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The HR and Cost Advantages of Outsourcing for UK Accountants

Accountancy firms across the UK are facing mounting pressures – from rising staffing costs to skills shortages and increasing client expectations. Outsourcing has become a strategic, cost-effective solution, enabling firms to streamline operations, enhance service quality, and scale without the financial and administrative burden of in-house recruitment.

How To Reduce Staffing Costs and Administrative Overheads

Eliminate Recruitment and Onboarding Expenses

Hiring new employees can be costly and time-consuming, with specialist recruitment fees often reaching 25% of initial salary. Outsourcing removes these expenses entirely, providing immediate access to qualified professionals and reducing the risk of hiring errors.

Lower Employer Contributions

Rising National Insurance, pension obligations, paid leave, and statutory benefits add significant overheads to any business – often exceeding 20% of base salary. Outsourcing converts these variable costs into predictable fees, strengthening budgeting and cash-flow planning.

Access Qualified Talent at Significantly Lower Cost

Offshore accountants typically cost around 50% less than onshore equivalents while offering high levels of technical proficiency across bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, tax returns, and year-end accounts. Cloud-based collaboration tools ensure seamless, real-time integration with UK firms.

Gain Flexibility and Operational Agility

Scale Effortlessly with Client Demand

Outsourcing enables firms to adjust capacity for seasonal workloads or rapid growth without long-term commitments. Services can be engaged on a part-time, full-time, or project basis to match business needs.

Reduce Infrastructure and Software Costs

Outsourced providers supply their own office space, IT equipment, software licences, and technical support, eliminating the need for additional investment in facilities or technology.

Strengthen HR Efficiency and Staff Retention

Less Time Spent on HR Administration

Smaller practices often lack dedicated HR teams. Outsourcing reduces the burden of managing recruitment, payroll administration, performance reviews, and employee relations, allowing senior management to focus on clients and growth.

Improve Morale and Reduce Burnout

By delegating routine tasks such as bookkeeping and payroll, accountants allow their onshore teams to focus on higher-value advisory work. This boosts engagement, supports career development, and improves retention.

Access Global Expertise with Secure, Compliant Processes

Outsourcing gives immediate access to international talent, enabling firms to bridge skills gaps quickly. Leading providers prioritise GDPR-compliant data handling, secure access protocols, and reliable business continuity measures ensuring work progresses smoothly across time zones.

Unison Globus UK: Your Trusted Offshore Accounting Partner

Unison Globus UK helps accounting practices scale efficiently through cost-effective, secure offshore support. Our experienced team delivers bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, tax, and year-end accounts services with fast turnaround and seamless integration.

Partnering with us means you can:

  • Cut staffing and infrastructure costs
  • Access highly skilled professionals at up to 50% lower cost
  • Scale flexibly with seasonal or ongoing demand
  • Improve team retention and focus on high-value work
  • Ensure secure, GDPR-compliant handling of client data.

Want to Learn More?

We provide a free trial of up to 10 hours of accountant time, with turnaround in 72 hours. If you’re looking to outsource services for the first time, increase margins, and help your clients meet MTD IT responsibilities, you can book a video call with one of our expert advisors or email us at [email protected]
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Outsourcing Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: A Practical Guide for Accountants

What Is Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) will come into effect in April 2026. Accountants are preparing their clients for their new responsibilities, including maintaining digital records and submitting information online to HMRC each quarter. Many accountants are exploring how outsourcing can help deliver the services needed to comply with MTD IT.
This guide provides a practical approach to navigating the MTD IT landscape and shows how outsourcing with Unison Globus UK can strengthen your service offering.

Who Is Affected by MTD IT from April 2026?

MTD IT will apply to individuals who are UK taxpayers with total income from self-employment or property (including foreign property) exceeding £50,000. This means:

  • Both income sources are counted to determine eligibility.
  • From April 2027, the threshold reduces to £30,000.
  • From April 2028, it further reduces to £20,000.

Income from employment or from a limited company is not included in MTD IT.

