Clarity in Numbers.
Confidence in Growth.
We empower UK directors, sole traders and SMEs with proactive accountancy and tax planning. Compliant, strategic, and focused on your success.
Our Tax Calculators.
Interactive modelling instruments engineered for the modern UK enterprise — updated for the 2026/27 tax year. Choose your instrument to begin.
X Consultants is a UK tax and business consultancy founded in 2026, based in Reading, Berkshire. We help small businesses, sole traders, landlords, contractors and taxi drivers across the Thames Valley and the UK with accountancy, VAT, corporation tax, self assessment, bookkeeping and payroll — and we publish free, accurate 2026/27 UK tax calculators.
Accountancy Services.
High-performance financial stewardship across the core pillars of UK business compliance and growth.
VAT Services
Strategic VAT planning, registration and Making Tax Digital compliance.
Learn more Precision FirstBookkeeping
Cloud-native ledger management for complete financial health and visibility.
Learn more Statutory ExcellenceYear End Accounts
Statutory accounts preparation and filing, on time and stress-free.
Learn more Personal TaxSelf Assessment
Personal tax returns with proactive, strategic planning built in.
Learn moreCompany Formation & Structure.
Architecting your corporate structure for optimal tax efficiency from day one. We handle the complexity — you build the vision.
New Venture Planning
Limited company vs sole trader analysis, incorporation and registration handled end-to-end.
Group Reorganisations
Holding structures, share schemes and demergers designed around your growth plans.
Profit Extraction Models
Tax-efficient salary, dividend and pension blends — recalibrated for the 2026/27 dividend rate rises.
Taxi Driver Specialist Support.
Dedicated accountancy for Uber, Bolt and Private Hire drivers. We understand the specific deductions for fuel, car maintenance, commission and licensing that maximise your take-home pay.
A new practice, built differently.
We opened our doors in January 2026. No inherited backlog, no legacy software, and no partner you never actually meet — just current rates, direct access, and advice while it still changes the outcome.
Proactive, not reactive
Most firms give you the number once the year has already closed. We model fiscal change as it lands — like the 2026/27 dividend rise — while you can still do something about it.
Specialists, not generalists
Private-hire drivers, contractors, landlords and owner-managed companies. We know the deductions, thresholds and traps specific to each, rather than one generic checklist.
Direct access
You deal with the person doing the work. HMRC registered agent, Making Tax Digital ready, and a reply within one working day — every time.
Accountants for the way you work.
Based in Reading, Berkshire — serving clients across the Thames Valley, London and the whole of the UK, fully online.
Company directors
Corporation tax returns, payroll, dividend planning and tax-efficient profit extraction for owner-managed limited companies and startups.
Sole traders & freelancers
Self assessment tax returns, Making Tax Digital quarterly filing, expense reviews and National Insurance planning for the self-employed.
Taxi & Uber drivers
Specialist accounting for taxi, Uber, Bolt and private hire drivers — mileage claims, vehicle costs and licensing deductions that maximise take-home pay.
Landlords & investors
Rental income tax returns, capital gains tax on property sales, stamp duty advice and MTD for landlords earning over £50,000.
Contractors & consultants
IR35 reviews, salary and dividend modelling, VAT flat rate scheme advice and pension planning for IT and professional contractors.
E-commerce & digital
VAT for online sellers, marketplace reconciliation, cloud bookkeeping and international VAT questions for Amazon, Shopify and Etsy businesses.
UK tax, answered.
The small profits rate is 19% on profits up to £50,000 and the main rate is 25% from £250,000. Profits between £50,000 and £250,000 receive marginal relief, creating an effective rate of 26.5% on that band. Try the Corporation Tax calculator →
From 6 April 2026 dividends are taxed at 10.75% in the basic rate band, 35.75% in the higher rate band and 39.35% in the additional rate band, after the £500 dividend allowance. Model your dividends →
You must register for VAT once your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in any rolling 12-month period. Registration, scheme selection and Making Tax Digital filings are part of our VAT service.
