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Visibility & firm types
Giving Clients Tax Liability Visibility (Growth Plan)
Stop clients being surprised by a tax bill they had no visibility of.
Built by a practising Chartered Accountant · Unlimited users · Free for 60 days
Tax liability visibility (Growth plan)
Complimentary for 12 months on Growth.
- Premier Books Consultancy
- Cranleys Chartered Accountants
- CJM Accountants
- Towpath Accounting Solutions
- Auditax International
- RS
Quick answer
Many clients only find out what they owe HMRC when the return is finished, which leads to cash-flow shocks and last-minute panic. Giving clients an ongoing view of their estimated tax position, alongside their other records, reduces surprises and late-payment stress for both sides.
What is client tax liability visibility and why does it matter for UK practices?
It means clients can see an up-to-date estimate of what they owe well before the payment deadline, rather than only finding out once the return is complete.
Self Assessment payments are due on 31 January and, for many, again on 31 July as a payment on account. Corporation tax is due nine months and a day after the accounting year end. When a client only learns their liability days before the deadline, cash flow planning becomes an emergency rather than a plan.
Firms that give clients earlier visibility of estimated liabilities, alongside the record itself, tend to get fewer panicked calls near the deadline and fewer clients paying late simply because they hadn't set money aside.
This is not a substitute for the finished tax return or filing — it is about surfacing a running estimate so clients can plan, and it sits well alongside reminders about the payment date itself.
Why do clients keep getting caught out by their tax bill?
Liability only revealed at the last minute
If the return is finished in January, the client learns their liability in January — with no time to plan for a payment that may be larger than expected.
No ongoing estimate through the year
Without a running figure, clients cannot set money aside as they earn, so the bill feels like a shock rather than an expected cost.
Payments on account catch people out
Clients often forget the July payment on account exists until the reminder lands, by which point they have already spent the cash.
Communication is one-way and late
A phone call two weeks before the deadline is not enough notice for a client to reorganise their finances.
No shared view between client and accountant
Clients rely entirely on the accountant remembering to tell them, rather than being able to check the position themselves.
What does poor tax liability visibility cost an accounting firm and its clients?
Clients face late payment interest and cash-flow strain, while the firm absorbs the reputational cost of being 'the accountant who didn't warn me' and the extra admin of last-minute payment plan requests.
HMRC charges interest on late Self Assessment and corporation tax payments from the day after the deadline, on top of any late filing penalties for the return itself. [VERIFY] current HMRC late payment interest rates.
For the firm, a client blindsided by their tax bill often blames the accountant, even when the return itself was filed on time — the relationship damage from a surprise bill can outweigh the technical accuracy of the work.
How do you give clients tax liability visibility? Step by step
- 1
Estimate liability as soon as records allow
Build a rough estimate once enough of the year's data is in, rather than waiting for the return to be finalised.
- 2
Share the estimate proactively
Tell the client the estimated figure well ahead of the deadline, even with caveats that it may change.
- 3
Flag payments on account separately
Make clear which payment relates to which liability, since clients often conflate the two July and January dates.
- 4
Update the estimate as the picture firms up
Refresh the figure as records are finalised so the client isn't caught out by a late revision.
- 5
Remind ahead of the actual payment date
A reminder close to the deadline, in addition to the earlier estimate, catches clients who have forgotten.
- 6
Record what was communicated and when
Keep a note of when estimates were shared, useful if a client later disputes being warned.
How does Remindoo help with tax liability visibility?
Tax liability visibility is a Growth plan feature that gives clients a view of their estimated tax position alongside their other records, so the figure isn't a surprise on deadline day. It sits on the client card next to deadlines and reminders, so your team can see at a glance which clients need a liability update and which payments are approaching. Automated reminders can be scheduled ahead of both the 31 January and 31 July Self Assessment dates, and independently for corporation tax payment deadlines, so clients are nudged with enough notice to plan. Client notes and the client timeline record when an estimate was shared, giving you a reference point if a client later says they weren't told. This does not replace your tax software's calculation — it surfaces the figure to the client clearly and on time, and it's included for a complimentary period on the Growth plan, free to try for 60 days.
Spreadsheets vs Remindoo: what changes?
| Area | Spreadsheets & email | With Remindoo |
|---|---|---|
| When client learns liability | Days before the deadline | Weeks or months ahead |
| Payments on account | Often forgotten by clients | Flagged separately with reminders |
| Communication record | Not kept anywhere formal | Logged on the client timeline |
| Client cash-flow planning | Reactive, last-minute | Time to plan ahead |
| Deadline reminders | One call close to the date | Scheduled reminders in advance |
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Frequently asked questions
Is tax liability visibility available on every Remindoo plan?
It is a Growth plan feature, offered complimentary for a period as detailed on the pricing page — check current terms before choosing a plan.
Does this replace my tax return software's calculation?
No. Remindoo does not produce tax returns or perform HMRC submissions; it surfaces an estimated figure to clients alongside their record, sourced from the calculation your tax software or team produces.
Can clients see the figure themselves, or does the accountant share it?
The feature is designed for the figure to sit visibly on the client record and portal, so clients can see it rather than relying solely on a phone call or email.
What if the estimate changes closer to the deadline?
Update the figure as your records firm up; the client-facing view reflects the latest estimate you enter, so revise it whenever the position changes.
Can I try this feature during the 60-day free trial?
Yes, the free trial gives access to Growth plan features so you can see whether tax liability visibility suits how your clients want to be updated.
Does this help with payments on account specifically?
You can flag and remind on both the January and July dates separately, which is where clients most often lose track of what's actually due.
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Sources
Comparing options? Read our guide to practice management software for small accounting firms.
Last updated: . General guidance, not regulatory advice. Check with your professional body.
Why a single client record matters
When client details, deadlines, documents and conversations are spread across inboxes and spreadsheets, time goes on searching instead of on client work.
One version of the truth
Everyone sees the same services, contacts, deadlines and notes for each client.
Accurate deadlines
Companies House sync brings in company details and filing dates, reducing manual errors.
Better client service
A full timeline means anyone can answer a client question with the history in front of them.
Secure document sharing
A client portal is safer than sending financial documents as email attachments.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Import companies from Companies House rather than typing details by hand.
- Record every service a client takes, so recurring work is created automatically.
- Add a short note after every important client call.
- Ask clients to upload documents through the portal rather than by email.
Related Remindoo features
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
Read all reviews on Trustpilot“With Remindoo, everything from the first enquiry to onboarding and ongoing client management is tracked in one place… It saves us hours and gives me, as a practice owner, complete visibility of where the firm stands.”
“The biggest benefit is having clients, tasks, deadlines, workflows, proposals and communication all organised in one place.”
“During my trial, the team were absolutely amazing. They helped onboard my clients, set up my settings and made sure everything was ready for me to use… they made the whole process completely stress-free.”
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
