Frequently asked questions

Yes! You can try Crunch free for 14 days. Explore our platform and get a feel for our features before committing.

Yes. Whether you're cancelling, scaling up or streamlining, you can switch plans easily either in the software, or with support from our team.

Yes! We support seamless data imports from popular platforms like Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent. Our team is here to help ensure a smooth transition.

Security is a top priority at Crunch. We use bank-grade encryption to keep your data safe and compliant. We are also fully FCA-regulated as an Account Information Service Provider (AISP), ensuring adherence to stringent data protection standards. An extra layer of security is provided through two-factor authentication for accessing accounts.

Yes. Crunch is fully MTD compatible, HMRC recognised, and will be fully ITSA compatible by April 2026 when the new rules come into effect! With Crunch you can file directly with HMRC with confidence.

Yes. You can securely invite your accountant to collaborate within your Crunch account, streamlining communication and paperwork.

Yes. Access your Crunch account on the go with our fully mobile-friendly website, plus our mobile app is available on both iOS and Android.

Yes, we can! Crunch can register your Limited Company with Companies House for just £50. We’ll handle the paperwork so you can focus on getting your business off the ground.

Yes. Depending on your plan, our team of certified accountants can take care of your Self Assessment and end-of-year accounts, so you have ultimate peace-of-mind. If it’s not included in your plan, don’t worry, you can always add this on later.

If you’re self-employed and running your own business as an individual, then you should be registered with HMRC as a sole trader. Being a sole trader means there’s no legal distinction between the individual and the business they own.Sole traders work in many industries and trades, including electricians, plumbers, management consultants, designers, and more. Check out our article on “What is a sole trader?” for more information.

Self Assessment - often referred to as a ‘tax return’ - is a way for HMRC to calculate how much Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions you’ll need to pay. For contracted employees, your tax is deducted monthly on your employment income through the PAYE system. For the self-employed, or someone with other types of income (e.g. pension or dividends), HMRC needs a Self Assessment to assess the tax required to be paid.

AnswerThere’s no legal requirement for Sole Traders to have an accountant, but having one can make managing your business finances much easier. Accountants can help with statutory filings, tax returns, and financial management, especially when it comes to VAT, CIS, or employing others. With Making Tax Digital (MTD) now in effect, having an accountant can also help ensure your business stays compliant with HMRC’s ever-changing digital tax filing requirements. Crunch’s Sole Trader accounting software is backed by a team of Chartered Certified accountants who can handle all your tax needs, including MTD, so you can focus on running your business.

It’s not a legal requirement, but having a separate business account makes tracking expenses and completing your Self Assessment much easier. With Crunch, you can also link your business bank account via Open Banking for daily automatic imports. If you’re looking for a business bank account, our bank partner Zempler is a great choice. You can apply in minutes and even get £50 when you join through Crunch (as long as you deposit £250 in the first 30 days).

Many major banks don’t give you the option to open an account for your small business online, but usually, you’ll be able to start your application on the bank’s website, prior to meeting a representative in person or over the phone.Some banks will allow you to walk into the branch and make a same-day appointment, but of course, this cannot always be guaranteed.Crunch is also partnered with a number of trusted banks, including Tide, Metro, Barclays, and Revolut. You can even enjoy special offers and discounts when you open a business account through one of these providers as a Crunch client!

Sole trader taxes need to be filed with HMRC before their relevant due dates. You’ll need to start by registering as a sole trader with HMRC, and registering for tax returns such as Self Assessment. As a Crunch client, our team of Chartered Certified accountants can file your tax returns on your behalf. If you don’t have an accountant, though, you’ll need to file your returns yourself.

At Crunch, our paid accountancy package for sole traders is available for just £1 + VAT per month for the first 3 months, then £26.50 + VAT p/m thereafter! As a Crunch client, you’ll get access to a team of Chartered Certified accountants and expert client managers, available whenever you need them to help your business thrive.

Tax returns sole traders are required to file include VAT (if your business is VAT registered), and your annual Self Assessment, which covers your personal Income Tax and National Insurance liabilities. You can read more about your tax obligations in our “What is a sole trader?” article.

You can prepare your own sole trader accounts if you’d like, but the best strategy is to get an accountant to do it for you. Accountants can make sure your returns are filed accurately and well ahead of a deadline - all you need to do is sign them off! An accountant will also make sure you are claiming the correct business expenses.

