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Barton Accountancy office
The Barton blog

Straight-talking advice
for business owners.

Tax, cash flow, structure, switching. Plain English from ICAEW Chartered Accountants in the East Midlands. No jargon, no fluff.

Latest articles

Practical guides for your business.

Written by the team who actually does the work. No outsourced content, no generic advice. Everything you see here is based on what we tell our own clients every week.

CIS Gross
Payment Status
Construction
CIS Gross Payment Status: How to Apply (and Why Most Get It Wrong)
The three HMRC tests, where most applications fall over, how to apply, and how to keep the status once granted. Plain English for construction Ltd directors.
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CIS Refunds for
Limited Companies
Construction
CIS Refunds for Limited Companies: How to Reclaim Your Tax
How the CIS refund mechanism actually works for Ltd companies, why most claims get stuck, and the gross payment status lever that fixes cash flow.
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Making Tax
Digital 2026
Tax
Making Tax Digital 2026: What You Need to Do Now
MTD ITSA went live in April 2026. What changed, who it affects, and what to do now. Plain English.
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How to Choose
an Accountant in Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Local
How to Choose an Accountant in Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Finding the right accountant for your Ashby business. What qualifications matter, how to compare fees, and why proactive accounting matters....
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How to Choose
an Accountant in Swadlincote
Local
How to Choose an Accountant in Swadlincote
Find an accountant who understands your Swadlincote business. What to look for, how to assess expertise, and why construction and CIS experience matte...
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Salary and Dividend Planning
for Limited Company Directors 2026/27
Tax planning
Salary and Dividend Planning for Limited Company Directors 2026/27
Optimise your income and minimise tax in the new tax year. Is £12,570 salary really the answer for you?...
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Why Am I Paying So
Much Tax as a Contractor?
Contractors
Why Am I Paying So Much Tax as a Contractor?
CIS deductions, structure optimisation, and the expenses you're missing....
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My Cafe Is Busy
But I'm Barely Making Money
Hospitality
My Cafe Is Busy But I'm Barely Making Money
Diagnosing profitability problems in hospitality. Margins, bookkeeping, and what's really going wrong....
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How Much Does an Accountant
Cost for a Limited Company?
Fees
How Much Does an Accountant Cost for a Limited Company?
Understanding accountancy fees, pricing structures, and getting real value for money....
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Sole Trader vs Limited Company in 2026
Structure
Sole Trader vs Limited Company in 2026
Tax comparison at different profit levels. Which structure is right for your business?...
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Limited Company Accountants
in the East Midlands
Local
Limited Company Accountants in the East Midlands
Why choosing a local accountant who understands regional businesses matters....
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Why Does My Business
Always Run Out of Cash?
Cash flow
Why Does My Business Always Run Out of Cash?
Cash flow diagnostics, tax timing, seasonal planning, and how to finally get a handle on your cash position....
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My Accountant Just Files My
Accounts — Is That Enough?
Opinion
My Accountant Just Files My Accounts — Is That Enough?
Compliance vs proactive accounting. What you're missing. When it's time to switch....
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Am I Paying Too Much
Tax as a Director in Ashby?
Tax planning
Am I Paying Too Much Tax as a Director in Ashby?
Comprehensive tax optimisation for Ashby directors. 2026/27 tax planning. Is there money on the table?...
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I've Got an HMRC Letter — What Do I Do?
HMRC
I've Got an HMRC Letter — What Do I Do?
Types of HMRC correspondence and how to respond appropriately....
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How to Switch Accountant Mid-Year
Switching
How to Switch Accountant Mid-Year
Step-by-step guide to changing accountants without disruption to your business....
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The bigger picture

If any of this sounds familiar...

These are the three things we hear most from business owners switching to us.

01
You only hear from them at year-end
No check-ins, no planning, no conversation. Just a bill and a set of accounts you don't fully understand.
02
You're never sure where you stand
Your numbers are months out of date. You're making decisions based on gut feel, not real figures.
03
Surprise invoices keep landing
An email here, a phone call there — and suddenly your bill is twice what you expected. No one told you.

Ready for an accountant
who actually helps?

Free, no-obligation quote. Fixed monthly fee. No surprises.
Just a proper conversation about your business.

Get a free quote Call 01283 208613

hello@bartonaccountancy.co.uk · 01530 886296 · Contact us