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Software for Tax-Only and Self Assessment Practices

Handle hundreds of Self Assessment clients without the January scramble.

Built by a practising Chartered Accountant · Unlimited users · Free for 60 days

app.remindoo.co · Recurring tasks
  • Premier Books Consultancy
  • Cranleys Chartered Accountants
  • CJM Accountants
  • Towpath Accounting Solutions
  • Auditax International
  • RS

Quick answer

Tax-only and Self Assessment practices deal with an extremely seasonal workload concentrated around 31 January, with hundreds of near-identical client jobs to move through in a compressed window. Bulk task actions, recurring annual tasks and clear task filters keep that volume manageable.

What does practice software need to offer a tax-only or Self Assessment practice?

It needs to handle a very large, seasonal volume of near-identical annual jobs — chasing records, preparing returns, getting sign-off — without each one being tracked individually by hand across hundreds of clients.

Practices focused on personal tax and Self Assessment see a workload shape unlike other services: relatively quiet for much of the year, then an intense concentration of work in the run-up to 31 January. A firm with 400 Self Assessment clients isn't managing 400 different jobs — it's managing one job, 400 times, on a compressed timeline.

The operational challenge is less about complexity and more about volume: chasing the same missing information from many clients at once, tracking who has responded and who hasn't, and moving each return through the same stages without losing track of where any individual client sits.

Why does the Self Assessment rush keep overwhelming tax-only practices?

Everything is due at once

With most clients working to the same 31 January deadline, the whole client book needs attention in the same narrow window, unlike services spread evenly across the year.

Chasing records is the biggest time sink

The actual preparation is often quick once records arrive; most of the delay is chasing clients who haven't sent bank statements, dividend certificates or expense records.

No easy way to see who's outstanding

Without a shared view, staff duplicate chasing effort on some clients while others fall through the cracks entirely.

Spreadsheet trackers buckle under volume

A tracker that's fine for 50 clients becomes unmanageable and error-prone at 400, especially with several staff updating it simultaneously in December and January.

Staff burn out every January

Without a system that spreads and tracks the workload, the same few weeks become unsustainably intense every single year.

What does a chaotic January cost a tax-only practice?

Beyond HMRC late filing penalties passed on to clients who weren't chased effectively, the practice pays in staff burnout, rushed and error-prone work, and the client relationship damage of a scramble that repeats every year.

Late Self Assessment filing triggers an automatic penalty from HMRC even if no tax is owed, rising further the longer the return remains outstanding. [VERIFY] current Self Assessment late filing penalty amounts and thresholds.

A practice that files late for clients because records weren't chased effectively risks losing those clients even where the client themselves was slow to respond — the accountant is expected to manage the chase.

How do you manage a high-volume Self Assessment book? Step by step

  1. 1

    Set a recurring annual task for every client

    Build the Self Assessment job as a repeating task so it regenerates each tax year without manual recreation for every client.

  2. 2

    Chase records from October, not December

    Start the information request early, so the January squeeze is about finishing returns, not still gathering basic records.

  3. 3

    Track response status per client, visibly

    Use a shared view to see at a glance who has responded, who has been chased once, twice, or not at all.

  4. 4

    Bulk-manage repetitive actions

    Reassign or update multiple clients' tasks together rather than opening each one individually during the busiest weeks.

  5. 5

    Prioritise by deadline proximity and complexity

    Sort outstanding returns so the most time-consuming or overdue cases get attention first, rather than working through an unordered list.

  6. 6

    Review outstanding clients weekly from November

    A weekly check from autumn onward catches slow responders with enough runway left to still hit the deadline comfortably.

How does Remindoo help tax-only and Self Assessment practices?

Remindoo sets Self Assessment work up as a recurring annual task per client, so the job regenerates each tax year automatically rather than being rebuilt from scratch every autumn. Task filters let your team see instantly who has responded to the records request and who hasn't, replacing a shared spreadsheet that becomes unreliable under volume. Bulk task actions let you reassign, chase or update many clients' returns at once during the busiest weeks of December and January, rather than working through each client individually. The client card and detailed task view keep every return's status, notes and documents together, so any team member can pick up a client's file without starting from zero. This is not tax return preparation or HMRC filing software — that stays in your tax package — but it keeps the volume of the January rush organised and visible, free to try for 60 days.

Spreadsheets vs Remindoo: what changes?

AreaSpreadsheets & emailWith Remindoo
Setting up annual jobsRecreated manually each yearRecurring task, automatic
Tracking who's respondedGuesswork from memoryVisible status per client
Chasing many clients at onceOne email at a timeBulk actions across clients
Picking up a colleague's clientStarting from scratchFull history on the client card
Staff workload in JanuaryUnmanaged and overwhelmingPrioritised and spread earlier

See it with your own clients

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Martin, Bookkeeper, Bean Counter

Frequently asked questions

Does Remindoo prepare or file Self Assessment returns?

No. Remindoo does not produce tax returns or submit to HMRC — it manages the client chasing, task tracking and deadline visibility around the process, alongside your tax software.

Can I see which clients haven't responded to a records request?

Yes, task filters and status views let you see outstanding clients at a glance, rather than checking each client individually.

Is bulk actioning useful outside of January too?

Yes, it applies to any repetitive action across many clients, but it's particularly valuable during the Self Assessment peak when volume is highest.

How long does the free trial last, and is it enough for one tax season?

The trial runs 60 days, which won't cover a full tax season end to end but is enough to test the chasing and tracking workflow with a batch of real clients.

Can I set the annual Self Assessment task to repeat automatically each year?

Yes, recurring tasks regenerate on the schedule you set, so the job reappears each tax year without manual recreation.

What happens to client records if I don't continue after the trial?

Your data remains intact; after 60 days you move to per-client pricing to keep using the system, nothing is deleted automatically.

Ready to run a calmer practice?

See Remindoo with your own clients, or start free for 60 days with unlimited users.

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 recording every task matters in an accountancy practice

Accounting firms run on deadlines: VAT returns, payroll, confirmation statements, accounts and Self Assessment. Recording every job as a task, with an owner and a date, is the simplest way to make sure nothing is missed.

Avoid penalties

HMRC and Companies House charge penalties for late filing. A task for every deadline, with an internal date before it, gives the team a buffer.

Nothing depends on memory

Recorded tasks mean work continues when someone is off sick, on leave or has left the firm.

Consistent quality

Subtask checklists make every job follow the same steps and reviews, whoever does the work.

Visibility for managers

Filters by owner, status and deadline show at a glance what is late, what is due and who needs help.

Practical tips from UK practice

  • Set an internal deadline two to four weeks before every statutory deadline.
  • Use recurring tasks for repeat work such as VAT, payroll and bookkeeping.
  • Break larger jobs into subtasks, including a review step.
  • Comment on the task instead of by email, so the history stays with the work.

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.”
Shaz Israr
“The biggest benefit is having clients, tasks, deadlines, workflows, proposals and communication all organised in one place.”
Taxaccolega Chartered Accountants
“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.”
Afia Begum
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
Premier Books Consultancy Ltd

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