Expert Bookkeeping,
Company Secretary
& Incorporation
Bromley, London Borough UK

The London Borough of Bromley is the largest London borough by area — spanning Bromley town, Beckenham, Orpington, Chislehurst, Penge, West Wickham, Hayes, and the green-belt communities of Keston and Farnborough. Its unique position as a London borough with outstanding transport links (Bromley South to London Victoria in 16 minutes; Orpington to London Bridge in 19 minutes) makes it one of the most attractive locations for business formation in Greater London. Companies registered in Bromley have a London registered office address — the reputational benefit of a London address while operating in a lower-cost suburban environment than Central London. Bromley's professional services cluster is significant — a high concentration of solicitors, estate agents, IFAs, architects, surveyors, healthcare practitioners, and technology consultants operate from Bromley, Beckenham, and Orpington. Bromley property market: the London Borough of Bromley has one of London's most active residential and commercial property markets — attracting property developers, buy-to-let landlords, and estate agencies for whom a London-registered limited company provides the legal structure and credibility for significant property transactions. Commuter entrepreneurship: Bromley has a high proportion of dual-income professionals who commute to London — creating a significant market for part-time consultants, freelancers, and side-business entrepreneurs who benefit from limited company incorporation for Corporation Tax efficiency. Sirus Infotech handles complete Companies House incorporation for all Bromley London Borough businesses.

Bromley London Borough has a substantial professional services economy — IT consultants and contractors working in Central London but based in Bromley, freelance marketing and creative professionals, management consultants, architects and surveyors, legal professionals, and financial advisors. IR35 (Off-Payroll Working Rules) for Bromley IT contractors: since April 2021, medium and large private sector clients must assess whether contractors working through limited companies are inside or outside IR35. Inside IR35: the contractor's limited company must receive payments subject to PAYE and National Insurance as if the contractor were an employee — significantly reducing the tax benefit of operating through a personal service company (PSC). Outside IR35: the contractor retains the tax advantages of a limited company — taking dividends in addition to a modest salary. Expense claims for Bromley commuter professionals: Bromley professionals commuting to fixed client sites in London on a permanent basis cannot generally claim their season ticket or commuting costs as a business expense. However, professionals working at different client sites may be able to claim travel. FRS 102 for professional services: revenue recognition — under FRS 102, professional services revenue must be recognised as services are performed, not when billed. Sirus Infotech provides specialist FRS 102 bookkeeping and IR35 status advisory for Bromley professional services businesses.

Bromley London Borough is one of London's most active residential property markets — with significant buy-to-let investment in Penge, Beckenham, and Orpington, property development across Chislehurst and West Wickham, and a buoyant residential market driven by the commuter belt premium. SDLT for individual buy-to-let in Bromley: residential property purchases attract SDLT at standard rates plus a 3% additional dwelling surcharge if the buyer already owns a property. For Bromley property investors purchasing a buy-to-let property worth £400,000 in Beckenham: 3% on first £250,000 (£7,500) plus 8% on next £150,000 (£12,000) — total SDLT £19,500 including the 3% surcharge. SDLT for Bromley limited property companies: purchases by limited companies also attract the 3% SDLT surcharge on all residential properties. However, the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) applies to residential properties held in companies worth more than £500,000 — potentially relevant for Chislehurst and Sundridge Park property companies. Transfer of personal properties to a Bromley limited company: triggers SDLT on the full market value of transferred properties plus potential Capital Gains Tax — for most Bromley landlords with existing personally-owned portfolios, the SDLT cost of transfer exceeds the Corporation Tax benefit, making new purchases through a limited company the preferred strategy. Sirus Infotech advises Bromley property investors on optimal structure and provides complete FRS 102 bookkeeping for Bromley property limited companies.

