Contracting through your own limited company offers tax efficiency and flexibility — but only if IR35 status, expenses, and company compliance are managed correctly. Direct Assist Accountants supports contractors across Slough with everything from IR35 status reviews to tax-efficient salary and dividend planning, so you keep more of what you earn while staying fully compliant.
IR35 rules determine whether a contractor is taxed as employed or self-employed for a given engagement, and getting this wrong — or ignoring it — can trigger significant back-tax and penalties from HMRC. Beyond IR35, many contractors also miss out on legitimate expense claims or take an inefficient salary/dividend split simply because their accountant doesn't specialise in contracting. We understand the specific pressures contractors face and structure your finances accordingly.
If you contract through a limited company in Slough or the wider Berkshire area, our service is built specifically around the tax and compliance realities of contracting.
Assessment of your contract and working practices against IR35 criteria
Formation and registration if you're contracting through a new company
Tax-efficient income structuring within IR35 and Corporation Tax rules
Guidance on allowable expenses specific to contracting (travel, equipment, home office)
Annual accounts, Corporation Tax, and Companies House filings handled in full
Guidance on Flat Rate Scheme suitability for contractor businesses
IR35 determines whether HMRC treats a contract as employment for tax purposes — if you’re “inside IR35,” you’re taxed similarly to an employee for that engagement, affecting how you can extract income from your company.
For most medium and large private sector clients, the end client is responsible for determining IR35 status; for small companies, the contractor’s own limited company usually makes the determination.
Common allowable expenses include travel to client sites, professional subscriptions, equipment, and a portion of home office costs, though eligibility depends on your IR35 status.
It can be beneficial depending on your expense levels — we review your specific costs to confirm whether it saves you money compared to standard VAT accounting.
Income from that contract is taxed similarly to employment, with tax and National Insurance deducted at source or accounted for accordingly — we help you plan around this to remain compliant.
Our bookkeeping team is part of Direct Assist Accountants ACCA-regulated practice in Slough
Talk to a Slough-based bookkeeper about getting your records accurate and up to date.
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