Shepherd's Bush Green and the roads that meet there
Everything in Shepherd's Bush seems to start at the Green, the triangle of open space where the Uxbridge Road, Goldhawk Road and Shepherd's Bush Road meet. Around its edges are the Shepherd's Bush Empire, the Bush Theatre, Bush Hall a little way along the Uxbridge Road, and the entrance to Westfield London. Queens Park Rangers play at Loftus Road just to the north west.
Few parts of London have as many stations in such a small space. The Central line stops at Shepherd's Bush and White City, the Hammersmith and City and Circle lines stop at Shepherd's Bush Market, Goldhawk Road and Wood Lane, and the Overground calls at Shepherd's Bush too. Our accountants are based around Fulham, straight down Shepherd's Bush Road through Hammersmith, and W12 is a regular part of the West London area we cover.
Market traders and independent shops on the Uxbridge Road
Shepherd's Bush Market runs alongside the railway between the Uxbridge Road and Goldhawk Road, with permanent stalls selling food, household goods, clothing and much more. The Uxbridge Road itself is lined with small, mostly independent shops, cafés and restaurants, and Goldhawk Road has many businesses serving the local Ethiopian community. Askew Road has its own run of neighbourhood shops further west.
Most of these are sole traders or small family companies, and many take a mix of cash and card. Good bookkeeping is what keeps them out of trouble with HMRC. We set up simple records that match daily takings to bank deposits, prepare the self assessment or company accounts at the year end, and keep an eye on turnover so you know when VAT registration is coming. Registration becomes compulsory once taxable turnover passes £90,000 in a rolling 12 months.
What we help people in Shepherd's Bush with
- Bookkeeping for cash and card based traders
- Self assessment returns for sole traders and freelancers
- Year end accounts and corporation tax for small companies
- VAT registration and Making Tax Digital VAT returns
- Company formation and share records for startups
- R&D tax relief claims
- IR35 reviews for TV and media contractors
- Rental accounts and Making Tax Digital updates for landlords
Westfield, White City and the new office district
Westfield London opened in 2008 and turned the land north of the Green into one of the biggest shopping centres in the country. Beyond it, White City is being rebuilt on a large scale. The wider regeneration is planned to deliver thousands of new homes and a large amount of office space, and Imperial College's White City campus includes research buildings and space for turning research into new companies.
That brings a type of client Shepherd's Bush did not have a generation ago. Founders of science and technology startups need a company set up correctly from the start, share records that will stand up to investors, and payroll for their first employees. We also look at R&D tax relief. The merged R&D scheme applies to accounting periods starting on or after 1/4/2024, with extra support for R&D intensive loss making small companies, and getting the claim right matters when cash is tight.
Television, music and creative freelancers
BBC Television Centre on Wood Lane was for decades the home of BBC Television. It has since been redeveloped with homes, offices, shops and a cinema, while BBC Studioworks still runs studios on the site. Add the Shepherd's Bush Empire, Bush Hall and the Bush Theatre, and W12 has a large community of freelance camera operators, editors, sound engineers, writers, musicians and production staff.
Freelancers in TV often move between short contracts, some taxed through PAYE and some paid gross. Those working through their own company also need to consider IR35, the rules that decide whether a contractor is taxed like an employee. We sort out which income goes where, claim the expenses you are entitled to for kit and travel, and plan for payments on account so the 31/1 and 31/7 bills are covered.
Landlords and flats in W12
Much of Shepherd's Bush is late Victorian terraced housing, and many of the houses west of the Green have been divided into small flats. Add the new apartments rising around White City and Television Centre and there is a lot of rental property in a compact area.
We prepare rental accounts for self assessment and explain Section 24, under which mortgage interest on a residential let gives a basic rate tax credit rather than a deduction. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies from 6/4/2026 to landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 and from 6/4/2027 to those over £30,000, and we can set up the software and handle the quarterly updates. If you sell a flat, capital gains tax must be reported and paid within 60 days of completion.
Working with us from Shepherd's Bush
Clients usually work with their accountant online, by email and video, sharing records through secure cloud software, with meetings arranged when needed. Market traders who prefer paper can send photos or scans of their receipts and we take it from there.
Fees are fixed and agreed before any work starts, after a free review. Send us an enquiry through the free quote form and an ACCA qualified accountant will come back to you.
Who we work with here
- Stallholders at Shepherd's Bush Market
- Independent shops and restaurants on the Uxbridge Road and Goldhawk Road
- Startup founders around White City and Imperial's campus
- Freelancers working in television, music and theatre
- Landlords with flats in W12
Common questions
Is there an accountant in Shepherd's Bush?
Our ACCA qualified accountants are based around Fulham, a short way south through Hammersmith, and work with clients across W12. Most work is done online, by email and video, with meetings arranged when needed.
I have a stall at Shepherd's Bush Market. Do I need an accountant?
You do not have to use one, but you do need accurate records and a self assessment return each year. We set up simple bookkeeping for your takings and costs, prepare your return and tell you when VAT might become an issue.
Can you help a startup at White City claim R&D tax relief?
Yes. We check whether your work counts as research and development for tax purposes, prepare the claim under the merged R&D scheme or the support for R&D intensive companies, and make sure it fits with your accounts.
I am a freelance camera operator. Do I need to worry about IR35?
If you work through your own limited company, yes. IR35 decides whether you should be taxed like an employee on each engagement. If you are a sole trader, the question is whether each client treats you as self employed. We review your contracts and explain where you stand.
How much does an accountant cost in Shepherd's Bush?
We do not publish fees because every client is different. After a free review of what you need, we agree a fixed fee with you before any work starts.
When does my business need to register for VAT?
You must register once your taxable turnover goes over £90,000 in any rolling 12 month period, or if you expect it to in the next 30 days alone. We monitor the figure with you so you register on time.
Do you cover White City and Askew Road as well?
Yes. We work with clients across W12, including White City, Wood Lane, Askew Road and the streets around Shepherd's Bush Green.