons keep their duties, and the firm keeps oversight of the work.

• What KPIs should I track in my business?

  The KPIs worth tracking depend on the business. Choose a small number that explain revenue, margin, cash or capacity — for example debtor days, utilisation, recurring revenue, average order value or labour cost.

• What alternatives are available to Annual Investment Allowance?

  Alternatives include full expensing, 50% and 40% first-year allowances, specific 100% first-year allowances and writing down allowances. Eligibility depends on your business structure, the asset and the purchase date.

• What are CASS's office hours?

  Please refer to the current contact details on our website or contact the team, as opening hours may change.

• What are P11Ds and when are they needed?

  A P11D reports taxable benefits and expenses provided to an employee or director that have not been dealt with through payroll. A P11D(b) deals with the employer’s Class 1A National Insurance. Reporting depends on the benefit and tax year, with mandatory payrolling being introduced in phases.

• What are accruals and prepayments?

  An accrual records a cost relating to a period even though the bill or payment may come later. A prepayment spreads a cost paid in advance over the periods it relates to, such as annual insurance. They help reports reflect when costs are incurred rather than just when cash moves. The approach depends on the accounting basis used; tax treatment may differ.

• What are limited company accounts and what do they tell me?

  Limited company accounts are the formal annual financial statements of the company. They summarise its financial performance and position for the accounting period and form part of the company's statutory reporting obligations.

• What are management accounts?

  Management accounts are regular financial reports prepared to help you run the business. They normally bring together profit and loss, balance sheet and other relevant information so you can see what has happened recently and what needs attention.

• What are payments on account?

  Payments on account are advance instalments towards the following year's tax bill. They are usually based on the previous year's Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance.

• What are statutory accounts?

  Statutory accounts are the formal annual accounts a limited company must prepare in the required format for shareholders, Companies House and HMRC.

• What are the benefits of outsourcing the finance function?

  Instead of trying to find one person who can do bookkeeping, payroll, reporting, tax and strategic finance equally well, outsourcing can give the business access to the right level of expertise for each task.

• What are the warning signs that a growing business has outgrown its finance setup?

  If every invoice, payment, payroll query and reporting question ultimately lands with the owner, the process has not scaled with the business.

• What are writing down allowances?

  Writing down allowances spread equipment tax relief over time. The main-pool rate is generally 14% from April 2026 and the special-rate rate is 6%, applied to the remaining tax balance rather than the original purchase cost.

• What awards has CASS received?

  CASS has been named a finalist for Medium Practice of the Year at the ICB LUCA Awards 2026. We were also named Tamworth Small Business of the Year in 2023 and recognised as a finalist in the Xero Awards and the LUCA Awards in 2025.

• What bookkeeping services do you provide?

  We can keep your accounting records up to date, reconcile bank and credit card accounts, process transactions, manage customer and supplier records and provide regular financial information.

• What changes must I report when a director, shareholder or PSC changes?

  Director appointments, resignations and changes to relevant details need the appropriate Companies House filings. Changes to people with significant control (PSC) must also be reported under their own rules. Share issues, transfers and shareholder information have different recording and filing requirements, including maintaining the register of members. Do not assume everything can wait until the next confirmation statement. Tell CASS promptly so we can check the filings within our agreed scope and identify any legal work needed.

• What could cause my agreed monthly fee to change?

  A material change in your service needs, transaction volumes, complexity or business structure may mean the agreed scope needs reviewing. Fees may also be reviewed under the terms of your engagement or at renewal. CASS will explain a proposed change and the basis for it before it takes effect in line with those terms. A busier month alone should not be assumed to trigger an automatic extra charge.

• What counts towards the VAT registration threshold?

  VAT taxable turnover: everything you sell that is not VAT exempt or outside the scope, including zero-rated sales. It is not the same as profit, and it is monitored on a rolling 12-month basis checked at the end of each month, as well as against the next-30-days test. Some supplies and some non-UK-established situations follow different rules — worth checking rather than assuming.

• What do I need to do when an employee leaves?

  Provide the leaving date and any final pay items in time for the employee's last payroll. Holiday pay, deductions or other final adjustments may need to be included.

• What do I need to provide before CASS can start work?

  The requirements depend on your services. They normally include an accepted proposal and engagement terms, onboarding information, identity checks, relevant records and secure access or authorisation for the systems we need. Where appropriate, we also request information from your previous accountant with your authority. CASS will explain what is needed and agree a start plan. Please use the agreed secure process for sensitive information.

• What documents do you need for bookkeeping?

  Typically, we need access to bank information, sales records, supplier invoices, receipts and details of any transactions that are not clear from the records.

• What does Giving You More Than Numbers mean?

  It means we do more than keep you compliant. We help you understand your finances, plan ahead and make confident decisions about your business.

• What does a Virtual Finance Director actually do?

  A Virtual FD doesn't simply present a set of accounts. They explain what changed, challenge assumptions and help decide what action follows from the numbers.

• What does a balance sheet tell me?

  A balance sheet shows the business's assets, liabilities and equity at a point in time. It includes items such as cash, customer debts, supplier balances, loans and tax liabilities.

• What does a good bookkeeping service actually include?

  A good bookkeeping service keeps bank transactions, sales, purchases and expenses complete and reconciled. It should deal with the detail consistently enough that the numbers can be relied on rather than repaired at year end.

• What does a personal tax accountant cost?

  You can see an indicative price for personal tax work on our pricing page, based on the information you provide. What drives it is the complexity of the return — employment, dividends, property, capital gains — rather than the time of year. Some services are only available alongside our ongoing bookkeeping, and we will confirm the available combination and any eligibility requirements before quoting. Prices shown are plus VAT. The figure on the pricing page is indicative, based on the information you give us: we verify the scope on your Discovery Call and confirm your fee in a written proposal before any work begins.

• What does an employee cost beyond their salary?

  Allow for employer National Insurance where due, pension contributions, benefits, recruitment, training, equipment and payroll administration. Consider paid leave and absence cover when planning capacity, without adding holiday pay twice where it is already included in salary. Reliefs and allowances may change the employer costs. CASS can help model the total cost and the effect on cash flow before you recruit.

• What does outsourced finance and bookkeeping cost?

  Our pricing is published — you can build your package on the pricing page and see an indicative monthly fee and any one-off costs in about two minutes, without giving us your email address. The figure comes from your numbers: transaction volumes, how many people you pay, how tidy the records are, and which services you want. Prices shown are plus VAT. The figure on the pricing page is indicative, based on the information you give us: we verify the scope on your Discovery Call and confirm your fee in a written proposal before any work begins.

• What finance processes should I put in place as I hire more people?

  As more people become involved, define who raises invoices, approves purchases, makes payments, processes expenses and reviews the accounts. Informal processes that work with two people rarely scale cleanly.

• What financial checks should I make before buying another business?

  Review historic and current results, cash flow, debts, tax obligations, working capital and the quality of the records. Test whether reported profits are sustainable and identify dependence on key customers, staff or the owner. Consider the purchase structure, funding and costs after completion. CASS can discuss financial analysis and due-diligence support within our scope; legal, valuation and specialist tax work may require other advisers.

• What financial information do I need as my business grows?

  As the business grows, you need regular information on revenue, gross margin, overheads and profit, ideally compared with budget, forecast and previous periods. Growth in sales without growth in profit isn't necessarily good growth.