As a Sole Trader, you’ll pay Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions based on your business profits. You take personal drawings from the business, and it's important to keep a record of them for tax purposes. Accounting software for Sole Traders like Crunch can help you track your drawings, making sure you’re ready when it’s time to file your Self Assessment.

You can claim expenses for your businesses accountancy fees, providing the accountant's time is being spent working on your sole trader accounts and not on personal items, such as the production of your annual Self Assessment.

Sole traders don’t need to register with Companies House, so no information about your business will appear in their records or on their website.

It’s unlikely your Sole Trader business will need an audit unless your turnover reaches millions of pounds. If that happens, an accountant will need to guide you through any audit requirements.

Your annual Self Assessment must be filed with HMRC before 31st January each year.

Yes, you will receive a Self Assessment for the trading year 2024-2025.

Whether you're a small business or a growing enterprise, there's no legal obligation for a Limited company to have an accountant. However, as a limited company director, your legal responsibilities and tax obligations make having an accountant a smart choice. A good accountant can help you stay on top of your finances, submit tax returns, and free up your time to focus on growing your business. At Crunch, we make it easy with our expert team, dedicated to simplifying tax filings and saving you time.

No, as a Crunch Limited company accounting client, you don’t have to worry about any of it! We take care of all the complex registrations and key filings for you. From VAT to PAYE, RTI to Self Assessments, we can handle the whole process so you don’t have to face the daunting world of tax yourself. Without Crunch, you’d be left navigating a sea of paperwork, tight deadlines, and the risk of missing something important. But with us, you’re in safe hands.

Missing your Limited company filing deadline can lead to penalties, interest charges, and potentially a late filing notice. HMRC and Companies House are strict with deadlines, and failing to file on time can affect your business reputation. With Crunch, you’ll never miss a deadline, as we handle everything for you, keeping track of your filings and ensuring timely submissions.

Absolutely! Our expert Limited company accountants can help you with tax planning strategies to ensure you're taking advantage of any allowances, deductions, and tax reliefs available to your business. We take a proactive approach to help you reduce your tax liabilities and ensure your business is tax-efficient.

As a Crunch client, you’ll be able to get a complete overview of what tax you owe with our real-time dashboard, giving you a clear and instant picture of your business finances. You’ll also be able to access all of your limited company records, such as your expense receipts, sales invoices - whether paid or unpaid - and records of your previous tax filings.

‍You must keep records for six years from the end of the last company financial year they relate to, or longer, if:

• they show a transaction that covers more than one of the company’s accounting periods
• the company has bought something that it expects to last more than six years, like equipment or machinery
• you submitted your Company Tax Return late
• HMRC has started a compliance check into your Company Tax Return.

Check out our Knowledge article, “How long should company records be retained for?”, for more information!

At Crunch, we’re easy to reach, no matter your preferred method of communication. Whether you’re a small business or a growing company, you’ll always have access to real humans who are ready to help. Whether by phone, video call, live chat, or email. And soon, you’ll even be able to reach us via WhatsApp! We know your time is valuable, so we make sure getting in touch with your accountant or client manager is quick and hassle-free. No long call queues or endless email chains—just fast, expert support when you need it!

At Crunch, we offer Limited company accounting from just £2 + VAT per month for the first 3 months, then £90 + VAT p/m thereafter. For this, you get access to a whole team of expert Limited company accountants and client managers who can help you manage your business finances, tax responsibilities, and so much more!If you’re happy managing your own accounts, or you have your own accountant already, you can sign up to a Crunch Free account to help you organise your expenses, sales invoices, and other important records.

Your Limited company will need to prepare and submit accounts to Companies House and HMRC. Using Crunch’s accounting software can simplify this process. We ensure your business is compliant with Making Tax Digital and help streamline your tax returns with secure, organised record-keeping.

For tax efficiency, many Limited company directors choose to pay themselves a combination of salary and dividends. This method minimises National Insurance and allows for tax-efficient withdrawals. We can advise you on the best approach for your business and financial goals. Alternatively, check out our guide for more information.

As a Limited company, you may need to pay a variety of taxes, including Corporation Tax, VAT, and National Insurance. Crunch’s Limited company accountants can guide you through your tax responsibilities and ensure you're meeting deadlines while optimising your tax savings.

