London has thousands of accounting firms — from one-person practices above a chicken shop to global names charging global fees. Choosing between them isn't about finding the cheapest or the biggest: it's about finding a firm built for the way your finances actually work. Here's an honest guide to the market, from a firm that's been part of it since 2012.
What a good London accountant should actually do
- Answer questions through the year — not just file a return in January and disappear.
- Look at your business and personal tax together: the biggest savings usually live in the gap between the two.
- Warn you before deadlines and threshold crossings (VAT, MTD, higher-rate bands) — not after.
- Speak plainly. If you leave meetings more confused than you arrived, that's a service failure, not your fault.
What accountants in London charge
For individuals, a straightforward Self Assessment typically runs from around £150–£400 with established firms. Limited company packages combining bookkeeping, payroll, VAT and accounts usually start around £100–£300 per month depending on transaction volume. Be wary of prices dramatically below the market — the work still has to be done by someone, and it's usually you who pays when it's done badly.
Red flags worth taking seriously
- Guaranteed refunds promised before anyone has seen your records.
- No named person responsible for you — just a support inbox.
- Silence for months, then a rushed filing at the deadline.
- No professional qualification or body membership anywhere on the website.
Where TaxAce fits
We're a London firm of accountants and tax advisers — led by an AAT Licensed Accountant, working since 2012, rated 5.0 on Google across 1,066 reviews, and ranked first in London Business News' published list of London accounting firms. We serve businesses, individuals and private clients in English, Romanian, Ukrainian and Russian, with a named adviser for every client.