Taxi drivers are typically self-employed and pay income tax and Class 4 National Insurance on profits after expenses. You can deduct actual vehicle costs or use HMRC mileage rates of 55p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter. Taxi driver calculator →
You can file yourself, but an accountant can spot allowable expenses and reliefs that are easy to miss, and make sure the return is right first time — and from April 2026 Making Tax Digital quarterly reporting applies to sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000. Ask us anything →
Most small UK businesses pay a fixed monthly fee that scales with complexity — typically covering year-end accounts, a corporation tax return, payroll for directors, VAT filings and self assessment. We quote a transparent fixed fee after a free scoping call, with no hidden charges. See our services →
Yes. X Consultants is based in Reading, Berkshire and works with clients across the Thames Valley including Wokingham, Maidenhead, Bracknell, Slough and Henley-on-Thames, as well as remotely across the whole of the UK. Get in touch →
Paper returns are due by 31 October and online returns and payment by 31 January following the end of the tax year. For 2026/27 income the online deadline is 31 January 2028. We file ahead of deadline and remind you of any payments on account. Self assessment calculator →
It depends on your profit level, liability needs and plans. Limited companies can be more tax-efficient at higher profits through the 19% small profits rate and salary/dividend planning, while sole trader status is simpler at lower profits. We model both for you free as part of company formation advice. Company formation →
Yes. All eight calculators are free with no sign-up, updated for the 2026/27 UK tax year using standard HMRC rates. They cover salary take-home pay, VAT, corporation tax, dividend tax, self assessment, taxi driver tax, capital gains and stamp duty. Results are estimates; for advice on your circumstances, contact us. Try the calculators →
Take your gross salary, deduct income tax (after your £12,570 personal allowance, at 20%/40%/45%), deduct employee National Insurance (8% between £12,570 and £50,270, then 2%), and deduct any pension and student loan. Our free Salary Calculator does this instantly for 2026/27.
Services built for growth.
From statutory compliance to strategic structuring — one specialist practice across your entire financial operation.
VAT Services
Registration and deregistration, scheme selection (standard, flat-rate, cash accounting), quarterly MTD-compliant filings, and strategic VAT planning for cross-border and digital businesses.
Bookkeeping
Cloud-native ledger management on Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent. Real-time dashboards, receipt automation, bank reconciliation and monthly management accounts.
Year End Accounts
Statutory accounts preparation under FRS 102/105, Companies House and HMRC filing, plus a director debrief translating the numbers into decisions.
Self Assessment
Personal tax returns for directors, landlords, sole traders and high earners — with planning for the new 2026/27 dividend and property income rates.
Corporation Tax
CT600 preparation, marginal relief optimisation between £50k–£250k profits, capital allowances, R&D claims and group relief planning.
Payroll Services
RTI-compliant payroll, auto-enrolment pensions, P11D benefits and CIS returns for contractors and subcontractors.
Company Formation
Incorporation, share structuring, registered office and tax-efficient profit extraction models designed from day one.
Taxi & Private Hire
Dedicated support for Uber, Bolt and Private Hire drivers — mileage vs actual cost methods, licensing deductions and special package rates.
Business Advisory
Cash-flow forecasting, funding readiness, exit planning and quarterly strategy sessions.
Plans that scale with you.
Fixed monthly fees, no surprises. Every engagement begins with a complimentary scoping call.
Essential
Self assessment, bookkeeping-lite, unlimited email support and HMRC correspondence handled.
Request a quote Limited CompanyProfessional
Year-end accounts, CT600, payroll for directors, VAT filings, self assessment and quarterly check-ins.
Request a quote Scale & GroupsEnterprise
Multi-entity consolidation, management reporting, CFO-level advisory and dedicated direct access.
Request a quoteThe Tax Toolkit.
Eight interactive modelling instruments, updated for the 2026/27 UK tax year — plus a free bank & ledger reconciliation tool. Everything runs instantly in your browser.
Bank & ledger reconciliation.
Match two sets of transactions in seconds — bank vs cashbook, ledger vs sub-ledger, intercompany, or a VAT/control account. Upload two files, we auto-match every line, you review and export. Your files never leave your device.
Upload two files
Drop in your two sources as Excel or CSV — a bank statement and your cashbook, or any two ledgers you need to tie out.
We auto-match
Columns are detected automatically and every transaction is matched by amount and date — exact matches, near-matches and suggestions, instantly.
Review & export
See what is matched, what needs a look and what is outstanding — then export the full reconciliation to CSV. Nothing is ever uploaded to a server.