• What financial information should someone else be able to access if I’m unavailable?

  A suitably authorised person should be able to find cash-flow forecasts, bank and finance arrangements, payroll deadlines, tax obligations, customer debts, supplier commitments and key adviser contacts. Access should match their role, with secure permissions and approval procedures rather than shared passwords. Document who can make decisions and who provides cover. CASS can help identify the finance information needed for an agreed continuity plan.

• What financial information should trustees or a CIC board review?

  Review income and expenditure against budget, cash flow, reserves, debts, funding restrictions and major commitments. Understand which money is available for general use and whether the organisation can meet its obligations. Reports should highlight exceptions and explain the action needed. Delegating bookkeeping does not remove trustees’ or directors’ responsibilities. Your accountant can help prepare understandable reports within an agreed service, alongside any separate statutory reporting requirements.

• What financial reports should a growing business review every month?

  Review revenue, direct costs, gross profit and overheads so you can see whether sales are translating into profit. Compare the month and year-to-date position with budget, forecast or a useful prior period.

• What financial systems should I put in place when starting a business?

  Start with a separate business bank account, cloud accounting software, a method for capturing purchase invoices and receipts, and a clear process for raising sales invoices and chasing payment. If you have staff, add payroll and pension processes from the outset.

• What happens after I contact CASS?

  We will review your enquiry and arrange a convenient time to talk about your business, answer your questions and understand the support you are looking for.

• What happens financially when someone joins or leaves a partnership?

  The partners need to agree how profits, capital, assets and liabilities are dealt with, and update the relevant records and tax reporting. The partnership agreement is central. Ordinary partnerships and LLPs have different legal requirements, so the structure matters.

• What happens if I have both self-employment and rental income?

  For MTD for Income Tax, relevant gross income from self-employment and property is generally combined when checking whether the qualifying threshold applies. This is before deducting expenses. If you are within MTD, each self-employment and each relevant property business needs appropriate digital records and updates. CASS can check the applicable reference year, start date and any exemptions rather than looking at each income source in isolation.

• What happens if I lose a receipt?

  Try to obtain a replacement invoice or receipt from the supplier. A bank entry shows that a payment happened, but may not explain what was bought or provide the evidence needed for VAT recovery. Keep any supporting emails, order details and a note of the business purpose. Do not automatically discard the expense or reclaim VAT: ask CASS to assess the evidence and applicable rules.

• What happens if I make a mistake in a quarterly update?

  Correct the underlying digital records as soon as you identify the mistake. Quarterly updates are cumulative, so a later update can normally include corrections to earlier figures without resending every previous update. If the last update has already been sent, further correction may be needed before the tax return is submitted. CASS can check what needs changing and ensure the year-end figures reflect the corrected records.

• What happens if I miss the tax return deadline?

  HMRC may charge penalties and interest. Contact us as soon as possible so we can help complete the return and deal with any outstanding issues.

• What happens if I owe money to my company at year end?

  Money you owe your company is usually shown as an overdrawn director’s loan account. Leaving it outstanding can create a company tax charge, and a cheap or interest-free loan may create a personal benefit. The repayment date and how the balance arose both matter.

• What happens if I pay personal expenses from my company account?

  Tell your accountant or bookkeeper and identify the payment clearly. A personal purchase is not automatically a deductible business expense because the company paid for it. Depending on the circumstances, it may need to be recorded through your director’s loan account or dealt with as remuneration or a benefit. Any VAT claim must also be checked. CASS can help put the transaction in the right place.

• What happens if I receive an unexpected HMRC payment demand?

  Check that it is genuine using official HMRC contact details, rather than relying on links or phone numbers in an unexpected message. Identify the tax, period, calculation and response deadline, then send it to CASS through our agreed secure process. The amount may need checking, but do not assume an enquiry or dispute pauses payment or appeal deadlines. A statutory demand or other formal enforcement action needs urgent specialist advice.

• What happens if I register for VAT late?

  If you should have registered earlier, HMRC can treat the registration as effective from the date it should have happened. That can mean VAT is due on sales even if you did not charge customers VAT at the time.

• What happens if I run more than one sole-trader business?

  Each distinct self-employment normally needs its own digital records and quarterly updates under MTD for Income Tax. Your relevant gross income is considered together when assessing whether MTD applies. Several activities do not automatically mean several businesses, so the distinction should be checked. CASS can help organise the records and software around the actual businesses you operate.

• What happens if my VAT return is late?

  Late submissions or payments can lead to penalties and interest. Contact us quickly so we can help you bring matters up to date and understand your options.

• What happens if my bookkeeping falls behind?

  When bookkeeping is behind, you can't rely on the accounting system to tell you current profit, cash commitments, customer debts or VAT. Decisions then start being made from the bank balance or incomplete information.

• What happens if my business makes a tax loss?

  A tax loss may qualify for relief, but the options depend on your business structure, circumstances and the type of loss. It is not automatically a refund. Check the tax calculation and claim deadlines rather than assuming the loss disappears or cancels other tax.

• What happens if my transaction volumes differ from the figures I entered online?

  The website price is indicative and based on the information you provide. We verify the records, volumes and scope during your Discovery Call and confirm the fee in a written proposal. If volumes change materially after work starts, we review them against your agreed service and terms. Enter your best realistic estimate rather than choosing a lower figure simply to reduce the displayed price.

• What happens to my prices and existing contracts when I register for VAT?

  From your effective registration date, you need to apply the correct VAT treatment to taxable sales. Whether you can add VAT to an agreed price depends on the contract and how the price was presented. If a price is fixed inclusive of VAT, the VAT may come out of the amount you receive. Review quotes, contracts, website prices and customer communications before registration takes effect.

• What happens to my tax position when I sell equipment I claimed allowances on?

  Selling equipment can affect your capital allowance calculation, even if you previously claimed its full cost through AIA. The disposal value is normally brought into the relevant allowance calculation and may create a taxable balancing charge. The accounting profit on the sale and any VAT are separate checks.

• What happens to stock and business assets when I stop trading?

  Stock and assets still need to be accounted for when trading stops. Selling them, keeping them personally or transferring them can have different tax consequences. VAT and capital-allowance adjustments may also apply, so prepare a closing list before disposing of anything.

• What information do I need for my Self Assessment tax return?

  This can include employment information, self-employment or partnership figures, property income, dividends, interest, pensions and other taxable income relevant to your circumstances.

• What information do I need when taking on a new employee?

  You will need the employee's personal details, start date, pay information, tax starter information and bank details, together with any contractual payroll items.

• What information do you need before each payroll run?

  We normally need details of hours, overtime, bonuses, absences, starters, leavers and any other changes before the agreed payroll deadline.

• What information will CASS need from my old accountant?

  This may include accounts, tax returns, tax calculations, payroll records, company information, bookkeeping data and details of outstanding matters.

• What is Business Growth and Planning?

  It is our service for business owners who want to look forward, understand performance and use their financial information to make better decisions.

• What is CIS gross payment status, and how does it work?

  CIS gross payment status allows a qualifying subcontractor to receive payments without CIS deductions. It changes how tax is collected, not whether profits are taxable. HMRC must approve the status, contractors must check it appropriately, and the subcontractor must maintain compliance.

• What is Employment Allowance, and can my business claim it?

