Accountants for Software Developers - Tax & Accounting Experts
Managing your accounts while coding can be overwhelming. At Lanop Business & Tax Advisors, we specialise in accounting for software developers across the UK, ensuring your tax is optimised, your compliance is airtight, and your financial future is secure. Whether you’re a freelancer, IT contractor, or running a SaaS business, we understand your world, from IR35 challenges to R&D tax credits.
How Lanop helps Your Business
- Your skills build technology, ours protect your income. With tailored advice, cloud-based tools, and proactive tax strategies, our accountants for software developers keep you compliant, profitable, and stress-free. Let Lanop handle the financial details while you scale your projects and maximise your tax efficiency all year round.
Smart Tax Planning for Developers
- We identify every tax-saving opportunity, from allowable expenses like software subscriptions and equipment to R&D tax credits, ensuring you pay only what’s necessary.
Hassle-Free Compliance & Filings
- Our accountants for software developers take care of self-assessment, VAT returns, payroll, and Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements with accuracy and punctuality.
Business Growth & Structuring Advice
- Whether you’re moving from sole trader to limited company or expanding your team, we provide growth-focused strategies that keep your tax liabilities low and your profits healthy.
What Accounting Services We Offer
We provide expert services tailored specifically for the needs of the software professionals. Our extensive services include the following and more.
Expert guidance to choose the right legal structure for tax efficiency, liability protection, and business growth. We’re especially aware about growth because that’s what most software companies are focused on.
Professional bookkeeping with Xero, QuickBooks, or FreeAgent to give you real-time financial insights. You’ll never miss transactions and always are up to date about your financials whether you are travelling or simply taking a stroll on the streets.
Accurate, timely self-assessment and corporation tax returns to avoid penalties. We’ll guide along the way and ensure that nothing is missed, that is Lanop’s guarantee
Advice on the best VAT scheme for your business and complete handling of submissions. We have a special team of experienced accountants in software companies who provide the best advice on this
End-to-end management of claims to secure valuable cash flow for your innovative projects. Now you won’t have to worry if you’re investing too much in something that won’t be tangible in the next couple of years because we’ll manage your cashflow with you while you build your dream product.
Efficient payroll processing for you and your employees with full HMRC compliance. So, you can focus on what matters in the business, which is to focus on growth and innovation.
We handle letters, checks, and disputes so you can focus on the real issues. We cover extensive business disputes ranging from copyrights, trademarks and goodwill.
Who We Help
- Freelance software developers
- IT contractors
- SaaS founders and entrepreneurs
- Web, app, and game developers
- Development agencies and tech start-ups
- Developers with overseas clients
How Tax Planning Saves Developers Thousands
For many software developers, poor tax planning results in unnecessary losses every year. You might be paying more than you should simply because you’re unaware of what you can legally claim.
Our accountants for software developers assess your income sources, allowable expenses, and potential for R&D tax credits. For example, a freelance developer earning £80,000 annually could save thousands by incorporating as a limited company, claiming home office deductions, professional subscriptions, hardware, and travel expenses. Additionally, if your work involves developing new software solutions, you could qualify for significant R&D tax relief, often overlooked by solo developers and small tech firms. The best approach is always given to the case-by-case basis. We’ll investigate your software solutions and provide expert guidance if you can claim R&D tax credits.
Challenges You Normally Face
- Missing out on allowable expenses
- Overpaying due to poor structure
- No clear strategy for R&D claims
- Uncertainty over VAT registration
- Inconsistent income management
Why IR35 Compliance Matters
IR35 legislation can dramatically impact your income as a software developer. If HMRC deems you ‘inside IR35’, you could face higher tax bills and reduced take-home pay. Many developers get caught out because they don’t understand how their contracts and working practices are assessed. That is where we can go.
Our accountants for software developers conduct detailed IR35 reviews, looking at your contracts, client relationships, and actual day-to-day work arrangements. We then advise on changes that can help you remain compliant and retain your preferred working status. If you’re already inside IR35, we help you restructure to minimise the impact, considering umbrella company setups, permanent employment, or other compliant arrangements. We’ll get it done while you’re still doing what is best, your job!
With IR35 rules changing and enforcement becoming stricter, especially in the tech industry, you can’t afford to take chances. AI is evolving the world faster than you could’ve imagined. We stay up to date with every HMRC update so that you’re protected from costly mistakes.
Our dedicated accountants for software developers work with you year-round, giving you clarity, control, and more time to focus on what you do best, creating innovative solutions, not balancing spreadsheets.