Reconciliation tool
Match two sources — bank vs cashbook, GL vs subledger, intercompany, or a VAT/control account. Everything runs in your browser; your files never leave this device.
Auto-detected — adjust if needed. Amount can be one column, or a Debit/Credit pair.
2026/27 UK tax rates at a glance.
The key rates, thresholds and allowances for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 – 5 April 2027), as used by our calculators.
| Tax | Rate / threshold (2026/27) |
|---|---|
| Personal allowance | £12,570 (tapers above £100,000 income) |
| Income tax (rest of UK) | 20% basic to £37,700 · 40% higher to £125,140 · 45% additional above |
| Employee National Insurance | 8% between £12,570–£50,270, then 2% |
| Dividend tax (from 6 Apr 2026) | 10.75% basic · 35.75% higher · 39.35% additional · £500 allowance |
| Corporation tax | 19% to £50,000 · 25% from £250,000 · marginal relief between (effective 26.5%) |
| VAT | Standard 20% · registration threshold £90,000 rolling 12-month turnover |
| Capital gains tax | 18% within basic band · 24% above · £3,000 annual exempt amount · BADR 18% |
| Stamp duty (SDLT) | Nil to £125,000 · first-time buyers nil to £300,000 |
| Making Tax Digital (ITSA) | Mandatory from Apr 2026 for self-employment/property income over £50,000 |
Personal allowance £12,570
Basic rate 20% on the first £37,700 of taxable income; higher rate 40% to £125,140; additional rate 45% above. The allowance tapers away above £100,000 of income.
Employee NI 8% / 2%
Class 1 employee NI is 8% between £12,570 and £50,270, then 2% above. Self-employed Class 4 NI is 6% between the same thresholds, then 2%.
Dividend allowance £500
Dividend tax rates rose on 6 April 2026: 10.75% basic rate, 35.75% higher rate and 39.35% additional rate.
19% / 25% + marginal relief
Small profits rate 19% up to £50,000; main rate 25% from £250,000. Between them, marginal relief gives an effective 26.5% on the middle band.
Standard rate 20%
Registration threshold £90,000 taxable turnover in any rolling 12 months. Reduced rate 5%, zero rate 0%. Making Tax Digital filing is mandatory.
18% / 24% · £3,000 exempt
Annual exempt amount £3,000. Gains taxed at 18% within the basic rate band, 24% above — for both property and shares. BADR rate is 18% from April 2026.
Nil-rate band £125,000
SDLT bands: 0% to £125k, 2% to £250k, 5% to £925k, 10% to £1.5m, 12% above. First-time buyers pay nothing up to £300,000. Additional properties add 5%.
Plan thresholds 2026/27
Plan 1 £26,900 · Plan 2 £29,385 · Plan 4 £33,795 · Plan 5 £25,000 — all at 9% of income above the threshold. Postgraduate loans: 6% above £21,000.
MTD ITSA from £50,000
Since April 2026, sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 must keep digital records and file quarterly. The £30,000 tier follows in 2027.
Rates shown for England, Wales & Northern Ireland unless stated; Scotland sets its own income tax bands (19%–48% in 2026/27). Figures are for guidance only — speak to us for advice on your circumstances.
Insights & Briefs.
Analytical precision regarding UK fiscal change and corporate architecture.
Dividend tax just rose to 10.75% — your extraction model needs a rethink
The 2026/27 basic and higher dividend rates climbed two points. We model the new optimal salary/dividend blend for single-director companies.
From 6 April 2026 the basic dividend rate is 10.75% and the higher rate 35.75%, while the £500 allowance stays frozen. For a director taking £40,000 in dividends above a £12,570 salary, that is roughly £800 more tax than last year.
The optimal blend now leans harder on pension contributions and, for some, retaining profit at corporate rates. Model your own position with our Dividend Tax calculator, or ask us to re-run your extraction plan.
MTD for Income Tax: the April 2026 go-live, one month in
Quarterly digital reporting is now live for sole traders and landlords over £50k. What the first filing cycle taught our clients.
Sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 must now keep digital records and file quarterly updates. The first cumulative submissions are due 7 August 2026 — and HMRC's penalty points regime applies.
Our cloud bookkeeping clients were compliant from day one. If you are still on spreadsheets, the catch-up window before your first deadline is short — talk to us about a fast migration.