HMRC will use information from the 2024/25 self-assessment tax return to determine entry into the MTD IT regime. Individuals with relevant income exceeding £50,000 will need to comply from April 2026 and remain in the regime for three years.

Key Compliance Requirements

Individuals will need to:

  1. Maintain complete digital records of income and expenses for each qualifying business or income source.
  2. Submit a summary online each quarter to HMRC.
  3. Use software for bookkeeping, accounting, and quarterly submissions. HMRC-compatible software is needed for the quarterly submissions.
  4. Provide a final submission by 31 January following the tax year, covering both MTD IT qualifying and other income sources.
The recurring nature of this work makes it ideal for outsourcing.

Why Accountants Should Consider Outsourcing MTD IT Work

Many accountants already outsource routine tasks such as bookkeeping or year-end accounts. Outsourcing MTD IT tasks can help:

  • Reduce the burden of monthly bookkeeping and quarterly submissions.
  • Ensure accuracy and compliance with HMRC requirements.
  • Free onshore accountants to focus on other services and priorities.

Examples of MTD Tasks Suitable for Outsourcing

The following table illustrates the recurring MTD tasks that can be outsourced and the benefits of using an offshore accountant.
Task Responsibility Benefits
Monthly data collection and bookkeeping – any software Outsourced bookkeeper Manage workflows effectively, compliance and quality assured
Update HMRC compatible software quarterly Outsourced bookkeeper Timely and accurate record keeping, early warning of issues
File summary information each quarter using HMRC compatible software Outsourced accountant Deadlines met, data quality assured
Prepare final returns Outsourced accountant Manage peak of work, compliance, and quality assured
File final returns Onshore
accountant		 Capacity to deliver tax advice and support based on offshore accountant work

Step-by-Step: Implementing an Outsourced MTD IT Solution

1. Research Potential Partners

  • Check reputation, track record, client testimonials, and scope of services.
  • Ensure they understand your firm’s specific needs.
  • Review thought leadership and service development relevant to MTD IT.

2. Set Clear Goals

  • Define what you want to achieve: compliance, cost reduction, access to expertise, or improved service delivery.
  • Clear objectives help measure success.

3. Prepare for Outsourcing

  • Review internal resources against MTD IT workload.
  • Pilot outsourcing with a small amount of work (e.g. bookkeeping for sole traders or landlords).
  • Use a free trial if offered by your chosen offshore partner.
  • Evaluate quality, accuracy, and turnaround against in-house benchmarks.

4. Integrate Outsourcing into Your Onshore Workflows

  • Update workflows to track outsourced work in progress.
  • Ensure client data is shared securely (using remote login, secure portals).
  • Encourage offshore teams to help improve record keeping and working papers.

Managing Your Team and Internal Processes

The offshore accountant can manage routine client communication on the progress of work, enabling the onshore team to focus on relationships. Outsourcing allows accountants to:
  • Shift focus from repetitive tasks to advisory and value-added work.
  • Engage with clients systematically, particularly around quarterly deadlines.

Data Security and Compliance Considerations

  • Ensure secure transmission of client data via remote login or encrypted file-sharing.
  • Verify GDPR compliance and data security credentials of the offshore supplier.
  • Update internal policies to cover outsourced tasks and data access.
  • Decide whether offshore staff require full or limited/anonymised access to client data.
  • Include offshore teams in data security training and procedures.

Key Benefits of Outsourcing MTD IT Tasks

Outsourcing MTD IT work offers UK accountants:
  • Compliance with HMRC requirements.
  • Reduced risk of penalties.
  • Cost savings and lower overheads.
  • Access to skilled resources.
  • Improved quality, consistency, and turnaround times.
  • Enhanced client experience.

Why Choose Unison Globus UK for MTD IT Services?

Unison Globus UK provides:

  • Expert support for MTD IT compliance.
  • MTD IT services tailored to the needs of UK accountants and their clients.
  • Flexible resources and fixed pricing.
  • Rapid turnaround times.
  • Seamless integration with your practice.

How do I find out more?

