Articulate Chartered Accountants for Authors & Writers in the UK
ABM Chartered Accountants provides expert accounting for authors & writers across the UK, from debut novelists to established published professionals. Our ICAEW and ACCA qualified team handles royalty income, profit averaging, ALCS and PLR payments and tax planning for writing businesses and individual authors.
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What Our Clients Say About Us
Hundreds of businesses across the UK trust ABM Chartered Accountants for reliable, expert, and genuinely personal accounting services. See why clients rate us as their most trusted financial partner.
Accounting Built for Authors and Writers
Authors and writers face accounting challenges that general accountants rarely handle. Publisher advances, book royalties, self-publishing income, profit averaging claims, ALCS and PLR payments and agent commission all demand advisors who know how the publishing industry pays and taxes authors.
ABM Chartered Accountants works with novelists, non-fiction writers, screenwriters, journalists, self-published authors and ghostwriters across England, delivering structured financial support for writing businesses and individual authors. Every Self Assessment, royalty schedule and tax return is handled accurately.
Helping Authors Manage Royalties and Reduce Tax
Authors and writers need more than basic compliance. ABM Chartered Accountants prepares royalty schedules, advance tracking, profit averaging claims, ALCS and PLR reporting and tax planning, giving authors clear visibility over true earnings after agent commission and all deductions.
Whether you are traditionally published, self-published through Amazon KDP, write for multiple publishers or combine writing with teaching, our ICAEW and ACCA qualified team adapts to your career, keeping the business and individual authors covered on all taxes.
Our Accounting Services for Authors & Writers
We offer a full range of accounting, tax and advisory services for authors & writers, designed around the demands of royalty income, profit averaging and writing professionals working across the UK.
Accounting Solutions
Expert annual accounts, year-end reporting, and accurate financial statements for UK businesses.
Bookkeeping
Cloud-based bookkeeping with Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage to keep accounts accurate.
Corporate Tax
Corporation tax compliance, computations, and strategic planning for UK companies.
VAT
VAT registration, quarterly returns, and Making Tax Digital compliance for UK businesses.
Payroll
End-to-end payroll, PAYE, RTI submissions, and pension auto-enrolment managed on time.
Audit & Assurance
Statutory audits, independent reviews, and assurance services for confident financial reporting.
Business Advisory
Cash flow forecasting, growth planning, and advisory support for confident decisions.
Company Formation
Fast UK company formation, Companies House registration, and full HMRC tax setup.
Management Accounts
Monthly or quarterly management accounts with KPIs, variance analysis, and clear insights.
Why Authors Choose ABM Chartered Accountants
Sector Expertise
Strong grasp of royalties, profit averaging and publishing income.
Qualified Specialists
ICAEW and ACCA members experienced with authors and writers.
Cloud-Based Delivery
Secure remote access to accounts and filings nationwide.
Supporting Authors and Writers Across the UK
ABM Chartered Accountants supports authors, writers and publishing professionals throughout England, from London and the South East to the Midlands, North West and beyond. Our cloud-based systems deliver specialist accounting to writing businesses nationwide.
How We Work
Initial Consultation
Set Up and Onboard
Ongoing Support
We provide regular reviews and proactive advice to keep your finances optimised and HMRC-compliant.
Get in Touch Today
Whether you need help with your tax return, payroll, VAT, or business advisory, our qualified UK accountants are ready to provide clear, practical guidance for your specific needs.
Book a Consultation
Fill in the form below and one of our expert accountants will contact you promptly to discuss your accounting and tax requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions novelists, non-fiction writers and self-published authors ask about specialist accounting for the publishing sector.
How are publisher advances taxed?
Advances are taxable income in the year received and can push you into a higher tax band. Staging payments across tax years through your publisher helps manage the impact.
What is profit averaging for authors?
Authors can average profits across two consecutive years when one year’s profit is less than 75% of the other. This reduces tax and is claimed on the second year’s return.
How are ALCS and PLR payments treated?
ALCS payments for secondary copying rights are taxable trading income and subject to VAT when registered. PLR payments for library loans are taxable but fall outside the scope of VAT.
Can I claim literary agent commission?
Yes. Agent commission, typically 15% for UK rights and 20% for foreign rights, is fully deductible. Report gross publisher income then claim the agent’s fee as an allowable expense.
What writing expenses are allowable?
Research costs, reference books, home office proportion, laptop and software, professional subscriptions like the Society of Authors, travel for research and accountancy fees are all deductible business expenses.
Can ABM support authors nationwide?
Yes. ABM Chartered Accountants serves authors and writers across England using secure cloud-based platforms, delivering specialist accounting to traditionally published, self-published and freelance writers.