# Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants

> Willis Cooper is a firm of ICAEW Chartered Accountants based in Belper, Derbyshire, supporting businesses and individuals across the East Midlands since 2000. Services span accounts, tax, payroll, VAT, bookkeeping, auditing, business advice, R&D tax relief and cloud accounting with Xero.

Willis Cooper Ltd (company no. 04076991). Office: Unit 6, Heritage Business Centre, Derby Road, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 1SW, United Kingdom. Phone: 01773 881 045. Email: info@williscooper.com. Accounting software: Xero, Sage, Dext, TaxCalc.

## Services
- [Home](https://williscooper.com/): Friendly Chartered Accountants in Belper, Derbyshire. Accounts, tax, payroll, VAT, bookkeeping and Xero support for businesses and individuals since 2000.
- [All Services](https://williscooper.com/our-services): Accounts, tax, payroll, VAT, bookkeeping, auditing, R&D relief and business advice from Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants in Belper, Derbyshire.
- [Accounting](https://williscooper.com/accounting): Accountancy services from Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants in Belper — year-end accounts, bookkeeping and management reporting for Derbyshire businesses.
- [Payroll](https://williscooper.com/payroll): Reliable payroll services from Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants in Belper — accurate, on-time payroll and auto-enrolment for Derbyshire employers.
- [Tax](https://williscooper.com/tax): Expert tax planning and compliance from Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants, Belper — self assessment, corporation tax and VAT support across Derbyshire.
- [Auditing](https://williscooper.com/auditing): Independent audit services from Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants, Belper. Thorough, compliant audits that build stakeholder trust for Derbyshire businesses.
- [Finance](https://williscooper.com/finance): Finance and funding support from Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants, Belper — cash flow, forecasting and finance-raising advice for Derbyshire businesses.
- [Business Advice](https://williscooper.com/business-advice): Practical business advice from Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants in Belper — tailored guidance to help Derbyshire businesses plan, grow and succeed.
- [Research & Development](https://williscooper.com/research-and-development): R&D tax relief support from Willis Cooper in Belper — helping Derbyshire companies identify and claim valuable research and development tax credits.
- [Cloud Accounting](https://williscooper.com/cloud-accounting): Cloud accounting with Xero from Willis Cooper in Belper — real-time bookkeeping, invoicing and Making Tax Digital support for Derbyshire businesses.

## About
- [About Us](https://williscooper.com/about-us): ICAEW Chartered Accountants in Belper since 2000. Meet the team behind Willis Cooper, read our FAQs, and see why Derbyshire businesses stay with us.
- [Meet the Team](https://williscooper.com/meet-the-team): Meet the team at Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants in Belper — the qualified accountants and payroll specialists supporting Derbyshire businesses.
- [Testimonials](https://williscooper.com/testimonials): Read what clients say about Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants in Belper — trusted accountancy support and real results for Derbyshire businesses.
- [Careers](https://williscooper.com/careers): Careers at Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants, Belper - trainee to qualified roles, AAT/ACA study support and a friendly team. See current vacancies.

- [25 years of Willis Cooper: “I took my bat and ball and off I toddled”](https://williscooper.com/25-years-of-willis-cooper): Robert Cooper started Willis Cooper in his living room with too many clients and no business plan. Twenty-five years on, he looks back on the practice he built.
- [The mileage rate has finally gone up. Here’s what it means for you.](https://williscooper.com/mileage-rate-increase-2026): The approved mileage rate has risen from 45p to 55p for the first 10,000 business miles, the first increase since 2011. What counts and how to reclaim.
- [Camping on a glacier: Lucie’s trek towards K2 Basecamp](https://williscooper.com/k2-basecamp-trek): Our accountant Lucie MacArthur spent June trekking into the Karakoram. Deep snow stopped the group short of basecamp, but not before K2 itself came into view.
- [Summer VAT has dropped to 5%. Is your business getting it right?](https://williscooper.com/summer-vat-reduction-2026): From 25 June to 1 September 2026, VAT on qualifying children's meals, tickets and family attractions is 5%. What qualifies and how to prepare for September.
## Areas we cover