We provide a free trial of up to 10 hours of accountant time, with turnaround work in 72 hours. If you’re looking to outsource services for the first time, increase margins, and help your clients meet MTD IT responsibilities, you can book a video call with one of our expert advisors or email us at [email protected]
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Fixed Price Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Services from Unison Globus UK

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) is mandatory from April 2026. Accountants are already preparing clients for their new responsibilities, and it’s becoming clear that serving clients who cannot maintain digital records or submit information online each quarter will be challenging.
One solution is moving affected clients to a fixed monthly subscription fee for personal tax work. This approach can help clients understand the importance of accurate record-keeping and make conversations about additional fees for MTD IT software and services easier to manage.
At Unison Globus UK, we’ve developed a fixed price model to help accountants price MTD IT services competitively while leveraging our outsourced services.

How the Fixed Price Model Works

With the April 2026 MTD IT deadline approaching, accountants need to assess the level of support individual clients will require. Some accountants have decided providing all MTD bookkeeping and accounting services in-house offers the best solution for clients. Others are relying on clients maintaining accurate digital records and will only provide support each quarter when online submissions are due.

Regardless of your approach, outsourcing work can be a cost-effective way to serve clients efficiently.

Unison Globus UK MTD IT services are completely flexible. You can use our MTD Lite, Premium or Full Service based on the number of monthly bookkeeping transactions and scope of work your clients need.

Fixed price MTD IT services

Our services are designed to meet the needs of accountants and their clients, whether this is monthly bookkeeping or a fully comprehensive service, as shown below.
Scope of serviceLitePremiumFull
Monthly data collection and bookkeeping – any softwarecheckcheckcheck
Update HMRC compatible software quarterlycrosscheckcheck
File summary information each quarter using HMRC compatible softwarecrosscheckcheck
Prepare summary annual accountscrosscrosscheck
File final declarationcrosscrosscheck
Prepare simple final self-assessment tax return to client approval stagecrosscrosscheck

Service Details

MTD Lite

  • Perfect for clients who only need bookkeeping services.
  • Update client records on any bookkeeping software, review eligible expenses, monthly bank reconciliation.
MTD Premium
  • For clients needing monthly bookkeeping and quarterly HMRC submissions.
  • Includes everything in MTD Lite plus quarterly summaries of income and expenses, and filing quarterly returns via client software.
MTD Full
  • For clients needing a comprehensive MTD IT and self-assessment tax return service.
  • Includes everything in MTD Premium plus preparation of income and expenses accounts, filing final declarations, and preparing simple self-assessment tax returns.
Note: A simple self-assessment covers MTD IT income and expenses, plus any dividends or PAYE. More complex returns are available on application.

Fixed Price Monthly Fees

Pricing is based on the number of monthly bookkeeping transactions. A separate engagement is required for each business a sole trader or landlord operates.
Monthly Transactions Lite Premium Full
Up to 25 £10 £15 £20
26 to 50 £15 £20 £25
51 to 75 £20 £25 £30
76 to 100 £25 £30 £35
100+ Speak with one of our expert advisors

How Unison Globus UK Supports Accountants and Clients

Our fixed price model recognises the different needs and complexity of MTD IT clients:

  • Some clients are comfortable maintaining digital records and can self-serve
  • Others prefer a cost-effective, outsourced solution covering monthly bookkeeping, quarterly HMRC submissions, and self-assessment tax returns.
Developed with feedback from accountants and their clients, our offshore model allows practices to increase efficiency and margins without impacting client service.

How do I find out more?

We have a dedicated page on our website about Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. We provide a free trial of up to 10 hours of accountant time, with turnaround in 72 hours. If you’re looking to outsource services for the first time, increase margins, and help your clients meet MTD IT responsibilities, you can book a video call with one of our expert advisors or email us at [email protected] 
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How to implement outsourcing effectively

UK accountants are managing a number of competing problems. Demand for talent is at an all-time high, potential clients have high expectations, and existing clients are increasingly price sensitive. With many new entrants to the market offering fully online services at lower rates, accountants are under pressure to reduce fees and provide better client service. Advances in technologies such as cloud accounting software, Artificial Intelligence and automation require significant investment which many accountants struggle to achieve.
To remain competitive, many UK accountants are looking to outsource work to suppliers such as Unison Globus UK. This helps widen the range of services offered to clients and make operations more cost-effective and efficient.
But where does an accountant new to outsourcing start when considering an offshore solution? This blog provides practical advice for UK accountants on how to implement outsourcing effectively.