You must file your Limited company accounts with Companies House within nine months of your accounting period's end. Additionally, your Corporation Tax return must be submitted to HMRC within 12 months. Crunch’s team will ensure you stay compliant with deadlines.

As the director of your limited company, you are responsible for authorising your tax returns. Crunch can help you prepare some of your returns, and even file them for you, but the responsibility for signing them off is ultimately yours!

There are complex rules surrounding the type of company which must have an audit. You can find out more if you check HMRC’s website. In general terms, if your company’s turnover is below £10.2 million, and its assets are below £5.1 million, you do not need to have an audit. However, some companies with turnover and assets below these amounts elect to have an audit to comply with financial covenants.

You’ll need to include every business bank transaction that relates to your limited company to ensure your accounts remain in balance and you can reconcile them at year-end.With secure Open Banking connections, you can link your business bank account directly to your Crunch account and import all of your transactions in one simple click. From there, reconciling your bank accounts becomes a simple job!

Absolutely! We can support Sole Traders, but there may be benefits to transitioning to a Limited Company. Our advisors can discuss this with you. If you're just starting out as a Sole Trader, check out our Sole Trader Pro plan.

If your ecommerce limited company has made a profit, it can pay a dividend to shareholders. It’s important to remember that dividends aren’t a business expense when calculating your Corporation Tax, and that it’s illegal to pay a dividend if your company doesn’t have sufficient profit after tax available to cover the dividend amount.Yes, if your Ecommerce Limited company is profitable, it can pay dividends to shareholders. However, remember that dividends aren’t a business expense for Corporation Tax. It’s also illegal to pay a dividend if your company doesn’t have enough post-tax profit to cover it.

Yes, you’ll need to include every relevant business bank transaction to ensure your accounts stay balanced. With Crunch’s secure Open Banking connections, you can link your business account to import transactions, making bank reconciliation simple.

There's no legal requirement for an Ecommerce business to have an accountant. However, given your responsibilities as a director and the various taxes involved, an ecommerce accountant can be a valuable partner to keep your finances in order. They’ll save you time, ensure compliance, and help you focus on growing your business while managing your ecommerce accounting needs.

It's easier than you might think! Your ecommerce accountant and Accountancy Relationship Advisors will guide you through the process, making sure that everything runs smoothly.

Your accounting period determines when you’ll need to prepare and submit accounts to Companies House and HMRC. To simplify this, store all business records, such as expenses and sales invoices, in secure online accounting software. This helps you stay compliant with HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) rules and streamlines your tax returns. With Crunch, your ACCA-certified accountant can handle the heavy lifting for you!

For tax efficiency, most Limited company directors opt for a combination of salary and dividends. A lower salary, typically below the National Insurance threshold, combined with dividends, can reduce your overall tax burden. For more details, check out our article on how much you should take as a salary from your Limited company.

Crunch’s Ecommerce business packages start from just £175+VAT per month, depending on your turnover. This includes access to a dedicated accountant, bookkeepers, and Accountancy Relationship Advisors who’ll help you manage your finances, tax obligations, and more.

Each of the following counts as a Sales Channel:

• A single Amazon Merchant ID (for one region)
• A single Shopify store
• A single eBay store
• A single Etsy store

For Amazon, one merchant ID can give you access to multiple European marketplaces. Not sure? Our advisors can clarify this for you. Not sure? Don't worry, our advisors can clarify this for you.

As an Ecommerce Limited company director, you may pay several taxes. Such as Corporation Tax, National Insurance, and VAT. What you pay and how much depends on your situation. For a more detailed breakdown, we’d recommend checking out our article on taxes for Limited company directors.

Your accounts must be filed with Companies House within nine months of your accounting period’s end. Your Corporation Tax return and accounts must be submitted to HMRC within 12 months after the accounting period ends.

As an Ecommerce business owner, you may be eligible for various tax deductions, such as those related to marketing, software, equipment, and more. Our Ecommerce accountants will make sure you’re maximising your deductions to reduce your tax liability.

Self Assessment - often referred to as a ‘tax return’ - is a way for HMRC to calculate how much Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions you’ll need to pay. For contracted employees, your tax is deducted monthly on your employment income through the PAYE system. For the self-employed, or someone with other types of income (e.g. pension or dividends), HMRC needs a Self Assessment to assess the tax required to be paid.