  Employment Allowance can reduce an eligible employer’s secondary Class 1 National Insurance liability by up to £10,500 for 2026/27. Eligibility and connected-company rules matter. It is not a cash grant or a reduction in employees’ National Insurance, and a claim needs to be made correctly through payroll.

• What is IR35, and when should my business check the off-payroll working rules?

  IR35 concerns people who work through an intermediary, usually their own company, but would be employees for tax purposes if engaged directly. Who assesses the arrangement depends on the client and engagement. Check the rules before agreeing the contract, rather than relying on the worker having a limited company.

• What is Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?

  Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is HMRC's system requiring affected sole traders and landlords to keep digital records, send quarterly updates and complete their annual tax reporting through compatible software.

• What is Xero?

  Xero is cloud accounting software that allows businesses and their advisers to work from the same up-to-date financial information.

• What is a 13-week cash-flow forecast, and when would I use one?

  It is a week-by-week forecast of money expected in and out over the next 13 weeks. It helps you see when cash could become tight, even if the business looks profitable overall. It is particularly useful during rapid growth, seasonal trading or financial pressure. Start with the available bank balance, include realistic payment dates and update it regularly against actual results.

• What is a COFA responsible for?

  In an SRA-regulated firm in England and Wales, the COFA must take all reasonable steps to ensure the firm complies with the SRA Accounts Rules, and to ensure that facts or matters they reasonably believe are capable of amounting to a serious breach are reported promptly to the SRA. There is also a wider duty to bring relevant facts and matters to the SRA's attention. The COFA role does not remove the compliance responsibilities of the firm's managers, and it is not the same as the day-to-day cashiering work. CLC-regulated practices work to a different framework, where the HOFA and managers have their own reporting duties.

• What is a Companies House personal code, and when do I need it?

  It is the personal code issued after you verify your identity with Companies House. It belongs to you, rather than to a company, and is different from the company authentication code. You use it when the rules require you to link your verified identity to a director or Person of Significant Control (PSC) role. Deadlines depend on your role and circumstances. Keep it secure and share it only through an agreed process with someone authorised to file for you.

• What is a HOFA responsible for in a CLC-regulated practice?

  The Head of Finance and Administration, or HOFA, is a formal role in a CLC-regulated alternative business structure. They oversee compliance with the CLC's requirements for handling money and must promptly report breaches of those requirements to the CLC. The HOFA must also promptly report when the practice is in financial distress or at significant risk of becoming financially distressed. Where misappropriation of client funds is discovered, the practice must notify the CLC without delay and replace the shortfall without delay. The practice and its managers retain their own responsibilities: appointing a HOFA or outsourcing legal cashiering does not transfer all accountability to that person or provider.

• What is a Virtual Finance Director?

  A Virtual Finance Director gives you FD-level input on a flexible, part-time basis: planning, budgeting, cash-flow forecasting, financial modelling and testing big decisions on the numbers, without a full-time appointment. It is commercial and financial support for your own decision-making. Investment, pension product and other specialist recommendations should come from an adviser authorised for that work, and finance approval and outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

• What is a cash flow forecast?

  A cash flow forecast estimates the money expected to come into and leave the business over a future period. It's designed to show when cash may become tight or when there may be capacity to invest.

• What is a catch-up bookkeeping fee?

  A catch-up fee covers bringing earlier records up to date before, or alongside, the start of your ongoing service. It is separate from the fee for keeping current records maintained. The amount depends on the period involved, transaction volumes and the condition of the records. CASS explains the work and cost in your proposal, including any agreed payment arrangement.

• What is a client account reconciliation?

  A client account reconciliation compares the client bank account, client ledger balances and relevant accounting records so differences can be identified and investigated.

• What is a director’s loan account?

  A director’s loan account records money owed between you and your company outside normal salary, dividends and expense repayments. If you lend the company money, it may owe you a balance. If you take money that has not been properly treated as another type of payment, you may owe the company. An overdrawn account can have company and personal tax consequences, so it should be monitored regularly.

• What is a limited cost business under the VAT Flat Rate Scheme?

  A limited cost business spends too little on qualifying goods under HMRC’s Flat Rate Scheme test. It must normally use a 16.5% flat rate, even if its trade usually has a lower rate. The test is based on relevant goods, not all business expenses, and needs checking each VAT period.

• What is a profit and loss report?

  A profit and loss report summarises income and expenses for a month, quarter or year and shows the resulting profit or loss.

• What is an outsourced finance team?

  An outsourced finance team provides some or all of the finance functions a business would otherwise employ internally. That can range from bookkeeping and payroll through to management accounts, cash forecasting and strategic finance support.

• What is fee alignment, and why might it apply?

  Some annual services are paid for through monthly fees. If you join part-way through the service period, a fee-alignment amount may apply so the payment schedule reflects the agreed annual work. It is different from catching up bookkeeping. Where applicable, CASS sets out the calculation, the period covered and payment terms in your proposal before you agree to proceed.

• What is full expensing and can my business use it?

  Full expensing lets companies subject to Corporation Tax deduct 100% of qualifying new and unused main-rate equipment costs upfront. It does not apply to sole traders, partnerships, cars or most equipment bought to lease out.

• What is included in a Xero setup?

  A setup may include organisation details, financial settings, bank feeds, chart of accounts, invoice templates, users, opening balances and agreed integrations.

• What is legal cashiering?

  Legal cashiering covers the processing and control of financial transactions within a legal practice, including work involving office and client money: postings, transfers, reconciliations and the records that evidence them. It supports the firm's compliance with the relevant SRA Accounts Rules or CLC Accounts Code, but it is not the same as an audit, and legal cashiering does not itself include a regulatory accountant's report. The firm's managers, COFA or HOFA keep their own responsibilities.

• What is partial exemption, and could it affect my business?

  Partial exemption can affect a VAT-registered business that makes both taxable and exempt sales. It determines how much VAT on costs can be recovered. Exempt sales and zero-rated sales are different, so the starting point is checking the activities correctly.

• What is pension re-enrolment, and what must an employer do?

  Pension re-enrolment is the recurring duty to assess certain staff who have left an automatic enrolment scheme and put eligible staff back in. Employers must also complete a re-declaration of compliance, even if nobody needs re-enrolling. It is separate from ongoing payroll pension duties.

• What is qualifying income for MTD for Income Tax?

  Your combined gross income from self-employment and property, before expenses, in the reference tax year — not profit, and not including employment or dividend income. HMRC compares it with the phase thresholds: over £50,000 in 2024/25, over £30,000 in 2025/26, over £20,000 in 2026/27. Exemptions and exclusions apply.

• What is salary sacrifice, and is it suitable for my business?

  Salary sacrifice is an agreed reduction in an employee’s contractual cash salary in exchange for a benefit, such as an employer pension contribution. Tax treatment depends on the benefit and current rules, so savings are not automatic. It must not reduce pay below the applicable minimum wage and can affect other entitlements. CASS can assess the payroll implications; contracts and pension product advice may need appropriate specialists.

• What is the 40% first-year allowance?

  Qualifying new and unused main-rate equipment bought from 1 January 2026 can receive a 40% deduction upfront. Writing down allowances apply to the remaining 60% from the next accounting period. Cars are excluded.

• What is the 50% first-year allowance?

  Companies can deduct 50% of qualifying new and unused special-rate equipment costs upfront. The remaining cost goes into the special-rate pool for writing down allowances from the following accounting period.

• What is the Annual Investment Allowance?

