Accounting for Westerham
Westerham is a small market town in the Darent valley on the Kent and Surrey border, with a green at its centre and a high street of independent shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants. It is closely linked with Winston Churchill, whose home at Chartwell lies just outside the town, and with General James Wolfe, who grew up at Quebec House. Those links bring a steady flow of visitors, which supports local hospitality and retail, while the surrounding countryside is home to farms, estates and rural businesses.
Being near the M25 also means many residents run consultancies, trades and small companies that serve clients well beyond the town.
What Westerham clients ask us for
- Independent retailers and hospitality: VAT returns that handle mixed rates correctly, alongside year-end accounts and tax.
- Owner-run companies: Corporation Tax returns, statutory accounts and advice on how directors take their income.
- Landlords and property owners: rental accounts, and advice on Capital Gains Tax when selling property, including the reporting deadline for UK residential sales.
- Sole traders: Self Assessment tax returns with a check that all allowable expenses are included.
Selling a property?
Westerham and the surrounding villages have many long-held homes and second properties. If you sell a UK residential property that is not your main home and there is tax to pay, you normally need to report and pay Capital Gains Tax within 60 days of completion. We work out the gain, check reliefs such as private residence relief where it applies, and submit the return and figures in time, then make sure everything is reflected correctly in your Self Assessment return.
How we work
We do not have an office in Westerham. Our clients work with us online and by email, sharing records through accounting software or secure upload, and we talk by video call or a call back. Meetings can be arranged by agreement. When we need access to your software we use its accountant invitation, so we never ask for your password.
We give you a clear list of what we need and when, and we send draft figures before anything is submitted. If something has changed since last year, we will explain it.
Small businesses, properly looked after
Small firms often fall between the cracks: too small for a big practice to notice, too busy to chase their own paperwork. We keep an eye on your deadlines, remind you in good time and are happy to answer the small questions as well as the big ones.
We also work with clients in Edenbridge and Sevenoaks. Get in touch to start a conversation.
Accountants in Westerham: common questions
Is there an office in Westerham I can visit?
No. We work with Westerham clients online, by email and by video call, and you can request a call back whenever you like. If a meeting in person would help, we can arrange one by agreement. Most clients find remote working saves time.
I am selling a second home near Westerham. What do I need to do?
If you are a UK resident and there is Capital Gains Tax to pay, you normally need to report the sale and pay the tax within 60 days of completion. We calculate the gain, check any reliefs that apply and submit the return. The sale also goes on your Self Assessment return for the year.
My pub serves food and drink. Are there different VAT rates?
Yes, different rates and rules can apply to food, drink and accommodation, and occasional temporary changes have applied to hospitality in the past. We check how your till system codes sales, review your returns and make sure the right rate is applied to each type of sale.
Can you work with a small business that only needs a tax return once a year?
Yes. Many of our clients only need an annual Self Assessment return or a set of company accounts. We send a reminder and checklist ahead of time, prepare the return, show you the figures and file once you approve. You can contact us during the year if questions come up.