BADR at 18%: exit timing after the April rise
Business Asset Disposal Relief has stepped up again. We quantify the impact on sale proceeds and the case for planning ahead.
Business Asset Disposal Relief climbed from 14% to 18% on 6 April 2026 — the second step of the announced rises. On a £1m qualifying gain, that is £40,000 more tax than a disposal completed in 2025/26.
The £1m lifetime limit remains. If a sale is on your horizon, structuring and timing reviews matter more than ever — estimate the liability with our Capital Gains calculator.
Scotland's new 48% top rate — cross-border planning notes
The 2026/27 Scottish Budget added pressure at the top. Residence, relocation and pension levers examined.
The 2026/27 Scottish Budget pushed the top rate to 48% above £125,140, with six bands now in play. A £160,000 earner in Scotland pays materially more than in the rest of the UK.
Residence is determined by where you live, not where you work — but pensions, dividend income (UK-wide rates) and incorporation all change the calculus. Compare both regimes in our Salary calculator with the Scottish toggle.
Take-home pay on a £50,000 salary in 2026/27
What £50k actually puts in your pocket after income tax, National Insurance and pension — and the levers that change it.
On a £50,000 salary with no pension contributions, you pay roughly £7,486 income tax and £2,994 employee National Insurance in 2026/27, leaving take-home pay of about £39,520 — £3,293 a month.
Salary-sacrifice pension contributions, the marriage allowance and student loan plans all shift the number. Check your exact figure in seconds with our salary take-home calculator.
Limited company vs sole trader in 2026: which saves more tax?
The April dividend rises moved the crossover point. We run the numbers at £30k, £50k and £80k of profit.
At lower profits, sole trader simplicity often wins: Class 4 NI at 6% is now relatively gentle. As profits grow, a limited company still wins through the 19% small profits rate and timing flexibility — but the new 10.75%/35.75% dividend rates have narrowed the gap.
Liability protection, credibility and pension funding matter too. We model both routes for you as part of company formation advice.
First-time buyer stamp duty in 2026: the £300,000 nil-rate band
What first-time buyers pay in SDLT, when relief disappears, and how joint purchases are treated.
First-time buyers pay no stamp duty up to £300,000 and 5% on the portion to £500,000. Above £500,000 the relief vanishes entirely and standard bands apply — a sharp cliff edge worth planning around.
Buying jointly? Every purchaser must be a first-time buyer to qualify. Estimate your bill with our stamp duty calculator.
Marginal relief: the 26.5% trap between £50k and £250k
Most directors don't realise profits in the marginal band suffer an effective 26.5%. Three legitimate mitigation routes.
Corporation tax looks like 19% or 25%, but every pound of profit between £50,000 and £250,000 effectively suffers 26.5% — higher than the main rate itself.
Pension contributions, capital allowances and timing of income can pull profits out of the marginal band. See your effective rate in our Corporation Tax calculator, then ask us about mitigation.
Accountants who think like strategists.
Reading-based and built for the modern UK enterprise. We believe compliance is the floor — strategy is the ceiling.
Precision
Every figure reconciled, every deadline met. We run a zero-surprise practice with documented controls on every engagement.
Proactivity
We contact you before HMRC does. Rate changes, threshold freezes and budget announcements arrive with a plan attached.
Partnership
Your ambitions set the agenda. From first invoice to exit, we act as the finance function beside you — not a filing service behind you.
Built on trust.
Founded in Reading
Founded by Nouman, an ACCA member. X Consultants opened with a simple conviction: SMEs deserve the strategic tax thinking usually reserved for large corporates.
Cloud-native from day one
No legacy systems, no paper. Every client onboarded straight onto Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent — ready for Making Tax Digital before the April go-live.
The 2026/27 rate-change clinics
Dividend rates rose, BADR stepped up, Scotland added a 48% top rate. We re-modelled every client's position within the month — and published our free calculators so anyone can check theirs.
Who we work with
Directors, sole traders, landlords and private-hire drivers across Reading, Berkshire and the Thames Valley. Every one gets expert eyes on their numbers and direct access to the person doing the work.
Let's talk strategy.
Tell us where you are and where you're heading. We reply within one working day.
Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Mon–Fri, 9:00–18:00 · 24hr support for Taxi Package clients
HMRC Registered Agent · MTD Compliant
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