  AIA lets you deduct qualifying equipment costs from taxable profits in the period you buy them, within your available allowance. It can reduce your tax bill when you invest in your business.

• What is the current VAT registration threshold?

  £90,000 of VAT taxable turnover, correct at October 2026. For a UK-established business you must register if your taxable turnover in the previous 12 months goes over it — checked at the end of every month — or if you expect to go over it in the next 30 days alone. Different rules apply to businesses not established in the UK. Check the current figure and your registration date against HMRC's guidance, or ask us to check it with you.

• What is the current VAT threshold

  The UK VAT registration threshold is £90,000 of VAT-taxable turnover. For a UK-established business, you normally must register if your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 over the previous rolling 12 months, checked at each month end, or you expect it to exceed £90,000 in the next 30 days alone. Taxable turnover includes sales subject to standard, reduced and zero-rate VAT. It generally excludes VAT-exempt sales. The threshold relates to sales, not profit, and does not reset at the start of your financial or tax year. You can also register voluntarily below the threshold. Different rules apply to businesses established outside the UK.

• What is the difference between Dext, Apron and Xero’s document capture?

  All three can help collect invoices and receipts and extract information for bookkeeping. Xero’s Smart Document Capture works within Xero’s Documents area. Dext provides document capture and connected bookkeeping workflows, while Apron offers invoice capture alongside payment-related tools. The right choice depends on your volumes, approval needs, integrations and subscription. CASS can assess the setup rather than assuming one tool replaces every other tool. Extracted information still needs appropriate checks.

• What is the difference between a CIC and a charity for accounting purposes?

  A Community Interest Company is a company with a community purpose and an asset lock, but it is not itself a charity. It has company accounts and CIC reporting obligations, and CIC status does not provide special Corporation Tax exemptions. Charities have separate accounting and reporting requirements and may qualify for tax exemptions where conditions are met. Your accountant can assess the support available for your organisation and identify any specialist reporting or assurance work required.

• What is the difference between a CIS contractor and subcontractor?

  Under the Construction Industry Scheme, a contractor pays subcontractors for construction work and may need to verify them, make deductions and submit monthly returns. A subcontractor carries out construction work for a contractor and may have deductions taken from payments. A business can be both. Some businesses outside construction can also fall within the contractor rules. CASS can check your role and the support required.

• What is the difference between a disbursement and recharging an expense?

  A disbursement is a payment made as an agent on your customer’s behalf that meets HMRC’s conditions. Recharging your own cost is different and normally forms part of your supply. Passing on the exact amount does not automatically make it a disbursement.

• What is the difference between a donation and sponsorship?

  The arrangement matters more than the label. A genuine donation normally involves no significant benefit in return. Commercial sponsorship can involve advertising, promotion or other services, which may create trading and VAT consequences. Fundraising sponsorship by individuals can follow different Gift Aid rules.

• What is the difference between an employee and a self-employed contractor?

  The distinction depends on the real working arrangement, not simply whether someone sends an invoice. Control, personal service, substitution and financial risk are among the factors considered. Tax status and employment-rights status are not always identical, and using an intermediary company can raise additional questions. CASS can help assess the tax and payroll implications and identify when specialist employment advice is needed.

• What is the difference between an overdraft, a business loan and invoice finance?

  An overdraft provides flexible short-term borrowing through your bank account. A business loan provides an agreed sum with a repayment schedule. Invoice finance releases cash against eligible unpaid invoices. The right fit depends on why you need the money, how repayment will happen and the costs and security required.

• What is the difference between buying equipment outright, hire purchase and leasing?

  Buying outright usually means paying for ownership immediately. Hire purchase spreads payments, with ownership normally passing when the agreement’s conditions are met. Leasing gives you use of the equipment under a rental arrangement, with ownership depending on its terms. Cash flow, interest, VAT, tax relief and accounting treatment differ; a lease is not automatically just a monthly expense in the accounts. CASS can compare the financial implications before you commit.

• What is the difference between buying equipment outright, hire purchase and leasing?

  Buying outright usually means paying for ownership immediately. Hire purchase spreads payments, with ownership normally passing when the agreement’s conditions are met. Leasing gives you use of the equipment under a rental arrangement, with ownership depending on its terms. Cash flow, interest, VAT, tax relief and accounting treatment differ; a lease is not automatically just a monthly expense in the accounts. CASS can compare the financial implications before you commit.

• What is the difference between cash-basis and traditional accounting for a sole trader?

  Cash basis generally recognises income when received and allowable expenses when paid. Traditional accounting measures income and costs in the periods they relate to, including unpaid balances and other adjustments. Cash basis is the default for eligible businesses, but choosing the right approach depends on your circumstances.

• What is the difference between identity verification and a confirmation statement?

  Identity verification confirms who an individual is. A confirmation statement confirms that the company information held by Companies House is correct and meets the relevant filing requirements. They are separate obligations, although a director’s verified identity is linked to their appointment through the required filings. If you are also a person with significant control, separate PSC verification details must be submitted. CASS can help check what is required for your roles and company.

• What is the difference between legal cashiering and an accountant’s report?

  Legal cashiering maintains the practice’s day-to-day financial records and supports controls such as reconciliations. A regulatory accountant’s report is a separate assessment prepared by an eligible reporting accountant under the applicable rules. Requirements and exemptions differ between SRA and CLC practices. CASS’s legal cashiering service does not itself replace or include that report; any reporting accountant appointment needs to be arranged separately.

• What is the difference between margin and markup?

  Markup compares profit with cost; margin compares profit with the selling price. If something costs £80 and sells for £100, the £20 difference is a 25% markup but a 20% margin, before other costs. Use amounts excluding recoverable VAT for a like-for-like comparison. Confusing the two can lead to prices that earn less than expected. CASS can help you build the right calculation into your pricing.

• What is working capital?

  Debtors, creditors and working capital broadly reflects short-term assets and liabilities such as customer debts, stock and supplier balances. It helps explain why a profitable business can still need cash to fund growth.

• What key performance indicators should I track?

  The right measures depend on your business. They may include gross margin, cash runway, debtor days, recurring income, utilisation or profit by service or product.

• What makes CASS different from other accountants?

  We believe accounting should give you more than completed forms and historic figures. Our team combines accurate day-to-day accounting with straightforward advice, modern technology and genuine ongoing support.

• What must I do when I stop trading as a sole trader?

  Tell HMRC that you have stopped self-employment, complete the required final tax reporting and review any VAT or employer registrations. Stopping sales does not automatically close every obligation. Keep records of the cessation date, outstanding transactions and remaining assets.

• What numbers should a business owner understand?

  At minimum, understand revenue, gross profit, overheads, net profit and cash. Those five numbers tell you whether sales are turning into margin, whether the cost base is under control and whether the profit is actually turning into money in the bank.

• What paperwork should I prepare when paying a dividend?

  Check that the company has enough distributable profit, record the decision properly and prepare a dividend voucher for each shareholder being paid. Keep the paperwork with the accounts and match it to the payment. A bank transfer labelled dividend is not enough on its own.

• What payroll services do you provide?

  We process payroll, issue payslips, submit required information to HMRC and support starters, leavers, statutory payments and workplace pensions.

• What purchases qualify for Annual Investment Allowance?

  Many equipment purchases qualify, including computers, tools, machinery, office furniture and vans. Cars, land and buildings themselves do not qualify for AIA, although certain building fixtures and systems can.