Many of Bromley's highest-earning business owners are consultants and contractors who commute from Bromley, Beckenham, Orpington, and Chislehurst into London's financial district, Canary Wharf, tech clusters, and media companies. Post-April 2021 IR35: for assignments at medium or large clients in London, the end-client determines whether the assignment is inside or outside IR35. Inside IR35: the London client deducts income tax and National Insurance from the contractor's fee before paying the Bromley limited company — substantially reducing the Corporation Tax and dividend tax benefit of operating through a limited company. Outside IR35: the Bromley contractor's limited company receives the full fee, pays Corporation Tax on profits, and the director-shareholder takes a small salary plus dividends — maximising take-home pay. Status determination disputes: Bromley contractors who disagree with an Inside IR35 determination can raise a formal disagreement under the Client Status Determination process. HMRC's CEST tool can help assess status, but is not always definitive. Optimal salary for Bromley limited company directors: in 2025–26, Bromley director-shareholders typically take a salary of £12,570 (Personal Allowance) or £9,100 (Lower Earnings Limit, preserving state pension entitlement without NIC cost) plus dividends — the exact optimal level depends on whether IR35 applies to any assignments. Sirus Infotech advises Bromley contractors on reviewing status determination notices, structuring their limited company compliantly, and maximising legitimate expense claims available inside and outside IR35.

Every Bromley limited company has the same annual Companies House and HMRC filing obligations. Companies House — Annual Confirmation Statement: must be filed within 14 days of the annual review date (anniversary of incorporation). Fee: £13 online. Missing the Confirmation Statement is a criminal offence — Companies House can dissolve the company without further notice. Annual statutory accounts: private limited companies must file at Companies House within 9 months of accounting period end. Late filing penalties: £150 (up to 1 month late); £375 (1–3 months); £750 (3–6 months); £1,500 (more than 6 months). Penalties double for companies that filed late in the preceding year. HMRC — Corporation Tax payment: due 9 months and 1 day after accounting period end. Corporation Tax return (CT600): must be filed within 12 months of accounting period end. Late filing penalties: £100 immediately on first day late; further £100 after 3 months. If filed more than 6 months late, HMRC charges 10% of unpaid Corporation Tax. VAT returns (if VAT-registered): due 1 calendar month and 7 days after VAT period end. Late submissions accumulate HMRC penalty points. Payroll RTI: Full Payment Submission (FPS) due on or before each payday. Sirus Infotech operates a proactive deadline tracking system for all Bromley clients — filing every Companies House and HMRC return well before each deadline with zero penalties.

Bromley London Borough has a significant healthcare and professional practice sector — with private dental surgeries throughout Beckenham, Orpington, and Bromley town; physiotherapy and sports medicine practices; GP practices; private consultants; optometry practices; and a growing private therapy sector. VAT for Bromley dental practices: most dentistry supplied by registered dental practitioners is exempt from VAT — meaning no VAT charged to patients and no input VAT recoverable on dental supplies and equipment. However, certain dental treatments are standard-rated at 20%: purely cosmetic procedures where the primary purpose is aesthetic rather than dental health (teeth whitening, cosmetic veneers, Invisalign for cosmetic purposes). This distinction is regularly disputed in HMRC investigations of Bromley dental practices. VAT for physiotherapy and therapy practices: physiotherapy and osteopathy services provided by registered practitioners are generally VAT-exempt for medical purposes. However, pure sports massage by non-registered practitioners is standard-rated. FRS 102 for Bromley dental practices: dental practices must correctly account for NHS contract income on a percentage-of-completion basis against UDA targets — not simply when NHS payments arrive. Private patient income is recognised when treatment is delivered. Sirus Infotech provides specialist bookkeeping and VAT compliance for all Bromley healthcare and professional practice businesses — including dental practice VAT exemption analysis and NHS vs private income recognition.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) is HMRC's digital tax programme — affecting all VAT-registered Bromley businesses already, and all Bromley sole traders and landlords from April 2026. MTD for VAT (mandatory since April 2022): all VAT-registered Bromley businesses must maintain digital VAT records and submit quarterly VAT returns through MTD-compatible software (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent). The old HMRC online VAT portal no longer accepts direct VAT return submissions. Any Bromley business still submitting VAT returns manually is already non-compliant. HMRC's points-based penalty regime: each late MTD VAT return submission earns a penalty point. Quarterly filers accumulate a £200 financial penalty when they reach 4 penalty points — continuing for every subsequent late submission. MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA — from April 2026): Bromley sole traders and landlords with combined income above £50,000 must file four quarterly digital updates with HMRC from 6 April 2026 — replacing the single annual Self Assessment. From April 2027, this extends to those with income above £30,000. A Bromley Beckenham estate agent operating as a sole trader with £55,000 annual income must transition to MTD ITSA by April 2026. The transition requires Bromley sole traders to begin using MTD-compatible bookkeeping software and maintain digital records from the start of the relevant tax year. Sirus Infotech configures MTD-compatible accounting software for Bromley businesses and provides complete MTD ITSA readiness planning — ensuring all Bromley clients are compliant well before the HMRC deadlines.

