A lot of business owners stay with an accountant they've outgrown - one who never explains anything, is slow to reply, or bills for every phone call - simply because they think switching will be a nightmare. It isn't. Here's how it actually works.

Good reasons to switch

You're not being disloyal by wanting better. Common, valid reasons include:

  • You never quite understand what you're paying for.
  • Deadlines feel like a scramble every year.
  • Fees keep creeping up, or you're charged for every question.
  • You've gone digital and they haven't.
  • You want someone who speaks your language - in our case, literally, English and Polish.

The five simple steps

Switching is mostly done by your new accountant, not you. Here's the process:

  1. Choose your new accountant and agree the services and fee.
  2. Sign an engagement letter - this sets out what they'll do for you.
  3. Give notice to your old accountant - usually a short email is all it takes.
  4. We send a "clearance letter" - a professional courtesy where your new accountant asks the old one for your records and confirms there's no reason not to act. This is standard practice.
  5. We set up the HMRC and Companies House authorisations so we can act as your agent.

That's genuinely it. For you, it's a couple of emails and a signature.

Will there be a gap in service?

No. A good handover is timed so nothing falls through the cracks - your VAT, payroll and deadlines carry on uninterrupted. Your old accountant is professionally expected to pass on your records promptly.

When's the best time to switch?

You can switch at any time, but the smoothest moments are:

  • Just after your year end, before the next round of accounts begins.
  • Well before a deadline, rather than days before, so the handover isn't rushed.

That said, if you're unhappy now, don't wait a year - the sooner you move, the sooner things improve.

What to look for in a new accountant

  • Clear, fixed fees with no surprises.
  • Someone who explains things in plain language.
  • Digital and Making Tax Digital ready.
  • Responsive - they actually pick up the phone.

Make the switch to TaxMag

We handle the whole changeover for you - the clearance letter, the authorisations, all of it - so moving to us takes minimal effort and there's no awkward conversation to have. Fixed fees, plain English (and Polish), and deadlines you never chase. Get in touch and we'll take it from here.

This article is general information, not tax advice. For help specific to your business, talk to us.