• What receipts and invoices do I need to keep?

  Keep sales invoices and the invoices or receipts supporting business purchases and expenses. Bank transactions on their own do not always explain what was bought or whether the cost has the correct tax treatment.

• What records do I need to keep for VAT?

  You need clear digital records of sales, purchases and VAT amounts, together with supporting invoices and other evidence where required.

• What records should I keep when buying or selling a rental property?

  Keep purchase and sale completion statements, contracts, legal fees, property taxes, ownership details and evidence of capital improvements. Retain rental records and finance information separately, and distinguish improvements from repairs already claimed. These records can be needed years later to calculate a gain. Contact CASS before completion: some property disposals have reporting and payment deadlines well before the annual tax return, and the requirements depend on your circumstances.

• What records should a new business keep?

  You should retain clear records of sales, costs, bank transactions, invoices, receipts, payroll and other relevant business activity.

• What records will I need to keep for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?

  Affected businesses and landlords need a process for maintaining the required income and expense information digitally in compatible software.

• What responsibilities remain mine when CASS handles my accounts?

  As a director, you remain responsible for the company’s records, filings and legal duties even when an accountant helps with them. CASS carries out the services agreed in your engagement, but needs complete information, timely responses and any required approvals. You should understand the accounts you approve, keep us informed of changes and ensure obligations outside our scope are handled. We explain the division of responsibilities before work begins.

• What services are included in an outsourced finance function?

  This can include bookkeeping, purchase processing, sales invoicing support, bank reconciliation, expenses, payroll and VAT — the work that keeps the underlying records complete and current.

• What services does CASS offer?

  Bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, self assessment, limited company year-end accounts, management accounts and cash flow forecasting, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, and outsourced finance with a virtual finance director for businesses that need more than a bookkeeper. We are a Xero practice, so there is also Xero set-up, migration, training, troubleshooting and support. Separately, our legal cashiering division looks after client accounts for conveyancing firms.

• What should I budget for when growing my business?

  Recruitment, marketing, systems, premises, stock and professional support can all increase before the additional sales are collected. Include the timing of those costs, not just the annual total.

• What should I check before paying a supplier who has changed their bank details?

  Pause and verify the change independently using a trusted contact number already on file, not a number supplied in the change request. Follow your approval process and use your bank’s payee checks, but do not treat a matching name as the only safeguard. Unexpected urgency is a warning sign. If you have already made a suspicious payment, contact your bank immediately.

• What should I check before signing a long-term lease or other fixed commitment?

  Look at the full commitment, not just the monthly payment. Check upfront costs, price increases, exit terms and any personal guarantee, then test affordability under a weaker trading forecast. A commitment should leave room for tax, wages and working capital as well as the expected benefit.

• What should I consider before giving a personal guarantee?

  A personal guarantee can make you personally responsible for business borrowing if the business cannot repay. Check what it covers, whether liability is capped, when the lender can enforce it and how you obtain a release. Understand the cash risk and obtain independent legal advice before signing.

• What should I do if I cannot pay wages or suppliers?

  Act promptly. Prepare a short-term cash-flow forecast, establish what is due and discuss the position with CASS and the people affected. Do not assume another loan or a delayed tax payment solves the underlying problem. If the business may be unable to meet debts as they fall due, seek advice from a licensed insolvency practitioner or appropriate legal adviser. Decisions about trading and payments need to consider the business’s obligations and circumstances.

• What should I do if I discover a tax error from a previous year?

  Tell your accountant promptly and gather the return, records and details of the error. The correction route and time limits depend on the tax, period and circumstances. Some returns can be amended; other errors require a separate notification or disclosure. Updating your bookkeeping alone does not necessarily correct a return already filed. Interest or penalties may apply, so do not wait for the next annual filing to ask what action is needed.

• What should I do if I receive a Companies House reminder?

  Forward it to us promptly so we can check the deadline and confirm who is responsible for the filing.

• What should I do if I receive a letter from HMRC?

  Send us a clear copy as soon as possible. Do not ignore it, even if you believe the information is wrong.

• What should I do if I suspect someone has accessed my accounting account?

  Act promptly. Use the provider’s official recovery process, secure the account from a trusted device and alert your IT support and CASS. Check for unauthorised changes, especially payment details. If money or personal information is affected, further reporting may be required.

• What should I do if I think I’ve paid a fraudulent invoice?

  Contact your bank immediately using a trusted number and explain that the payment may be fraudulent. Ask about stopping or recovering it. Preserve the evidence and report the incident through the appropriate official route. Recovery is not guaranteed, so speed matters.

• What should I do if I’ve paid an employee too much?

  Confirm the error and tell the employee promptly, explaining the amount and how it arose. Agree a reasonable repayment approach, taking their circumstances into account, and check any legal requirements before making deductions. Correct payroll records and HMRC reporting where necessary. CASS can help with the payroll correction; a disputed repayment or employment issue may need Acas or legal advice.

• What should I do if a supplier has charged the wrong VAT?

  Ask the supplier to check the charge and issue the correct documentation. Do not manually change their invoice or assume you can reclaim the VAT you think should have been charged. If your VAT return is due, check the appropriate treatment before submitting it.

• What should I do if an answer doesn’t fit my circumstances?

  Contact CASS and explain what is different about your situation. An answer may assume a particular business structure, location, tax year or regulator, and those details can change the result. Cassie provides general information rather than personal advice. Use our agreed secure process if we need records; do not put sensitive tax, banking or client information into the public chatbot.

• What should I do if my Xero bank feed stops updating?

  Check whether the connection needs reauthorising, whether the bank or Xero reports a service issue, and the date of the last imported transaction. Reconnect using the bank’s secure process where appropriate. If missing transactions need a manual import, check the date range carefully to avoid gaps or duplicates. Do not delete the account or existing records as a first step. CASS can help get your feeds up and running again.

• What should I do if my circumstances change?

  Tell us as soon as possible about major changes such as new income, property, staff, finance, company ownership or business activity.

• What should I do if my tax code looks wrong?

  Check HMRC’s tax-code explanation against your jobs, pensions, benefits and estimated income. Incorrect or out-of-date information can cause too much or too little tax to be deducted. Use your Personal Tax Account or contact HMRC to correct the underlying details. Your employer normally follows the code HMRC issues rather than choosing a different one. CASS can help explain the calculation and, where authorised and agreed, assist with the query.

• What should I do in an urgent accounting situation?

  Contact your usual CASS team member by telephone and email, explain the urgency and provide any deadline or supporting documents.

• What should I do when a large customer keeps paying late?

  Check the contract, invoice accuracy and whether there is a genuine dispute. Contact the customer early, agree clear payment dates and keep records of the conversation. Review credit limits, deposits and future payment terms, and reflect realistic collection dates in your forecast. CASS can help with debtor reporting and agreed credit-control support. Formal recovery or contractual disputes may require legal advice.

• What should I expect from a quarterly finance review?

  Start with the financial and operational results since the last review: revenue, margin, costs, cash and the KPIs that matter to the business. Focus on material movement rather than reading every line of a report.

• What should I keep track of every month in my business?

  Review sales, gross profit, overheads, net profit and cash every month. Those figures tell you whether the business is growing, whether it is keeping enough of what it earns and whether the profit is turning into cash.

• What should I put in place financially before opening a second location?

