When a money question can't wait, talk to a qualified accountant who already knows your business, not a stranger reading a script.
You run the business. You're also the finance team, the HR department and the person who has to answer HMRC. So when a tricky question lands, there's often no one to ask, and getting it wrong is a real worry. Our business helpline puts a named, qualified accountant on the other end. They already know your numbers, so you get a plain-English answer you can act on, fast. One thing to be clear on: this isn't the free government business support line, and we're not an insolvency firm. It's everyday advice from your own accountant.
Got a letter, a penalty or a nudge from HMRC and not sure what it means? Send it over. We tell you what they want, what it will cost, and what to do next, in plain English. We will also flag the reliefs you can claim, like capital allowances, and agree a Time to Pay arrangement with HMRC if a bill lands at the wrong moment.
Do you need to register for VAT yet, once turnover passes the £90,000 threshold? Which scheme is cheapest, standard, Flat Rate or cash accounting? Is this sale even VATable? Ask before you raise the invoice, not after, and we keep your returns right under Making Tax Digital (MTD).
PAYE is the system for paying tax on wages. We help with payslips, RTI filing, the £10,500 Employment Allowance, taking on your first employee, CIS if you work in construction, and your pension duties under The Pensions Regulator.
Salary, dividends, or a mix? We show you the most tax-efficient way to take money out of your company, and how much actually lands in your pocket once tax is paid. Ask before you draw a penny.
Stuck in Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent or Sage? We use them every day. We will sort the miscoded entry, the reconciliation that won't balance, or the report you can't make sense of, so you stop wrestling with the software.
Sole trader or limited company? An IR35 status check before a contract? Is an R&D tax relief claim worth making? Can you afford that hire, or is the big purchase worth it before year-end? Talk it through with someone who knows your numbers, and never miss a Companies House deadline again.
Juggling Corporation Tax, payroll and dividends on top of the day job. You want a quick, qualified answer before you make a call, not a week-long wait.
Multi-channel sales, VAT thresholds and platform fees get messy fast. Ask us before a VAT or stock question turns into a problem.
You're making it up as you go and can't afford a mistake. Think of this as a small business helpline you can lean on while you find your feet.
Wondering if it's time to incorporate? We'll talk you through the trade-offs and the tax, in language that actually makes sense.
You're not starting from scratch with a stranger. You speak to a named accountant who already knows your business, so the answer fits your actual situation, not a generic script or a gov.uk page link.
Send your question and get a considered, written answer within 72 hours, and most come back the same working day. Urgent HMRC deadlines are flagged and handled inside 24 hours. No phone queues, no being passed around.
Every answer comes from a qualified accountant (ACMA, CGMA, ACCA, FCCA) at our CIMA-regulated practice, not an offshore call centre or a chatbot. We're a Xero Partner trusted by 600+ UK clients.
Ask as often as you need. The helpline is part of your fixed monthly fee, £129, £250 or £499, with no hourly billing and no surprise invoice for a quick question.
No jargon, no lectures. We translate the tax-speak so you can make the decision and get back to running your business, with a 30-day money-back guarantee if we're not the right fit.
Fast enough to keep your decision moving. Send your question by email or book a quick call, and you’ll have a clear, written answer within 72 hours. Most land the same working day.
If it’s urgent, an HMRC deadline, a payroll cut-off, or a letter with a date on it, flag it and we handle it inside 24 hours. You’re never left watching a clock or stuck in a phone queue.
That speed matters. Small firms tell researchers that HMRC’s own lines are hard to reach, with long holds, and the phone is still their main way of getting help (House of Commons Treasury Committee, 2025). The point of having your own accountant on call is that you skip the queue entirely.
See also: payroll service
Search “business helpline” and you’ll find three different things. It’s worth knowing which is which, so you pick the right one.
The free government Business Support Helpline points you to schemes and general guidance, useful, but it won’t tell you what your VAT bill looks like. Some firms called “Business Helpline” are insolvency specialists for companies in trouble, not what you need for an everyday question. And Google or a chatbot gives you a generic answer that may not fit your situation, or your tax year.
What we do is different: specific advice on your numbers, from an accountant who already acts for you. That is what our business helpline services are built around. Here’s how that compares.
| Free gov / HMRC line | Google or a chatbot | Our adviser helpline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knows your business | No | No | Yes — your named adviser |
| Qualified accountant | General adviser | No | Yes — CIMA-regulated |
| Answers your actual numbers | No | Generic only | Yes |
| Typical wait | Long phone queues | Instant but generic | Within 72 hours |
| Cost | Free | Free | Part of your fixed monthly fee |
See also: tax advisoryVAT returns
Getting started takes minutes, and there’s no long contract. Once you’re set up, you get a named accountant to email and a direct business helpline number for the questions that can’t wait.
