Jobs created in Stockport
Fifteen jobs are being created at the Stockport office of Azets as it becomes a Making Tax Digital hub for businesses and individuals.
The UK top 10 accountancy and business advisory firm said the roles were needed following the recent implementation of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax by HMRC.
Landlords, sole traders and the self-employed with a gross income above £50,000 per year must comply with the MTD roll-out.
From next April those with a gross income of £30,000 fall into scope and, from April 2028, those with a gross income of £20,000-plus.
Susanna Cassey, regional managing director, said: “Our Stockport office is becoming an MTD hub for businesses and individuals as we support them with the HMRC compliance regime, which includes keeping digital records, using MTD-compatible software and submitting quarterly updates, as well as a final declaration.
“A recent online poll of business in the UK by Azets showed that most companies are not prepared for MTD, even though it is an operational reality from now for those with qualifying income of above £50,000.
“With the roll-out, and demand from clients, we have job vacancies for 15 people in relation to MTD.”
These new staff will join a fast-growing office of more than 100 people which supports the firm’s other offices across the North West.
Susanna added: “MTD is the most significant overhaul of the tax system since the introduction of self-assessment decades ago and it is clear from the Azets poll, and what we are hearing on the ground, that a lot of people, such as landlords and trades, will require professional support in completing compliant returns.
“In turn, this is creating job opportunities for talented people here in Stockport.”
According to latest annual business activity figures from the Office for National Statistics, as of March 2025, there were 2.73 million VAT and/or PAYE businesses in the UK, with 266,000 in the North West.
Azets has previously highlighted that people working from home lost their annual home working allowance from April 6, the start of the new tax year and worth £6 a week.
Research by the firm showed that the scrapping of the HMRC measure for around 300,000 people will save £115m over five years.
Meanwhile, the latest Azets Barometer provides a clear view of the current business environment, based on the perspectives of senior leaders across the markets which Azets serves.
Drawing on primary research with more than 1,700 business leaders, the quarterly survey tracks current sentiment around economic outlook, financial performance and the challenges and opportunities shaping business decisions today.
The latest results highlight a shift in mindset, as businesses balance ongoing uncertainty with a renewed focus on growth, investment and operational agility.
Key findings from the first quarter of this year:
- 75% of business leaders are optimistic about the economic outlook
- 81% report strong financial performance
- 45% say operational agility is now the most important driver of resilience
- 66% plan to increase digitalisation in the next 12 months
- 65% are increasing investment in AI
However, small and mid-size companies expressed concern about rising costs caused by the war in the Middle East.
The Making Tax Digital for Income Tax scheme was rolled out by HMRC on 6 April.
The update deadlines for online submissions are 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May. [Source https://makingtaxdigital.campaign.gov.uk/mtd-for-income-tax-dates/]
HMRC has introduced ‘points-based penalties’ – there is one penalty point for each tax return submitted late, with a £200 penalty for two points and then a £200 penalty each time another tax return deadline is missed.
(Source https://www.gov.uk/guidance/penalties-for-income-tax-self-assessment-volunteers)
The overhaul will bring the tax system closer to real-time, closing the tax gap between what is owed and what is paid, and affects 864,000 individuals and landlords nationwide, with numbers predicted to rise to 2.9m within three years.
Under the phased roll-out, from April 2027 those with a qualifying income of £30,000 will fall into scope. From April 2028, those with qualifying income over £20,000 will be included.
However, a poll by Azets showed that the vast majority of businesses are unprepared for what is the most significant change to the UK tax system since self-assessment was brought in nearly 30 years ago.