  Prepare a realistic setup budget, working-capital plan and forecast that includes a slower-than-expected opening. Check staffing, premises commitments, stock, equipment and the effect on the original location. Set up reporting so you can see each location’s contribution and shared costs. CASS can help assess affordability and establish the financial information needed to monitor the expansion.

• What should Xero be set up to do for my business?

  Xero should have the correct business details, financial year, VAT settings, chart of accounts, bank feeds and opening balances. If those foundations are wrong, automation simply produces incorrect information more quickly.

• What should a law firm look for in an outsourced legal cashiering provider?

  Someone who works in your software, knows whether you are regulated under the SRA Accounts Rules or the CLC Accounts Code (England and Wales), reconciles to the required timetable, evidences what they have done, and escalates breaches and residual balances rather than leaving them. Ask how cover works when your cashier is away. The points below are good practice we recommend, not regulatory requirements: your own oversight and accountability stay with the firm either way.

• What should management accounts include?

  I would normally expect to see a profit and loss account and balance sheet, with cash information alongside them. Depending on the business, it may also include aged debtors and creditors, cash forecasts and selected KPIs.

• What should we check before changing our conveyancing accounting system?

  Agree the transfer of client and office balances, matter histories, outstanding items and supporting records before switching. Reconcile the old system, verify opening balances in the new system and preserve access to required historical records. Test permissions, approvals and reporting, and plan responsibility for the changeover. A software move does not suspend regulatory duties. CASS can discuss cashiering support for practices using InTouch within an agreed scope.

• What should we do if a client account reconciliation shows a shortfall?

  Escalate it immediately to the responsible compliance officer and managers. Investigate the cause and protect client money; do not use another client’s funds to cover it. SRA firms must promptly correct breaches and immediately replace missing money, while CLC practices must replace shortfalls without delay. Reporting duties depend on the regulator and circumstances; CLC misappropriation must be notified without delay. Do not wait for the next reconciliation to act.

• What should we do with money left on a completed matter?

  Check who is entitled to it and return it promptly once there is no proper reason to retain it. If the recipient cannot be traced, document your attempts and follow your regulator’s residual or aged-balance procedure. SRA and CLC procedures differ, so do not apply one regulator’s thresholds to the other. Small balances cannot simply be transferred to office account because a matter has ended.

• What type of businesses do you work with?

  We work with small and medium-sized businesses across a wide range of sectors, including trades, retail, care, creative businesses, professional services, social enterprises and conveyancing firms.

• What's the difference between a bookkeeper, an accountant and an outsourced finance team?

  A bookkeeper maintains accurate, current records. An accountant reports on them and meets the agreed filing obligations. An outsourced finance team does both and uses the numbers to support decisions — the same work an in-house finance function would do, without the in-house salary bill. The extent and timing of each depends on the service you agree.

• What's the difference between an accountant and a Virtual Finance Director?

  An accountant typically makes sure the business meets its statutory accounting and tax obligations and may also provide advice around those areas. The focus is often on accurate reporting of what has already happened.

• What's the difference between annual accounts and a Corporation Tax return?

  Annual accounts report your financial performance and position for the year — profit and loss, balance sheet and notes — and are filed at Companies House. The Corporation Tax return (CT600) computes and reports your taxable profits and the tax due, with the accounts and computations filed to HMRC. They start from the same records but answer different questions, and both are normally prepared together.

• What's the difference between bookkeeping and accounting?

  Bookkeeping maintains the records: transactions recorded, bank accounts reconciled, invoices and receipts filed, so the numbers are accurate and current. Accounting interprets and reports those records: statutory accounts, tax returns and the management reporting you make decisions from. The two overlap, and good bookkeeping is what makes the accounting useful rather than historic.

• What's the difference between management accounts and year-end accounts?

  Year-end accounts are a statutory record of a year that has already finished — they satisfy Companies House and HMRC. Management accounts are for you, produced monthly or quarterly while you can still act on them. One is compliance looking backwards; the other is information you can make decisions with.

• What's the difference between profit and cash flow?

  Profit is the income earned less the costs associated with earning it over a period. It tells you whether the business model is generating a return, but it doesn't tell you exactly when money moves through the bank.

• When are limited company accounts due?

  For an established company, accounts are usually due nine months after the accounting period ends. Different rules can apply to first accounts, so we will confirm your deadline.

• When can I deregister for VAT?

  A business may be able or required to deregister when taxable activity stops or taxable turnover falls below the relevant deregistration level, subject to HMRC's rules.

• When can a small gift to an employee qualify as a tax-free trivial benefit?

  A small gift can qualify if all the trivial-benefit conditions are met. The £50 cost limit is only one test: cash, contractual benefits and rewards for work do not qualify. Directors of close companies also have an annual cap, so check the whole arrangement before treating a gift as tax free.

• When can money be transferred from client account to office account?

  Only when the transfer is permitted by the applicable regulator’s rules, properly authorised and supported by sufficient funds for that client or matter. For SRA firms, transferring money for costs requires a bill or other written notification identifying the relevant costs before transfer. CLC practices follow their own permitted-withdrawal requirements, including properly submitted invoices where applicable. Raising an invoice alone does not make every transfer permissible.

• When do I need to register as an employer?

  If you start employing staff or paying directors in circumstances that require PAYE reporting, the business normally needs to register with HMRC as an employer before the relevant payroll submissions are made.

• When do I need to send payroll changes?

  We will agree a clear cut-off date for each payroll so there is enough time to process and check everything before payday.

• When do I need to set up a workplace pension?

  Workplace pension duties are linked to employing workers, so do not wait until somebody asks to join. You need to assess the workforce and have a suitable pension process in place when the duties apply.

• When does Making Tax Digital for Income Tax start?

  It has started in phases, by qualifying income in a reference tax year: over £50,000 in 2024/25 joined from 6 April 2026; over £30,000 in 2025/26 joins from 6 April 2027; over £20,000 in 2026/27 joins from 6 April 2028. Qualifying income is combined gross self-employment and property income before expenses. Exemptions and exclusions apply, so it is worth checking your own position.

• When does a business need a finance director?

  Usually before the owner thinks they do — at the point decisions start carrying real consequences. If you are making pricing, hiring or borrowing decisions on instinct because nobody is putting a number in front of you, that is the moment. It rarely needs to be a full-time appointment.

• When does a business need strategic financial advice?

  Strategic advice becomes valuable when choices about people, pricing, funding or investment can materially change profit or cash. At that point instinct alone becomes an expensive way to make decisions.

• When does the domestic reverse charge for construction VAT apply?

  It generally applies to specified construction services within CIS where the supplier and customer are VAT registered and the customer makes onward supplies of those services. The customer accounts for the VAT rather than paying it to the supplier. End users and qualifying intermediary suppliers can be treated differently, and written notifications matter. CIS registration alone does not settle the VAT treatment. CASS can check the conditions and invoice wording.

• When is Corporation Tax due?

  Corporation Tax is usually payable nine months and one day after the end of the accounting period, although different rules apply to some larger companies.

• When is the best time to change accountants?

  You can change at any time. The best timing depends on deadlines, work already completed and the state of your records.

• When is the best time to move to Xero?

  A year-end or VAT quarter-end can be convenient, but it is not essential. We will recommend a suitable date based on your circumstances.

• When is the online Self Assessment deadline?

  The usual online filing deadline is 31 January following the end of the relevant tax year. We encourage clients to provide information much earlier so there is time to plan.

