How long does switching accountants actually take?

Two weeks for most clients. Some drag — usually because an old accountant is slow with records, not because HMRC makes it complicated. We start the clock the day you sign.

Do I have to tell my current accountant?

Yes. One phone call, or an email — we give you a template. That's it. The old accountant must send us professional clearance; by law they can't refuse.

Yes, because we change your 64-8 agent authorisation at HMRC. It's a routine process — a one-sheet form online. Nothing changes on your tax position.

What if I'm mid-year?

Fine. We pick up from wherever your old accountant left off — bank rules, open VAT periods, half-done payroll runs. Most switches happen in February/March because people are fed up with last year's accountant.

Do I need to tell Xero?

No. We invite ourselves to your Xero organisation once your old accountant disconnects. If you're on QuickBooks or Sage, we migrate to Xero as part of switching.

What if my old accountant loses records?

By law they keep records for six years and must hand them over. If they genuinely can't find something, we rebuild from the bank feed. We've done it before.

Do I pay twice for the same month?

No. Your old fee runs until you leave them. Ours starts the month we take over. We'll agree the overlap date in writing before anything starts.

What happens on day 15?

Live numbers, new Xero login, clear deadlines, and you stop thinking about the shoebox in April.

Switch accountants. 14 days. Sorted.

My accountant never calls me back. Never tells me what I should be doing. If that's the last twelve months, switching is easier than you think. You send one email. We handle the rest — the authority letter, HMRC agent switch, Xero reconnection, professional clearance. Live numbers by day fifteen.

Book a call

Switching accountants, how it works.

Switching in one paragraph

You sign a letter of engagement with us and give your current accountant notice — one email, template provided. We write to them requesting professional clearance and records under the ICAEW/AAT rules they're bound by. We file a new 64-8 agent authorisation with HMRC. Your Xero organisation transfers across. Most switches are live inside 14 days.

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Day 1 — Sign and notify. Fifteen-minute call, written quote, letter of engagement. You send one email to your old accountant.

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Days 2–7 — Clearance & records. We request professional clearance. They send records. We file the HMRC 64-8.

02

Days 8–14 — Xero & handover. Xero reconnected. Bank feeds running. Any open VAT / payroll picked up. Live numbers from day 15.

03 What we handle for you.

You send one email. We do the rest.

The authority letter

Template email to your old accountant. You copy, paste, send. That's the extent of what we ask you to do.

HMRC agent switch (64-8)

We file the online form. HMRC processes it. You don't need to log into anything.

Xero continuity

Xero organisation transferred or migrated from QB/Sage. Bank feeds reconnected. No data loss.

Who this is for.

If any of these sound like your last 12 months with an accountant.

Never calls you back

You've chased four times. You don't know when the deadline is. You're guessing.

Surprise year-end invoice

The fee tripled because of 'extra work'. Nobody told you it was extra work.

Still on spreadsheets

No live numbers. No MTD plan. You want to see what the business is doing in real time.

Wrong fit for the business

You outgrew the village accountant, or the big firm treats you like a file reference.

Common questions

Clear answers to the questions people often ask before getting started.

Two weeks for most clients. Some drag — usually because an old accountant is slow with records, not because HMRC makes it complicated. We start the clock the day you sign.
Yes. One phone call, or an email — we give you a template. That's it. The old accountant must send us professional clearance; by law they can't refuse.
Yes, because we change your 64-8 agent authorisation at HMRC. It's a routine process — a one-sheet form online. Nothing changes on your tax position.
Fine. We pick up from wherever your old accountant left off — bank rules, open VAT periods, half-done payroll runs. Most switches happen in February/March because people are fed up with last year's accountant.
No. We invite ourselves to your Xero organisation once your old accountant disconnects. If you're on QuickBooks or Sage, we migrate to Xero as part of switching.
By law they keep records for six years and must hand them over. If they genuinely can't find something, we rebuild from the bank feed. We've done it before.
No. Your old fee runs until you leave them. Ours starts the month we take over. We'll agree the overlap date in writing before anything starts.
Live numbers, new Xero login, clear deadlines, and you stop thinking about the shoebox in April.

Switch accountants. 14 days. Sorted.

Switching accountants, how it works.

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