How It Works
- Free consultation to understand your goals
- Income & platform review, UK and global
- Accounting setup, cloud-based, fully digital
- Ongoing support, tax planning, filings, WhatsApp access
- International advisory, for relocation, expansion, and UAE structuring
Scaling from Code to Company
Transitioning from solo developer to managing a team or running an agency brings exciting opportunities, and new financial complexities. Suddenly, you’re dealing with payroll, VAT thresholds, cash flow forecasting, and possibly even international tax rules.
Our accountants for software developers help you plan for growth without tax headaches. We guide you on when to register for VAT, how to structure your payroll, and how to forecast cash flow to ensure you have funds available for new hires and investments.
If you’re attracting overseas clients, we’ll help you navigate cross-border tax implications, currency exchange challenges, and UK compliance requirements. We’ll also ensure your financial systems scale with you, integrating cloud accounting tools that grow with your business.
By planning, you’ll avoid common pitfalls like cash flow shortages, surprise VAT bills, missed compliance deadlines, payroll complexities, confusion when it comes to international tax, especially when dealing with clients from all over the world, leaving you free to focus on delivering exceptional software solutions and focus on what you value the most.
We have financial analysts who manage and scale with you. Forecasting your growth and understanding your potential while you hang back and give us the details.
Award Winning Accountancy Firm in the UK
Our Identity
Integrity, honesty, and dedication are the core values at Lanop Business & Tax Advisors. Since launching our first Putney office in 2010, we’ve grown into a fully digital, UK‑based accounting and tax advisory firm that blends expert compliance with forward‑looking guidance and business strategy.
Our team of specialized chartered tax advisors and accountants delivers a full spectrum of services including tax planning, bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, and virtual finance director support all designed to help you manage your business more efficiently and confidently.
We believe accounting is more than numbers it’s about empowering your journey through modern finance. That means applying strategic insight, breaking down complex financial processes, and acting as your trusted partner not just submitting filings.
Put simply, Lanop Business & Tax Advisors is more than an accounting firm we are your strategic ally, dedicated to guiding your financial success with integrity, precision,
FAQ
ask us
anything
Can I claim my home office costs as a software developer?
You can get a portion of your household bills, such as internet, electricity and heating, based on the business and the use. This is where we come in and save the day for you. We measure this accurately while being fully compliant with HMRC to calculate this. It depends upon case-to-case basis, but you’ll know exactly how much you can claim, making it easier for you to manage your expenses
Should I operate as a sole trader or limited company?
This is based on your earnings, expansion strategies and risk exposure. Our specialized accountants for software developers evaluate your case and advise you on the most tax-efficient and beneficially tax-wise, legal structure that you should adopt. We’ve worked with all sorts of software companies, so you’ll be getting the best advice
Do I qualify for R&D tax credits?
You may be qualified in the case your work includes developing or enhancing software that comes about because of technological innovation. We identify eligible projects, prepare your claim, and submit it to HMRC to secure maximum relief.
How does IR35 affect my take-home pay?
If you’re inside IR35, your earnings may be taxed like employment income, reducing net pay. We advise on compliance and restructuring to keep your income optimised and risk low.
Can I claim software subscriptions as expenses?
Yes, but there is a catch, it must be used wholly for business purposes. Project management tools like Asana, Jira and Trello help run businesses better and are expensed. However, if you’re thinking of including Netflix in your subscription, then that might not work as expenses.
Do I need VAT registration as a developer?
VAT registration can be quite a hassle, and it can even sound like something which wouldn’t help you in running the business, but voluntary registration has some benefits and we’re always here to guide you along the way. Plus, if your turnover exceeds £90,000 in 2025 then it’s likely you must register.
How quickly can you set up my limited company?
Some do it in a week, we do it in a day and usually within 24 hrs. because we’ve gone through this process time and time again. Basic set up you need is Companies House registration and HMRC setup for corporation tax, then there is VAT, and payroll, if needed.
Do you handle overseas client payments?
Yes. Most software companies have clients all over the world and it is a necessity for financial consultancy firms like ourselves to handle overseas clients payments and ensure our customer isn’t worried about invoicing or managing invoices. We also investigate currency exchange and international tax compliance so you will not have to worry. Our clients are multinational and work in the UAE, USA and Europe as well.
Can you manage my self-assessment?
Absolutely. As part of our services, we file your self-assessment tax return and ensure that all the allowable expenses have been claimed, and the deadlines are adhered to to keep HMRC penalty fees to a minimum. We even keep track of when the next HMRC payment is going to be, so you don’t have to worry about it.