Define clear objectives for your Practice and research the outsourcing market

Many accountants begin outsourcing work with the single objective of reducing costs. However, outsourcing work also helps build strategic capacity, enables access to specialised skills and professionals, improves service delivery, and strengthens resilience to regulatory changes. Aligning potential offshore partners to onshore priorities, whether to grow the number of clients or improve profitability, will help accountants make the most of a new outsourcing partnership.
Before entering into any outsourcing agreement, accountants need to research the market, check industry reputations and track records, obtain client testimonials, and understand the scope of services offered offshore.

Start small and measure progress

Accountants can test the outsourcing process with a small amount of work, such as digital bookkeeping, VAT return preparation, or year-end accounts preparation. Outcomes can be evaluated for quality, technical accuracy, and turnaround consistent with in-house targets. Many offshore suppliers, including Unison Globus UK, offer a free-trial period, where accountants can test the service before entering into a contract. Accountants can also choose to access offshore capacity as and when they need it by using a pay as you go service. This maximises the flexibility to use an offshore option at peak periods or when an unexpected backlog of work occurs.

One Unison Globus UK customer is Alan Woods, the founder and owner of Woods Squared, who says: “I can understand why the prospect of overseas outsourcing feels daunting – we were certainly cautious at first, but by investing in the relationship and finding the right partner, we’re now so much more agile as a practice.

“For any accountants not convinced, using a pay-as-you-go model can be a really good way of testing the waters or dipping a toe into exploring how the right outsourcing partner could support your firm, both to alleviate immediate demand and to help you plan more strategically for the future.

Review data security arrangements

Accountants are nervous about transferring responsibility for data to an outside provider. They are mindful about any increased risk to their Intellectual Property (IP) and need to ensure an outsourcing partner has robust security measures in place and is compliant with relevant regulations.
There are many ways to share data securely with an offshore accountant – whether through a secure file transfer protocol server, by granting remote access to your server, or sharing files via cloud systems. Regardless of arrangements, the onshore accountant needs to be confident in the offshore IT and physical safeguards, such as anti-virus software, secure VPN connections and 24/7 surveillance.
Unison Globus UK ensures data security by using the most secure, advanced accounting software available with state-of-the-art systems and other physical safeguards to prevent the loss or misuse of data. We are GDPR and ISO 27001 compliant and use cloud-based solutions to ensure data cannot be downloaded, mitigating the risk of data loss or IP theft.

Client experience

Managing clients can be resource intensive, and mistakes can be made where expectations about the services to be delivered for the agreed fee differ significantly. An offshore accountant can manage the flow of communication with a client for the work they are responsible for, enabling the onshore accountant to focus on adding value to the client relationship. The best outsourced suppliers will adapt to the changing demands of UK accountants and their clients.

Conclusion

Most UK accountants looking to grow and thrive see outsourcing as an effective solution. Accountants can ensure they implement outsourcing effectively by following some simple rules to deliver the outcomes they need.

At Unison Globus UK, we have been providing offshore services to accountants since 2006. Our customers include sole proprietors, as well as small and medium sized UK Accountancy Practices. Our outsourced tax, accounting and payroll services are suitable for all client engagements – from sole traders and micro businesses to SMEs and large companies.

How do I find out more?

We provide a free trial of up to 10 hours of accountant time, with turnaround in 72 hours. If you’re looking to outsource services for the first time, increase margins, and help your clients thrive, you can book a video call with one of our expert advisors or email us at [email protected] 
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Outsourcing Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) work – Frequently Asked Questions

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (‘MTD IT’) will be implemented from April 2026. While most accountants understand the new requirements and are taking steps to get their Practice and clients ready, many are wondering how to find the resources needed to support clients with their new digital record keeping and HMRC online submission responsibilities.
This is where outsourcing with Unison Globus UK can help. We have prepared the following FAQs to help accountants make a successful transition to the new MTD IT world by outsourcing work.
You can find out more at the Unison Globus UK MTD IT hub.