The optimal salary and dividend extraction strategy for Bromley limited company director-shareholders depends on individual circumstances, but the broad principles apply across Bromley's IT consultant community in Beckenham, property investors in Orpington, professional services in Chislehurst, and retail businesses in Penge. The fundamental principle: a Bromley limited company pays Corporation Tax at 19% (for profits below £50,000) or 25% (above £250,000). The director-shareholder then pays personal Income Tax on salary (20%/40%/45%) and Dividend Tax on dividends (8.75% basic rate, 33.75% higher rate). Optimal salary in 2025–26 — two common Bromley director salary levels: (1) National Insurance Lower Earnings Limit (£9,100 per year) — no employee or employer NIC payable, preserves NI record for state pension, salary is Corporation Tax deductible. (2) Personal Allowance level (£12,570 per year) — if the company does not qualify for the Employment Allowance, employer NIC is payable on salary above £9,100. If the Employment Allowance (£10,500 from April 2025) is available — a salary up to £12,570 incurs no net NIC cost. Dividend allowance 2025–26: the tax-free Dividend Allowance reduced to £500. Dividends above £500 are taxed at 8.75% (basic rate), 33.75% (higher rate), or 39.35% (additional rate). For most Bromley professional service directors: optimal extraction is salary of £9,100 or £12,570 plus dividends up to the basic rate threshold (£50,270 total income). Sirus Infotech runs individual salary/dividend optimisation calculations for every Bromley limited company client at year-end.

Bromley London Borough has one of London's most active residential property markets — with estate agents and lettings agencies throughout Bromley town, Beckenham, Orpington, West Wickham, and Chislehurst. Revenue recognition for Bromley estate agents under FRS 102: sales fee income — recognised when contracts exchange (not when completion occurs). Lettings management fees — recognised monthly as earned as the management service is performed. Client money accounts: all Bromley lettings agents holding client money must maintain separate client money accounts entirely separate from the business's own bank accounts. ARLA/Propertymark compliance: Bromley estate agents must be registered with a redress scheme (Property Ombudsman or Property Redress Scheme) and, if handling deposits, a deposit protection scheme. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements: all UK estate agents must register with HMRC as an AML-supervised estate agency business and conduct Customer Due Diligence on all buyers and sellers. Failure to register attracts civil penalties. VAT for Bromley estate agents: estate agency commission is standard-rated at 20% VAT. HMRC has historically been vigilant about VAT compliance in estate agency — with a track record of investigating commission income understatement. Sirus Infotech provides specialist bookkeeping for Bromley estate agents and lettings agencies, including client money account reconciliation, AML registration advisory, and FRS 102-compliant revenue recognition.

Yes — Sirus Infotech provides completely remote bookkeeping, company secretary, and company formation services for all Bromley London Borough businesses — covering Bromley town, Beckenham, Orpington, Chislehurst, Penge, West Wickham, Shortlands, Hayes, Keston, Farnborough, Biggin Hill, Crystal Palace (Bromley part), and all Bromley areas. Company formation: Companies House application submitted entirely online — no office visit. Approved within 24 hours. Company secretary: we file the annual Confirmation Statement, maintain the PSC register, notify Companies House of all director, shareholder, and registered office changes, and provide a professional UK registered office service address. Bookkeeping: Bromley clients share bank statements, invoices, and receipts via WhatsApp, email, or our secure client portal. We process all transactions in Xero, QuickBooks, or Sage and provide monthly management accounts. VAT returns: MTD-compliant quarterly VAT returns prepared and submitted directly to HMRC. Corporation Tax: annual FRS 102 or FRS 105 statutory accounts prepared and filed at Companies House within 9 months; CT600 filed with HMRC within 12 months. Payroll: monthly RTI-compliant payroll submitted to HMRC before each payday, including P60 and P11D preparation. Communication: by phone, WhatsApp, email, and video call at times convenient for Bromley business owners — evenings and weekends available for Bromley commuter professionals. Pricing: transparent monthly fee covering bookkeeping and company secretary with no surprise bills. Sirus Infotech provides the same quality of London-standard professional service to all Bromley Borough businesses — entirely remotely.