• When is the self assessment deadline?

  31 January following the end of the tax year for online filing and for paying any tax owed, with a second payment on account due 31 July if it applies to you. We aim to have your return done well before then, so you know the number in advance rather than in the last week of January.

• When must I register for VAT?

  If you are UK-established: when your VAT taxable turnover in the previous 12 months exceeds £90,000 (checked at the end of each month), or when you expect to exceed it in the next 30 days alone. Registration deadlines and effective dates differ between those two tests, and exceptions apply — including for businesses not established in the UK. We can check which test applies and when you have to register.

• When must Self Assessment tax be paid?

  The main payment deadline is usually 31 January, with a possible second payment on account due on 31 July. We will explain the exact amounts and dates that apply to you.

• When must a business register for VAT?

  If you are UK-established: when VAT taxable turnover in the previous 12 months exceeds £90,000 (checked at the end of each month), or when you expect to exceed it in the next 30 days alone. The registration deadline and the date registration takes effect depend on which test you meet, and there are exceptions — including for businesses not established in the UK.

• When should I issue a credit note rather than edit or delete an invoice?

  A credit note usually records a genuine reduction or cancellation of an issued invoice while preserving the original transaction. The right action depends on what changed, whether payment or VAT reporting has happened, and whether the document is still a draft. Keep a clear audit trail.

• When should I outsource my bookkeeping?

  If bookkeeping is regularly behind, evenings are being spent uploading receipts, VAT deadlines create a rush, or you no longer trust the figures in the software, the business has probably outgrown doing it informally.

• When should I set up Xero for a new business?

  Ideally, set Xero up when the business starts or as soon as you decide to use it. Starting with clean opening balances and bank feeds is much easier than rebuilding several months of activity later.

• When should I speak to an accountant when starting a business?

  Ideally, before you begin trading or make major commitments. Early advice can prevent avoidable tax, structure and record-keeping problems.

• When should I upgrade the finance function in my business?

  If the owner is still approving every payment, chasing every invoice and trying to understand performance from the bank balance, the finance setup is probably lagging behind the business.

• When should I write off an unpaid customer invoice?

  Consider a write-off when there is evidence that an invoice, or part of it, is unlikely to be recovered. Being overdue alone is not enough. Check the collection history, disputes and customer circumstances, then record the decision correctly. Tax relief and VAT bad debt relief have separate rules.

• When should a business outsource its finance function?

  If bookkeeping is behind, reporting is inconsistent, the owner is carrying too much finance admin or nobody owns the whole process, outsourcing can provide structure quickly.

• When should a new business register for VAT?

  You must register once you meet a test: VAT taxable turnover above £90,000 in the previous 12 months, checked at each month end, or turnover expected to exceed it in the next 30 days alone. A new business can also register voluntarily below the threshold, which can make sense if you reclaim VAT on costs or sell to VAT-registered customers. We can look at the numbers with you before you decide.

• Where do Cassie’s answers come from?

  Ask Cassie helps you explore CASS’s published answer library. Where the chat uses AI to interpret a question or produce a response, that response should be treated as general information. For tax and regulatory topics, check the linked official guidance where available. Cassie does not review your personal records or circumstances, so ask the CASS team to confirm anything you intend to act on.

• Where is CASS based?

  CASS is based in Tamworth, Staffordshire, and supports businesses locally and across the UK.

• Which VAT scheme is right for my business?

  That depends on your trade, turnover, customers and spending. We can compare the available schemes and recommend the most suitable approach.

• Which Xero package do I need?

  For most small businesses it comes down to volume and payroll. If you raise a handful of invoices a month, an entry-level plan is usually plenty. If you're running payroll, dealing in more than one currency, tracking projects or processing a lot of bills, you'll need one of the higher plans. Our pricing page asks for those volumes and tells you which plan fits and what it costs — including if that's a cheaper plan than you're on now.

• Which Xero plan do I need?

  The right plan depends on your transaction needs, payroll, reporting and additional features. We will review your business and recommend the most appropriate subscription.

• Which date decides when a sale goes on my VAT return?

  Under normal VAT accounting, the tax point usually decides the return period. This can depend on when goods are supplied, services are completed, a VAT invoice is issued or an advance payment is received. VAT Cash Accounting and certain supplies have different timing rules.

• Who are CASS?

  Cloud Accounting Support Services Ltd, usually known as CASS, is a cloud-based accountancy practice founded in 2017. We support businesses with bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, year-end accounts, tax, Xero and practical advice to help them make better decisions.

• Who may need to complete a Self Assessment return?

  You may need one if you are self-employed, receive rental income, have untaxed income, make certain capital gains or HMRC asks you to file. We can check your circumstances.

• Who needs to be automatically enrolled into a workplace pension?

  Automatic-enrolment duties depend on factors including age, earnings and worker status. Employees who aren't automatically enrolled may still have rights to opt in or join.

• Who needs to comply with Making Tax Digital?

  There are two separate regimes. MTD for VAT applies to all VAT-registered businesses: digital records and VAT returns filed through compatible software. MTD for Income Tax applies to sole traders and landlords in phases by qualifying income — over £50,000 in 2024/25 from 6 April 2026, over £30,000 in 2025/26 from 6 April 2027, over £20,000 in 2026/27 from 6 April 2028. Limited companies are not in MTD for Income Tax. Exemptions and exclusions apply.

• Who will look after my accounts?

  Your work will be handled by the appropriate members of the CASS team, with a dedicated contact overseeing the relationship and making sure you receive consistent support.

• Who would be my day-to-day contact with an outsourced finance team?

  An outsourced finance team may use several specialists, but you should still have one named day-to-day contact who understands your business and coordinates questions and actions. That is how we work: You'll have a named day-to-day contact, with support from the wider team when they're unavailable. Routine questions about your agreed services are included. We respond during office hours. If your question needs investigation, we'll explain the next step and give you an expected response time. For urgent matters, please call us and explain the deadline.

• Why am I being charged VAT on software bought from overseas?

  An overseas supplier may charge VAT depending on its registrations and the customer details it holds. Alternatively, a UK business buying certain overseas services may need to account for VAT itself under the reverse charge. Check the invoice, supplier details and your VAT number rather than assuming the charge is correct or recoverable. Overseas services can also affect registration obligations for businesses not yet VAT registered.

• Why am I paying monthly for a service completed annually?

  Monthly payments can spread the agreed cost of an annual service rather than leaving one larger bill at completion. They do not necessarily mean that one-twelfth of the work is completed each month. Your proposal and engagement terms explain the services covered, payment schedule and what happens if the arrangement changes or ends. Ask us if you would like the annual and monthly elements explained separately.

• Why can my business be profitable but have no cash?

  You may have recorded sales that customers have not yet paid, bought stock, repaid loans or paid for equipment. Those cash movements do not necessarily match the profit recognised in the same period.

• Why do foreign-exchange gains and losses appear in my accounts?

  When a transaction is in another currency, its value in your reporting currency can change between invoicing, payment and the reporting date. That movement can create an exchange gain or loss. It is separate from the original selling price, bank fees and the business’s underlying trading margin.

• Why does CASS recommend Xero?

  We believe Xero gives small and medium-sized businesses a strong combination of accessibility, automation, reporting and integration with other cloud tools.

• Why does my business need a cash flow forecast?

