Catch-Up Bookkeeping in the United Kingdom
We turn months (or years) of backlog into clean, tax-ready financials. Delivered to FRS 102 / UK GAAP for UK businesses, priced in GBP.
Behind on your books in the UK usually means three things at once: unfiled VAT returns accruing penalties, a Companies House filing deadline approaching, and no idea what the corporation tax bill will be. We work backwards from the deadline that hurts first.
HMRC's points-based penalty regime charges per missed VAT return, and Companies House late filing penalties start at £150 and escalate to £1,500 the longer accounts stay outstanding. The order in which you catch up matters more than the speed.
The deadlines we track against your ledger.
| Obligation | Frequency | Due | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| VAT return and payment (Making Tax Digital)VAT-registered businesses | Quarterly | 1 month and 7 days after the end of the VAT period | HMRC |
| Annual accounts to Companies HousePrivate limited companies | Annual | 9 months after the accounting reference date | Companies House |
| CT600 company tax return | Annual | 12 months after the end of the accounting period | HMRC |
| Corporation tax paymentCompanies with profits under £1.5m | Annual | 9 months and 1 day after the end of the accounting period | HMRC |
Last reviewed against the source . These are the standard dates. Extensions through a registered agent, a non-calendar year end, and volume-based filing frequencies all shift them — confirm your own dates with HMRC. This is general information, not tax advice.
Catch-Up Bookkeeping deliverables
- Full historical reconstruction (3 / 6 / 12 / 24 months)
- Back-reconciliation of every bank & card account
- Categorisation of all historical transactions
- Restated P&L and Balance Sheet per period
- Tax-ready handoff package
Xero
Catch-up work has to land in MTD-compatible software with an unbroken digital link to the VAT return — a reconstructed spreadsheet cannot be typed into HMRC.
A worked example, in your currency.
A London marketing agency, 900 transactions a month, VAT-registered, 18 staff.
- In-house bookkeeper (fully loaded, per month)
- £3,400
- Salt bookkeeping + VAT compliance
- £1,150
- Monthly saving
- £2,250
Figures in GBP. Fully loaded cost includes employer NIC, pension, software and supervision.
The framework your United Kingdom accounts are held to.
We prepare to UK GAAP (FRS 102) or IFRS, as adopted. These are the bodies that set that framework and the authorities you file with — linked so you can verify the standard rather than take our word for it.
- Professional bodyICAEWInstitute of Chartered Accountants in England and WalesUK chartered accountancy body and ethical code.
- Professional bodyACCAAssociation of Chartered Certified AccountantsGlobal professional body with a large UK membership.
- Standards setterFRCFinancial Reporting CouncilIssues FRS 102 and UK auditing standards.
- RegulatorHMRCHM Revenue & CustomsVAT, corporation tax, PAYE and Making Tax Digital.
- RegulatorCompanies HouseStatutory accounts and confirmation statements.
Listed for reference. Salt Accounting Group is not stating membership, registration or affiliation with any of these organisations. Where a filing must be lodged by a registered local agent, it is — your agent keeps the lodgement and the professional sign-off.
Catch-Up Bookkeeping in United Kingdom
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Catch-Up Bookkeeping for United Kingdom, simply handled.
Tell us where you trade and what shape the books are in. You get scope, price and a start date in writing within one business day — no obligation.