If you choose Crunch for your next Self Assessment, here’s what you get with the service:

• Some quick questions on your Self Assessment, giving our accountants more details on you and your finances
• Once you have completed a spreadsheet of your expenses or money made, this can be uploaded, along with your questionnaire and any other supporting documents, onto our online software.
• A friendly Crunch accountant who will review your Self Assessment and carry out a thorough quality check
• A dedicated accountant that’ll contact you to discuss your Self Assessment and if there are anomalies in the information you’ve provided.
• The rest is left to us - you can now sit back and relax while Crunch files your Self Assessment with HMRC for you.

Crunch’s Self Assessment service is a one-off price - with no hidden charges! No matter how complicated you think yours may be, Crunch’s accountants can help, providing a hassle-free and easy experience for our clients.*On rare occasions, Crunch may not be able to complete your Self Assessment ourselves, in which case we’ll offer to refer you to one of our partners, which may incur additional costs. Under no circumstances would Crunch pass on your data without your explicit permission.

If you choose Crunch for your next Self Assessment, here’s what you get with the service:

• Some quick questions on your Self Assessment, giving our accountants more details on you and your finances
• Once you have completed a spreadsheet of your expenses or money made, this can be uploaded, along with your questionnaire and any other supporting documents, onto our online software.
• A friendly Crunch accountant who will review your Self Assessment and carry out a thorough quality check
• A dedicated accountant that’ll contact you to discuss your Self Assessment and if there are anomalies in the information you’ve provided.
• The rest is left to us - you can now sit back and relax while Crunch files your Self Assessment with HMRC for you.

With Crunch’s Self Assessment service, we’re completely upfront with all of our fees. Our price increases throughout the year the shorter the window for completion is before the deadline. If you’d like our extra speedy express service, for last-minute Self Assessment filing, we offer this at an additional fee of £105.50+VAT. Our friendly accountants will give you a stress-free experience, so you feel prepared for the next tax year.*Our prices increase the closer to the submission deadline due to the urgency and turn around time for our team. On rare occasions, Crunch may not be able to complete your Self Assessment ourselves. In which case, we’ll offer to refer you to one of our partners, which may incur additional costs. Under no circumstances would Crunch pass on your data without your explicit permission.

When it comes to your Self Assessment with Crunch, your part can be over in as little as 15 minutes (subject to the size of your tax return). Once your documents have been uploaded onto our online software, you can sit back and wait for our helpful accountants to get in touch.*On rare occasions, Crunch may not be able to complete your Self Assessment ourselves. In which case, we’ll offer to refer you to one of our partners, which may incur additional costs. Under no circumstances would Crunch pass on your data without your explicit permission.

You can use our Ask an Accountant service and now pay just £26+VAT (was £39.50+VAT) for help from a specialist accountant.

AnswerCrunch’s Self Assessment service is a one-off fee starting at £200+VAT (prices vary depending on the deadline window). In the UK, you can usually be charged anywhere between £150 to £250 (or potentially more!). Get the expert support you want, at a price that doesn’t break the bank!

It can be filed any time from the 6th of April, up until the deadline of the 31st of January. We recommend filing it at your earliest convenience.

If you’re entitled to a refund, you should allow four weeks for the refund to be sent to your bank account. If you owe any tax within 35 days of your Self Assessment submission, your refund will be deducted from your total owed.

Crunch’s Self Assessment service is available for anyone who’s income isn’t ‘taxed at source’, for example:

• Self-employed
• Freelancers
• Landlords
• High earners (£100K +)
• Sole traders
• Investors
• Limited Companies
• Crypto
• Side hustles

If you have a Crunch Free, Sole Trader Pro, or Small Business plan, there’ll be a small one-off charge. However, if you have a Limited Company Premium plan, your Self Assessment is included in your monthly subscription.

If you have an existing Crunch account, just log in, select ‘Self Assessment’ on the left-hand side and click ‘Start’. Our accountants will complete it, request your approval and submit it to HMRC on your behalf.

Once your Self Assessment has been submitted, HMRC will tell you how much tax you owe. This can usually be paid by debit card.

You might find that their experience and expertise come in handy, but there’s no legal obligation to hire an accountant to file your Self Assessment.

Yes! For all new clients, just sign up for a Crunch Free account, log in, and get started! For further help on this, our friendly handy experts are available on 01273 257165. For existing Crunch clients, you can log in to your account and get started right away. For more information, if you pay for your Crunch subscription, you can get in touch with our client managers at support@crunch.co.uk or 01273 257091