Accountant in Worthing
Worthing's economy is anchored by a strong public sector presence and a growing professional services base, from HMRC's regional hub to GSK's pharmaceutical plant.
Photo: Bob Jenkin / Pexels
Why we work with Worthing businesses
Limited company directors, contractors, and small business owners in Worthing benefit from a mix of public sector contracts and private enterprise. We work with clients across the Town Centre and Goring-by-Sea, offering remote-first support with in-person meetings in Tarring or Findon when needed. The local economy demands specialists who understand both the compliance needs of regulated sectors and the tax planning opportunities for growing service businesses.
The Worthing business scene
Worthing's business scene is shaped by a few large anchors. GlaxoSmithKline's manufacturing site in the north of the town employs several hundred people in pharmaceutical production and research. HMRC's Worthing office, one of the largest government employer hubs in the South East, sits in the Town Centre alongside Southern Water's headquarters. Worthing Hospital and the Borough Council add further public sector weight. This institutional base supports a professional services ecosystem of solicitors, accountants, and IT consultants who serve both the public sector and a growing community of contractors and sole traders. Retail and hospitality cluster along Montague Street and the seafront, while light manufacturing and distribution businesses operate from industrial estates near the A24 and A27 corridors. The mix is distinctive: a stable public sector floor with an entrepreneurial private sector overlay.
Business hubs in Worthing
Town Centre · Goring-by-Sea · Tarring · Findon
How Worthing's economic mix shapes our service emphasis
Worthing's sector mix means our work splits roughly three ways. For insurance and financial services firms in the Town Centre, we handle corporation tax compliance, VAT on cross border transactions, and payroll for teams of 10 to 50. The public sector presence at HMRC and the Borough Council creates a steady flow of contractors and interim managers who need IR35 reviews, personal service company accounts, and dividend planning. GSK Worthing and other pharmaceutical suppliers bring R&D claims for process innovation and capital allowances on laboratory equipment. A Worthing manufacturer of medical consumables recently claimed £18,400 in R&D tax relief on a new production line. For retailers along Montague Street, we focus on VAT registration thresholds, margin schemes, and exit planning for family run shops. The local mix means we see more R&D claims and capital allowances work than a typical general practice, and less pure investment work.
Anchor employers in Worthing
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK Worthing) · HMRC Worthing · Southern Water HQ · Worthing Hospital · Worthing Borough Council
What we do for Worthing businesses
Tax planning
Salary and dividend extraction, corporation tax, R&D credits, BADR planning.
Management accounts
Monthly P&L, cash flow forecasting, KPI dashboards.
Payroll & PAYE
Director payroll, employee payroll, P11D benefits, RTI submissions.
Incorporation & structure
Sole trader to limited, holding companies, alphabet shares.
MTD & VAT
Making Tax Digital ITSA and VAT compliance, scheme selection.
Exit planning
BADR, MBOs, earn-outs, goodwill valuation, due diligence support.
Worthing case study (anonymised)
£14,720 VAT recovery on cross border premium handling
15-employee insurance broker
A Worthing based insurance broker in the Town Centre handled policies for UK and European clients. They had been charging VAT on all premiums and paying output tax without reclaiming input VAT on their EU related costs. We reviewed their supply chain and identified that certain intermediary services to EU clients fell outside UK VAT scope. We restructured their invoicing and filed a four year partial exemption review. The client recovered £14,720 in overpaid VAT and reduced their ongoing quarterly VAT bill by £2,100. We now handle their monthly VAT returns and corporation tax compliance, with in person meetings at their office near the railway station.
Frequently asked questions from Worthing
- Do you have an office in Worthing?
- We are remote first but meet clients in person across Worthing, including the Town Centre, Goring-by-Sea, and Tarring. We can also use meeting rooms near HMRC Worthing or Southern Water's HQ if that is more convenient for you.
- How do you handle IR35 reviews for contractors working with HMRC or the Borough Council?
- We review each contract against HMRC's status tests and prepare a written determination. For Worthing contractors, we also advise on dividend versus salary extraction and the timing of director's loan account repayments. Our fee is fixed per contract review.
- What is your typical fee for a limited company year end?
- For a straightforward Worthing based contractor or small retailer, our annual fee starts at £950 plus VAT. This includes the corporation tax return, full accounts, and your personal self assessment. We quote a fixed price before we start.
- Can you help with R&D claims for a manufacturing business near Findon?
- Yes. We have prepared claims for several Worthing manufacturers, including one supplying GSK. We assess your projects against the BEIS guidelines, prepare the technical narrative, and calculate the qualifying expenditure. Our success rate on claims submitted in the last two years is 100%.
Speak to an accountant in Worthing
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