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Tax Returns & Planning

Personal and corporate tax returns, tax planning strategies, R&D tax credits, capital allowances, and proactive tax advice to minimize liabilities.

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Written by Asrah Abbas, ACA / ACCA — Principal at Westfin Accountants Ltd
Chartered accountant with 12+ years of UK practice experience. Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Last updated:

In plain English

Tax planning is the legal optimisation of your Self Assessment (SA100) and Corporation Tax (CT600) position using reliefs, allowances and timing strategies. Westfin handles personal and corporate returns, capital gains, dividend strategy, R&D tax credits under the merged scheme, and HMRC enquiry defence — every return reviewed by an ACA/ACCA accountant before submission.

Key thresholds & rates (2026/27)

Specific numbers matter when planning. These are the figures we work with day-to-day, sourced from current HMRC and Companies House guidance.

  • Corporation Tax 2026/27: 19% on profits ≤ £50,000 (small profits rate); 25% on profits > £250,000; marginal relief tapered between
  • Dividend allowance: £500 (down from £1,000)
  • Capital Gains Tax: 18% basic / 24% higher (residential property and most assets from October 2024)
  • CGT annual exemption: £3,000
  • R&D merged scheme: 20% above-the-line credit (cash benefit ~16.2% after CT)
  • Self Assessment online filing deadline: 31 January

Statutory references

We work to the published HMRC, Companies House and FRC guidance. The primary sources we cite when advising clients:

Worked example

Worked example — Birmingham SME crossing into marginal relief

A Birmingham SME with £180,000 taxable profit sits in the marginal relief band (£50k–£250k). Standard 25% on £180k = £45,000, less marginal relief of (£250,000 − £180,000) × 3/200 = £1,050 → Corporation Tax payable £43,950 (effective rate 24.4%). Westfin layered in: £8,000 employer pension contribution for the director, £4,000 in mobile-phone and home-office reimbursements, and a £15,000 R&D claim for software development — net CT saving: £6,750.

What's Included

Self Assessment tax returns (SA100)

Corporation Tax returns (CT600)

Capital Gains Tax calculations

Inheritance Tax planning

R&D tax credit claims

Tax investigation insurance and support

Why Choose Our Tax Returns & Planning

Minimized tax liabilities

Deadline compliance

Proactive tax planning

HMRC enquiry support

Maximized reliefs and allowances

Year-round tax advice

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the deadline for Self Assessment tax returns?

Paper returns must be filed by 31 October following the tax year end (5 April). Online returns must be filed by 31 January, with any tax owed also due by this date. We recommend filing early to avoid last-minute issues.

Can you help with R&D tax credits?

Yes, we specialize in R&D tax credit claims. SMEs can claim up to 33% cash benefit on qualifying R&D expenditure. We identify qualifying projects, prepare technical narratives, and submit claims to HMRC.

What happens if HMRC opens an enquiry into my tax return?

We provide full support during HMRC enquiries, corresponding with HMRC on your behalf, gathering evidence, and negotiating settlements. We also offer tax investigation insurance for additional protection.

Ready to Get Started?

Speak to our specialists about Tax Returns & Planning