Expert contractor accountants | Sherwin Currid
Tax Advice
Comprehensive support from specialist contractor accountants
We provide contractors from various industries with comprehensive accountancy services tailored to suit their needs.
Our accounting services for contractors
We provide various contractor accountant services to help you save time and ensure tax efficiency. We know how hard it is to fulfil the obligations of a company director in addition to undertaking your contract work. To help you with this, we provide a comprehensive service. With Sherwin Currid, you can rest assured that your compliance is taken care of and that your dedicated accountant is ensuring you are set up as tax-efficiently as possible.
We help contractors with the following:
Company formation
VAT registration and quarterly, MTD-compliant VAT returns
Annual accounts submission and filing
Confirmation statement filing
Corporation tax return preparation and filing
Payroll services
Cloud accounting software
Unlimited support from your dedicated accountant
IR35 contract reviews
And much more…
Your specialist IR35 accountant
Dealing with IR35 rules can be challenging for contractors. With us, you have a dedicated contractor accountant who stays up to date with the latest off-payroll working rules. Your accountant will be by your side to ensure you are compliant and tax-efficient with regard to IR35. We provide private and public sector clients with tax advice and IR35 contract reviews to give you peace of mind when working off payroll.
Our team stays abreast of tax legislation changes and will advise you in advance of their potential impact on your finances. With over 15 years of experience working with contractors using personal service companies (PSCs), we are ideally suited to helping you navigate the complexities of off-payroll working.
Simple bookkeeping software
Handling your financial records and keeping track of expenses can take a lot of time and be overwhelming. That’s where cloud accounting software comes in. We work with various software providers providing cutting-edge software to simplify financial management.
Most of our contractor clients use FreeAgent, one of the leading software providers for contractors and freelancers. It is simple to use and can connect to business bank accounts, raise invoices, and show key information on your mobile phone or computer. We were one of the first accountancy practices to partner with FreeAgent and are platinum partners, representing our depth of knowledge and experience with the software. Our clients love FreeAgent so much that we include a complimentary subscription with our contractors’ accountancy services.
We also work with clients on Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage. If you already use software you like, we are more than happy to accommodate your preference. Alternatively, for those who have yet to use cloud accounting software, your dedicated accountant will talk to you and recommend a provider based on your specific situation.
Help for limited company contractors
As a limited company owner, you have both your personal and business accounting needs, which can become overwhelming. We offer a tailored service and will handle your accountancy needs as much or as little as you want. With Sherwin Currid, you can rest assured that your business’s needs are looked after at an affordable price, and you can maintain a healthy work/life balance.
If you are new to contracting and have no experience running a limited company or paying yourself tax-efficiently, don’t worry. Our team are here to help you get to grips with contracting. We can help you set up a company if you haven’t already done so. If you have formed your company, then your dedicated accountant will explain the necessary compliance work you must undertake. If you have any questions, you can always phone us, email us, or even arrange a meeting in person at one of our local offices.
Expert advice from a dedicated accountant
When handling your accountancy needs, getting expert advice is vital. All of our clients are given a dedicated accountant upon joining. Your accountant will arrange a meeting to introduce themselves and get to understand your specific situation to advise you accordingly. We meet our clients virtually, on video calls such as Teams or Zoom, and in person in our local offices across the South East. After your welcome call, you will have unlimited access to help or guidance from your accountant.
We always seek ways to ensure your contracting enterprise is as tax-efficient as possible. We will ensure you are set up as tax-efficient as possible upon joining us. We also stay abreast of any changes by HMRC before their implementation. Your dedicated accountant will speak to you and advise you on any potential tax savings before any legislation changes.
We pride ourselves on providing contractors with first-rate customer service and always reply to queries promptly. If you don’t believe us, contact us now and test our response.
Why choose Sherwin Currid?
With so many contractor accountants to choose from, finding the right one may seem impossible. We try to stand out from the rest by offering expert, personalised advice at affordable prices. With Sherwin Currid, unlike other accountants, you will have one central point of contact. Your accountant will always be on hand to help you. We understand how frustrating being bounced around departments is, which is precisely what you will avoid with us.
Our directors, Max Sherwin and Martyn Currid, initially set up our company to provide expert accounting services to contractors and freelancers. These days, that is still very much our aim. We also offer you a dedicated accountant, and we stay up to date with the latest cloud accounting software to help you manage your finances. Our team stays abreast of any changes to legislation, ensuring you are compliant and tax-efficient at every stage. We are an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) firm, and all of our services are offered at a competitive price, so you can rest assured that you are receiving the best service for a reasonable price.
A personal, friendly service
At our firm, we’re all about giving you a personal touch and ensuring you feel welcome. If you are thinking of joining us or switching accountants, we would love to meet. We meet over the phone, through Teams/Zoom or in person at one of our offices. One of our team will take the time to understand your situation and offer advice on what services are right for you. Upon joining, we also provide a welcome meeting so you can meet your dedicated accountant and discuss any pressing matters. In addition, your accountant will ensure you are set up in the most tax-efficient way. We offer you proactive tax advice to ensure you remain compliant while minimising your tax bill.
