Can I claim accountancy and bookkeeping fees as a business expense?

Can I claim accountancy and bookkeeping fees as a business expense? Yes, in most cases. Fees for your business accounts, bookkeeping and Making Tax Digital software are normally allowable for 2026-27. Fees for the personal parts of your tax return, tax appeals, penalties and some fee protection insurance are not. Partly. GOV.UK's guidance says you cannot claim the cost of preparing and submitting your Self Assessment tax return. HMRC's manual allows the normal recurring cost of preparing your business accounts and agreeing the tax on your trading profit, but not the cost of completing the return itself or other personal tax work, which it says is likely to be small if your other tax affairs are simple. Yes, if it is for the business. GOV.UK says software you pay for regularly to renew the licence can be claimed as an expense, even if you use it for more than 2 years. It goes with office costs, not professional fees. Often, yes. HMRC allows extra accountancy costs from an enquiry if it adds nothing to your profits, or only an adjustment for that year that was not caused by careless or deliberate behaviour. If the enquiry finds careless or deliberate errors, the extra costs are not allowable. Read the full answer, with every source, at rightotax.co.uk.