- [Accountants in Duffield](https://williscooper.com/accountants-in-duffield): ICAEW Chartered Accountants about 3 miles from Duffield. Accounts, tax, payroll, VAT and Xero support for Duffield businesses and individuals. Call 01773 881 045.
- [Accountants in Ripley](https://williscooper.com/accountants-in-ripley): ICAEW Chartered Accountants about 5 miles from Ripley. Accounts, tax, payroll, VAT and Xero support for Ripley businesses and individuals. Call 01773 881 045.
- [Accountants in Alfreton](https://williscooper.com/accountants-in-alfreton): ICAEW Chartered Accountants about 8 miles from Alfreton. Accounts, tax, payroll, VAT and Xero support for Alfreton businesses and individuals. Call 01773 881 045.
- [Accountants in Heanor](https://williscooper.com/accountants-in-heanor): ICAEW Chartered Accountants about 7 miles from Heanor. Accounts, tax, payroll, VAT and Xero support for Heanor businesses and individuals. Call 01773 881 045.
- [Accountants in Derby](https://williscooper.com/accountants-in-derby): ICAEW Chartered Accountants about 8 miles from Derby. Accounts, tax, payroll, VAT and Xero support for Derby businesses and individuals. Call 01773 881 045.
## Resources
- [Blog](https://williscooper.com/blog-list): News, guides and tax updates from Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants in Belper — practical insights for Derbyshire businesses and individuals.
- [Events](https://williscooper.com/events): Events, workshops and seminars from Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants in Belper — practical sessions for Derbyshire business owners.
- [Tax Investigation Cover](https://williscooper.com/taxcover): Tax investigation cover from Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants, Belper — protect your business against the professional cost of an HMRC enquiry.
- [Companies House fees are rising in 2026](https://williscooper.com/companies-house-fees-are-rising): Companies House fees rise from February 2026. The headline increases, why they're happening, and what businesses should do to plan for the extra cost.
- [Companies House director verification (Nov 2025)](https://williscooper.com/companies-house-director-verification): From November 2025 all company directors and PSCs must verify their identity with Companies House. What's changing, who it affects and how to prepare.
- [Bank impersonation scams](https://williscooper.com/bank-impersonation-scams): Bank impersonation scams are getting harder to spot. What a real bank will never do, the warning signs, and exactly what to do if it happens to you.
- [From trainee to chartered accountant](https://williscooper.com/from-trainee-to-chartered-accountant): Jess joined Willis Cooper as a trainee and qualified eight years later through four professional qualifications. Her route to Chartered Accountant.
- [A smarter payroll experience with Staffology](https://williscooper.com/staffology-payroll-upgrade): We've moved our payroll to Staffology and appointed a full-time Payroll Manager. What the upgrade means for clients and how it makes payroll simpler.

## Contact
- [Contact](https://williscooper.com/contact-us): Contact Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants, Heritage Business Centre, Belper DE56 1SW. Call 01773 881 045 or email info@williscooper.com. Open Mon-Fri.
- [Privacy Policy](https://williscooper.com/privacy-policy): Privacy policy for Willis Cooper Chartered Accountants, Belper — how we collect, use and protect your personal data.

## FAQs
- **I have a limited company, when do I need to file my accounts at Companies House?** 9 months after the year end date accounts have to be filed at Companies House, the exception is the first period of accounts where the due date differs.
- **I have received a notice from HMRC to deliver a corporation tax return. What should I do?** HMRC automatically sends out notices to Limited companies to complete Corporation Tax returns as a reminder each year. A company’s corporation tax return is not due to be filed with HMRC until one year after the year end date. The exception is for the first period of accounts.
- **I have received an email from HMRC about a tax repayment. What should I do?** Do not respond to this email as it is a spam email. HMRC never email regarding repayments.
- **How can I pay my corporation tax?** You can pay HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) by faster payments, CHAPS or bacs using the following details: HM Revenue & Customs Cumbernauld Sort code: 08-32-10 Account number: 12001039 Reference: (Your 17 character corporation tax payslip reference for the accounting period you’re paying).
- **I have received a notice from HMRC to file my self-assessment tax return. What should I do?** HMRC automatically sends out notices to complete a self-assessment return if registered for self-assessments at the start of a new tax year. You have until 31 January following the previous tax year end to file a return. If not filed on time penalties, and interest will be applied by HMRC.
- **How do I pay my self-assessment tax due?** The deadlines for paying your self-assessment tax are: 31 January – for any tax you owe for the previous tax year (known as your balancing payment) and your first payment on account (if applicable) 31 July for your second payment on account (if applicable) Payment details: HM Revenue & Customs Cumbernauld Sort code: 08-32-10​ Account number: 12001039 Reference: (Your 10 digit unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number followed by the letter ‘K’)