We set you up with a named accountant and connect to your software, so they can see your numbers from day one. No drawn-out onboarding.
Email your question or book a quick call. Send the HMRC letter, the invoice, the screenshot — whatever it is. There’s no limit and no per-question charge.
You get a clear, plain-English reply within 72 hours, written so you can actually use it. If it needs a follow-up, we stay on it until it’s sorted.
See also: bookkeeping support
Cash gets tight for good businesses too. If you’re behind on a VAT or PAYE bill, the worst move is to go quiet and hope it passes.
This is when people search for a business debt helpline, or even a national business debt helpline, usually late at night and usually worried. Here’s the honest version. We help you see exactly what you owe, set up a Time to Pay arrangement with HMRC, and get your figures straight so you can deal with it calmly. It’s the one thing an HMRC business helpline can’t do for you, because we can see your actual accounts.
We’re accountants, not insolvency practitioners. Formal insolvency is handled by licensed professionals, and if you ever reach that point we’ll say so plainly and point you to the right regulated help. Typing “business debt helpline uk” into Google rarely fixes anything; a clear plan the next morning usually does, and most owners never get near insolvency because acting early changes everything.
Two honest limits. We’re not your business banking helpline, so a frozen account or a card problem still goes to your bank. And we’re not a business legal advice helpline, so a contract dispute needs a solicitor.
What we’ll always do is tell you, quickly, which lane your problem sits in and what to ask when you get there. Knowing who to call is half the battle.
See also: proactive tax planningtalk to the team
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No. There is no per-call or per-question charge. The helpline is part of your fixed monthly fee, so you can ask as often as you need without watching a clock or worrying about a surprise invoice.
A real, qualified accountant, every time. Your answers come from a named accountant (ACMA, CGMA, ACCA, FCCA) at our CIMA-regulated practice who already knows your business. You will not be routed through an offshore call centre or fobbed off with a chatbot.
It is, and it is useful for general signposting - schemes, grants, and where to look next. But it will not tell you what your VAT bill looks like or how to answer a specific HMRC letter. Our business helpline services give you advice on your actual numbers, from an accountant who acts for you.
Google gives you a generic answer that may be out of date or wrong for your situation. We give you advice on your business, your tax year, and your figures. The difference is the cost of getting it wrong with HMRC.
We cover everyday tax, VAT, payroll, and business questions. We are not the right fit for a complex tax-planning project, a full HMRC investigation defence, or legal advice that needs a solicitor or an employment matter for Acas - though we will tell you honestly when you need one and point you the right way.
No. The helpline comes with every monthly plan from £129, but you can also take it on its own if you already have a bookkeeper and just want a qualified accountant to sanity-check the big calls. Either way it is rolling monthly, so you can cancel any time.
I’ve had an excellent experience working with Zmartly. Harvey and the team are professional, responsive, and genuinely supportive. They explain things clearly, stay on top of deadlines, and always look for practical ways to save tax and improve…
I’ve used several accountants in the past, but hands down there is no one better than Harvey at Zmartly. He really understands exactly what advice you’re looking for and explains everything clearly and professionally. Nothing ever feels rushed…
I started working with Zmartly Accountants after having serious issues with my previous accounting firm. They were missing deadlines, incorrectly calculating VAT, constantly late, and extremely difficult and frustrating to communicate with. Switching to Zmartly was a huge…
I've had a terrible experience with multiple accountants. Zmartly have been incredible. If you do ecommerce / Amazon FBA you definitely need to go with someone who understands the complexities with it. Thanks to Harvey and his amazing…
Its not easy to find accountants who understand ecommerce especially Amazon and these guys know Amazon very well. Always helps us with advice if they spot something we incorrectly. Super easy to speak with someone if you have…
I’ve had an excellent experience working with Zmartly. Harvey and the team are professional, responsive, and genuinely supportive. They explain things clearly, stay on top of deadlines, and always look for practical ways to save tax and improve…
I’ve used several accountants in the past, but hands down there is no one better than Harvey at Zmartly. He really understands exactly what advice you’re looking for and explains everything clearly and professionally. Nothing ever feels rushed…
I started working with Zmartly Accountants after having serious issues with my previous accounting firm. They were missing deadlines, incorrectly calculating VAT, constantly late, and extremely difficult and frustrating to communicate with. Switching to Zmartly was a huge…
I've had a terrible experience with multiple accountants. Zmartly have been incredible. If you do ecommerce / Amazon FBA you definitely need to go with someone who understands the complexities with it. Thanks to Harvey and his amazing…
Its not easy to find accountants who understand ecommerce especially Amazon and these guys know Amazon very well. Always helps us with advice if they spot something we incorrectly. Super easy to speak with someone if you have…
Thirty minutes with a qualified accountant. Most owners uncover £1,000-£3,000 in annual savings on the first call. If we are not the right fit, you walk away with a free tax review on the house.