Which clients are affected by MTD IT?

From April 2026, any individual who is a UK taxpayer with total income from self-employment or property (including foreign property) which is more than £50,000 is affected. Both sources of income contribute to the total amount HMRC will use to assess eligibility.

The threshold reduces to £30,000 from April 2027 and lowers further to £20,000 from April 2028. Income from employment or from a limited company is not part of the MTD IT regime and isn’t part of the assessed total income.

What records will my clients need to maintain?

For each qualifying business or income source, individuals must keep complete digital records of income and expenses. These records must be submitted quarterly to HMRC using compatible software, with a final annual submission by 31 January after the tax year ends. The final submission must include all sources of income for personal tax purposes.

What if my client isn’t comfortable maintaining digital records?

Accountants or agents can maintain digital records and submit information to HMRC on a client’s behalf. They will usually charge for this service and may choose to outsource the digital bookkeeping and online submission of information each quarter. Clients who are not familiar with accounting or bookkeeping software will need a lot of support to make a successful transition to the MTD IT regime.

Can I outsource the regular maintenance of client records?

Yes. The Unison Globus UK team can maintain client records in real time using cloud-based bookkeeping or accounting software. Even if clients only have manual records like bank statements or receipts, we can digitise and update these efficiently.

Can I outsource HMRC quarterly submissions?

Absolutely. When quarterly deadlines arrive, our outsourced accountants can submit client information directly using HMRC-compatible software, ensuring online submissions are accurate and timely.

How should multiple sources of income be handled?

MTD IT requires reporting of total self-employment and property income. Each source should have separate digital records, with totals submitted quarterly. We can manage this for clients with multiple trades or property income streams.

How do clients sign up for MTD IT?

Agents and accountants can register clients using HMRC’s Agent Services Account. Clients can also sign up directly via their Government Gateway account. We can assist with this process to ensure all necessary information is collected efficiently.

What information is needed to sign up?

To register, individuals will need:
  • Business name
  • Email address
  • National Insurance number
  • Business start date and registered address
  • Accounting period
  • Accounting type (cash or standard)
  • Tax year to begin using MTD IT.

We can handle client communications and data collection through your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, streamlining the sign-up process.

When do clients need to start using MTD IT?

Individuals will need to comply from 6 April 2026 if they:

  • Are registered for Self-Assessment
  • Have income from self-employment or property before 6 April 2025
  • Have qualifying income above the threshold of £50,000 in the 2024/25 tax year.

Can I outsource other personal tax work?

Yes. While around 2 million taxpayers will use MTD IT, another 10 million will still submit Self-Assessment tax returns in the usual way. We can help prepare these returns, maintain records, and calculate tax due.

Can outsourcing help manage workload peaks?

With the additional workload expected from MTD IT, accountants should look to outsource recurring work such as bookkeeping, VAT return preparation, year-end accounts preparation and self-assessment tax return preparation. This will free up capacity to help clients who may need additional support or complex tax advice as the MTD IT arrangements bed in.

Can I outsource MTD IT work periodically?

Yes. We offer flexible offshore accounting services billed hourly, part-time, or full-time. This allows you to clear backlogs or manage unexpected demand without hiring additional staff onshore.

How much does outsourcing MTD IT work cost?

Unison Globus UK rates for bookkeepers and qualified accountants are typically 50% less than the cost of employing aa professional based in the UK. Our prices are fixed each year and support incremental and flexible pricing models now used by most UK accountants. We offer a fixed price option designed specifically for MTD IT services, starting from just £10 per client per month. Pricing is transparent and scalable for practices of any size.

How do I find out more?

We provide a free trial of up to 10 hours of accountant time, with turnaround in 72 hours. If you’re looking to outsource services for the first time, increase margins, and help your clients meet MTD IT responsibilities, you can book a video call with one of our expert advisors or email us at [email protected].