  Cash problems are much easier to solve when you can see them several weeks or months ahead. A forecast creates time to chase debt, delay spending, change payment terms or arrange funding before the bank balance becomes the emergency.

• Why does my profit change after my accountant makes adjustments?

  Your bookkeeping may not yet include every item needed for the period. Adjustments can account for unpaid bills, prepaid costs, stock, depreciation or transactions recorded incorrectly. They help put income and costs into the right period and classification. Ask for an explanation of material changes so you understand the final result. CASS can talk you through the adjustments rather than leaving you with a different number and no explanation.

• Why doesn’t my bank balance match the profit in my accounts?

  Profit measures income less expenses under the accounting basis used; the bank balance measures cash held. Unpaid customer invoices, unpaid bills, loan repayments, equipment purchases, tax payments and money taken by the owner can make them different. A profit report alone does not show what you can afford to spend. Look at the balance sheet and cash flow alongside it.

• Why doesn’t the amount paid into my bank match my online sales?

  A marketplace or payment provider may deduct fees, refunds, chargebacks or reserves before paying you. The payout may also combine sales from different dates. Recording the bank receipt as total sales can therefore give a misleading picture of turnover and costs. Reconcile the settlement report to the individual sales and deductions. CASS can help set up a process that explains the difference.

• Why is a director’s National Insurance calculated differently from an employee’s?

  Directors normally have an annual earnings period for National Insurance, even if paid monthly. Payroll can use the standard annual method or an alternative method with a final reconciliation. This can make deductions look different from those of an ordinary employee.

• Why is buying equipment treated differently from an everyday expense?

  Equipment used over several periods may be recorded as an asset rather than charged entirely as an expense straight away. Its cost is then recognised through depreciation in the accounts. Tax relief follows separate rules and may be available at a different time. Treatment also depends on the accounting basis and the item. CASS can explain both the effect on your accounts and the cash cost.

• Why is up-to-date bookkeeping important for business decisions?

  Bookkeeping that is six months behind can still produce annual accounts, but it can't help much with a decision today. Current records turn bookkeeping from an administrative task into the foundation for management information.

• Why isn’t the whole loan repayment an expense?

  A loan repayment usually contains capital and interest. The capital reduces the amount you owe on the balance sheet rather than creating a new expense: the original purchase or use of the funds is accounted for separately. Interest and fees have their own accounting and tax treatment. The whole payment still affects cash flow, which is why profit and cash available can move differently. CASS can explain the split in your reports.

• Why should I choose CASS?

  Clients choose CASS because they want an approachable, proactive team that explains things clearly, responds when they need help and takes time to understand their business.

• Why should I outsource my bookkeeping?

  Outsourcing gives you accurate, up-to-date records without taking time away from running your business. It also gives you access to an experienced team rather than relying on one person.

• Why shouldn't I wait until year end to look at my accounts?

  Year-end accounts tell you what happened in a period that has already finished. If margin fell six months ago or costs started drifting upwards, finding out after the year end doesn't give you those six months back.

• Will CASS contact my previous accountant?

  Yes. With your authority, we will request professional clearance and the records needed to continue the work.

• Will I have a dedicated contact?

  Yes. You'll have a named day-to-day contact, with support from the wider team when they're unavailable. Routine questions about your agreed services are included. We respond during office hours. If your question needs investigation, we'll explain the next step and give you an expected response time. For urgent matters, please call us and explain the deadline.

• Will I lose my existing data?

  We agree in advance what information and historical periods will be brought across, then check the migration and explain any limitations. Some older records or attachments may need to remain in an accessible archive rather than transfer directly, so you keep them without them sitting inside the new system. Timing depends on the records available, the systems involved and cooperation from existing providers.

• Will I lose my historical data when moving to Xero?

  We agree what history is transferred or retained before the migration starts, check the result and explain any limitations. Some older information or attachments may stay available in your previous system or in an accessible archive rather than transferring into Xero. What is practical depends on the system you are leaving and the data it can export.

• Will I need to submit four tax returns each year?

  No. Quarterly updates are not four full tax returns. They provide summary information during the year, followed by the annual tax reporting process.

• Will I own my Xero data if the subscription is through CASS?

  Your business records remain yours. Where CASS administers the subscription, subscription administration and user access are separate from ownership of the records: we explain the access arrangements and permissions, and how a future handover or subscription transfer would work, before you proceed.

• Will I still be able to see my accounts?

  Yes. Xero gives you access to your financial information, and we can show you how to find the reports and figures that matter to you.

• Will I still own my Xero data?

  Your business records remain yours. Subscription administration and user access are separate things from ownership of the records, so we confirm your access arrangements, the permissions involved and how a future handover would work — including what a transfer would need if you moved the billing back or moved elsewhere.

• Will MTD change when I pay my tax?

  The move to digital records and quarterly updates does not by itself change the normal Self Assessment payment dates.

• Will changing accountants disrupt my business?

  It should not. We will plan the handover carefully and keep you informed of anything we need.

• Will my employees receive payslips?

  Yes. Employees can receive secure electronic payslips for each pay period.

• Will my home address be visible on Companies House?

  It can be if you use it as the registered office, a public service address or elsewhere on filed documents. A director’s usual residential address is normally kept off the public register, but that does not protect the same address when used in a public field. Check each address separately.

• Will there be any hidden charges?

  Your proposal will explain what is included and any circumstances where additional work may be charged separately. We aim to be clear from the outset, with no surprises.

• Will there be downtime?

  We aim to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.

• Will you explain my year-end accounts?

  Yes. We believe you should understand the figures, not simply receive a document to sign.

• Will you explain the accounts?

  Absolutely. We believe understanding your figures is just as important as preparing them.

• Will you explain the reports or just send them over?

  We'll go through them with you. A report you don't understand is no use to anybody, so your client manager will talk you through what's changed, what's working and what needs attention — in plain English, without the jargon.

• Will you explain what you changed during a clean-up?

  Yes. We will provide a clear explanation of the main issues corrected and any processes that should change going forward.

• Will you explain what you've changed?

  Yes. We believe you should understand exactly what's been corrected.

• Will you file everything for me?

  We prepare and submit the filings included in your letter of engagement — which commonly covers VAT returns, payroll submissions, company accounts, the Corporation Tax return and Self Assessment — once the necessary information, authorisations and approvals are in place. We agree deadlines for receiving records and your approval so submissions can be completed on time, and we will identify any duties outside our agreed scope and explain who handles them.

• Will you file my accounts with Companies House?

  Yes, where company accounts are included in your letter of engagement. We prepare the accounts, you approve them, and we file them with Companies House — and the Corporation Tax return with HMRC — once the records, authorisations and your approval are in place. We agree the dates we need things by so the filing deadline is met.

• Will you prepare my Corporation Tax return?

  Yes. We prepare the company tax calculation and Corporation Tax return as part of the agreed year-end service.

• Will you provide a written proposal?

  Yes. After your Discovery Call we confirm the scope and send a written proposal and letter of engagement setting out what is included and the fee, plus VAT, before any work begins. The pricing page figure is indicative until that proposal is agreed.

• Will you tell me how much tax I'll owe before it's due?

  Yes. Once we have complete information we give you an estimate of the likely liability and the payment date, so it is not a surprise. An estimate is not the final calculation: it changes if information arrives late, figures are adjusted, or your circumstances change. The final figure comes with the return you approve.