--- title: "Catch-up bookkeeping for UK businesses" description: "Backlog bookkeeping that clears months or years of transactions, reconciles every account and hands you tax-ready books — for UK businesses." url: https://ledgerbpo.com/uk/services/catch-up-bookkeeping/ updated: 2026-09-11 publisher: LedgerBPO (SS Support Network LLC) language: en-GB --- # Catch-up bookkeeping for UK businesses LedgerBPO's catch up bookkeeping services UK businesses turn to clear a backlog of unposted months and hand back reconciled, Making Tax Digital ready books. A named dedicated accountant works through every bank and card statement in your Xero, QuickBooks Online or Sage 50 file, month by month, until the balance sheet ties and a second accountant has reviewed it. - Since 2020 - 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, GBP - 8am to 6pm GMT coverage - Named accountant plus backup [Get a custom quote](https://ledgerbpo.com/get-a-quote/) [Book a 20-minute call](https://ledgerbpo.com/book-a-call/) In short - Every back month posted, reconciled and reviewed before sign-off - Quoted per back month after a short review of your file - Ends with a tax-ready package and a clean handover to monthly service Updated September 2026 ## What is different in United Kingdom A UK bookkeeping backlog carries its own deadlines. HMRC applies a points-based penalty system for late VAT returns, and persistent late filing or payment can trigger further penalties, so the longer a VAT-registered business goes unreconciled the more it can cost. Companies House also fines late accounts automatically, rising the longer the filing is overdue. Where the business is a construction contractor, Construction Industry Scheme deductions usually need rebuilding alongside the bookkeeping, since HMRC expects monthly figures whether or not the ledger was kept current. We work back month by month in Xero, QuickBooks Online or Sage 50, with accountants covering UK hours from our second office in Pakistan so questions do not wait overnight. ## UK rules that shape the work ### VAT penalty points HMRC's points-based penalty system adds a point for each late VAT return, with a financial penalty once a threshold is reached, so closing the backlog reduces ongoing exposure. ### Companies House late filing penalties Companies House charges an automatic, rising penalty the longer statutory accounts are filed late, which is separate from any HMRC penalty on the tax side. ### CIS backlog for contractors Where subcontractors were paid without CIS deductions being tracked, we rebuild the monthly figures and reconcile deductions to HMRC records as part of the catch-up. ### Software used for the rebuild We rebuild the file in Xero, QuickBooks Online or Sage 50, using Dext to process backdated receipts and bills where paper records still exist. ## What's included - File review and written scope listing every month and account to be cleared - Bank, card and loan statements collected for the whole backlog period - