Meet the Expert: A Q&A with Talha Alvi, Founder of Your Tax Help Accountants

Most accountancy websites tell you what a firm does. This one is about who does it. Your Tax Help is built around one accountant, Talha Alvi, and the promise that clients always have someone they can actually talk to. We put the questions clients ask most directly to him.

You have been doing this over 12 years. Who do you actually work with?

"The people the big firms ignore. CIS subbies waiting on refunds. Sole traders doing their first return. Landlords who got a letter they do not understand. People three years behind who are too embarrassed to call anyone. That last group might be my favourite, because the relief when it is sorted is enormous, and it is almost never as bad as they feared."

What does HMRC-registered agent actually mean for a client?

"It means HMRC deals with me on your behalf. You sign a form once, and then you never sit on hold with HMRC again, I do. I see your records through the agent systems, I respond to their letters, I chase your refunds. People underestimate how much of this job is simply standing between the client and the system so they can get on with their work."

Why fixed fees?

"Because hourly billing punishes you for asking questions, and asking questions is exactly what a worried client should be doing. My fee is agreed before any work starts and it does not change if you email me five times. The industry trained people to fear contacting their own accountant. That is mad. It also costs clients real money, because the question they did not ask in March becomes the penalty they pay in February."

What is the most common money mistake you see?

"Unclaimed expenses, every single week. Subcontractors not claiming mileage. Sole traders not claiming use of home. Landlords missing finance cost relief. People pay hundreds more tax than they owe because nobody spent twenty minutes asking about their costs. The second most common is silence: ignoring HMRC letters, which turns small problems into expensive ones."

You are certified in both Xero and FreeAgent. Which one do you recommend?

"It genuinely depends on the client, which is why I stayed certified in both. FreeAgent is free if you bank with NatWest, RBS or Mettle, which is hard to argue with for a small sole trader. Xero scales better for growing limited companies. With Making Tax Digital for Income Tax now live for sole traders and landlords over £50,000, this stopped being optional admin and became part of the job, so I set clients up properly and train them on whichever fits."

What should someone do if they are behind on their returns?

"Come in before HMRC comes to you, because voluntary disclosure is always cheaper. Bring whatever records exist, even if it is a carrier bag and a banking app. I have reconstructed years from less. We file everything, appeal the penalties with grounds where they exist, and set up a system so it never happens again. Nobody gets judged. You would be amazed who gets behind: teachers, nurses, builders, directors. Life happens."

General guidance only. Not personal tax advice. Contact us for advice specific to your situation. All figures are for the 2026/27 tax year unless otherwise stated.