Invoice templates for freelance and practice accountants billing clients for annual accounts, tax returns, and financial advisory work.
An accountant invoice is issued by a qualified or part-qualified accountant in public practice to individuals, sole traders, partnerships, or limited companies for accountancy, tax, and financial advisory services. Accountants in the UK may be members of ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, or AAT, and those providing certain services must be registered with HMRC as Tax Agents. Accountancy invoices cover a wide range of work: preparation of annual accounts and financial statements, corporation tax returns (CT600), self-assessment tax returns (SA100), management accounts, VAT returns, payroll, R&D tax credit claims, business advisory, and Companies House filings. Many accountants offer fixed-price packages for standard compliance work and hourly rates for bespoke advisory. In the UK, accountants have moved heavily to subscription-based billing for ongoing clients, with cloud accounting software bundled into monthly or quarterly fixed fees. This predictable billing model is preferred by most SME clients. One-off compliance jobs (year-end accounts, R&D claims) are often quoted as a fixed project fee.
| Service | Typical Rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Annual accounts preparation (sole trader) | 600 | year |
| Corporation tax return (CT600) | 500 | year |
| Self-assessment tax return | 350 | year |
| Management accounts (monthly) | 300 | month |
| R&D tax credit claim | 1500 | claim |
| Companies House confirmation statement | 60 | filing |
Independent accountants blend hourly billing (bookkeepers $25-$100/hr), fixed per-return fees (avg CPA base 1040 around $280), and monthly retainers ($200-$600 basic bookkeeping up to $2,500+ for full service). Rates rise with certification (CPA, EA, QuickBooks ProAdvisor) and vary by state, with coastal/metro markets at the top of each range.
Monthly retainers are typically billed at the start of the month, often via auto-pay/ACH. One-off tax returns are commonly due on delivery or split 50% deposit / 50% on filing. Advisory and hourly work runs net 15-30.
As a 1099 sole proprietor the accountant owes self-employment tax and files their own Schedule C; professional services are generally not subject to sales tax in most states, though a handful (e.g. certain SaaS/data-processing classifications) can apply. Retainer and deposit income is recognized when earned, which matters for their own cash vs. accrual books.
This is general guidance, not tax advice. Tax rules vary by country, state, and situation, so confirm with a qualified accountant before relying on it.
For annual compliance work (accounts, tax returns), invoice on completion of the work and delivery of draft accounts or returns to the client. A common practice is to request a deposit (30-50%) when accepting the engagement and issue the balance invoice on delivery. For ongoing monthly or quarterly services, invoice in advance or arrears as agreed with the client. Cloud accounting packages are often billed monthly in advance, with year-end work invoiced separately at a fixed fee. Larger practices may issue a single annual invoice for all compliance work paid by direct debit in monthly instalments. This spreads cash flow for the client while providing the practice with predictable revenue. Always include the tax year or accounting period on compliance invoices. This helps clients categorise the expense correctly in their own accounts and avoids confusion when two invoices arrive in the same calendar year (e.g. accounts for year ending March 2024 and March 2025).