Expert IR35 help from your dedicated accountant
As a contractor, keeping up to date with the latest off-payroll working rules is vital to ensure IR35 compliance. IR35 can be complicated, and determining if your contract falls inside or outside the scope of IR35 can be complex. With Sherwin Currid, you will have an accountant who can help you navigate the off-payroll working rules. We offer IR35 contract reviews and will advise you on the best way to withdraw salary and dividends from your limited company if you are outside the scope of IR35.
We have clients who work in both the public and private sectors for various end clients that vary in size. If you work for larger firms or public sector clients, the burden of determination lies with the end client. If you provide services for a small private sector firm, the burden of IR35 determination lies with the contractor’s company.
IR35 determination reviews
As specialist contractor accountants, we can review contracts and offer advice on whether your contract is inside or outside the scope of IR35. You can also use HMRC’s Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool to help with IR35 determination. If you want an overview of how CEST works, read our page on using CEST. Your dedicated accountant will be on hand to assist you with IR35 determination should you need it.
Switching accountants as a contractor
Switching accountants can seem daunting, especially if you have been with your current accountant for years. However, switching has never been easier!
If you switch to Sherwin Currid, we will contact your previous accountant to request they hand over your information. Due to how we are regulated, the transfer of information will be quick and easy. We will also request access to your cloud accounting software, should you already use it, which will mean we can access all of your records immediately.
When you switch to Sherwin Currid, you will be offered a meeting with your dedicated accountant, who will ensure a smooth handover process from your old accountant. We will start working on your compliance and filings immediately, so you can rest assured that nothing is missed and that you will meet all of your deadlines.
Switching to Sherwin Currid as a contractor can help unlock your full potential. We offer a service tailored to contractors at an affordable price while maintaining a personal relationship with each of our clients. We have clients coming to us from various contractor accountants who are dissatisfied with being passed around departments and not having enough support. We will always ensure you receive prompt responses to queries and are set up tax efficiently, letting you focus on providing your services and not worry about your accountancy.
We have many clients who have switched to us and are very satisfied with our fast, professional approach to gaining handover information and settling them in. If you are thinking of switching, please do get in touch with us today to organise a free, no-obligation consultation call.
Starting out as a contractor
If you are only just starting out contracting, then congratulations. There are many things to think about when starting out, not least of which is your accounting and tax. At Sherwin Currid, our contractor accountants have a real, personal understanding of your unique challenges. We offer a completely bespoke service to meet your precise needs with fixed fees and a guarantee that we will meet all your statutory filing and payment deadlines.
We will look after your tax affairs and ensure that you are set up as tax-efficient as possible from the outset. Your dedicated accountant will arrange a meeting with you to discuss how best to structure yourself to minimise your tax liability. You may be paid by a combination of PAYE salary from your limited company and dividends, providing flexibility in the amount you withdraw from your company each month.
Pairing with a good accountant at the outset can save you time and money. Some contractor accountant services can be unorganised, letting deadlines slip by and missing things such as the VAT registration threshold. With Sherwin Currid, you can rest assured that we will stay on top of your deadlines, advise you on upcoming obligations, and notify you about the need for VAT registration or changes to legislation that will affect you. We guarantee that your company accounts will be prepared within 30 days of receiving the information and well before the nine-month deadline.
Forming a limited company as a contractor
Operating a limited company as a contractor is often a tax-efficient way of setting yourself up. Of course, your ability to offer your services this way depends on whether your contract falls outside the scope of the off-payroll working rules. Your accountant can advise you if your contract falls inside or outside the scope of IR35 if you are unsure.
With Sherwin Currid, forming a limited company is simple and hassle-free. We will handle the formation and can offer both directors’ service address and registered office address services if you would rather keep your address out of the public domain. Furthermore, your accountant will advise you on the best way to structure your shares and explain your responsibilities as a limited company director.
If you are unsure whether contracting through a limited company is the best option for you, get in touch, and one of our team will advise you on your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
What is a contractor accountant?
A contractor accountant specialises in providing accounting and tax services tailored for UK contractors. Sherwin Currid’s contractor accountants offer support with taxes, bookkeeping, IR35 compliance, and more. We can help you set up and run your company from day one, freeing up your time to focus on your services.
The specialist knowledge you can gain from partnering with us will help you work tax efficiently. This gives you peace of mind that your company is being looked after by an experienced, qualified accountant.
When should you hire a contractor accountant?
Whether you are starting out as a contractor or you have been working off payroll for a while, partnering with contractor accountants can help you. If you are looking to set up a company to contract through, consulting with a specialist in the field will ensure you are set up tax efficiently and allow you to start working straight away.
How can contractor accountants help with proactive tax planning?
By utilising cloud accounting software, you and your accountant have real-time data on your company’s finances. This allows you to ensure you meet your tax obligations on time and accurately. At Sherwin Currid, all of our accountants are here to help you plan for the future and ensure you make the most of tax relief, pensions, business expenses and deductions. A contractor accountant can help you by providing specialist knowledge specific to your situation.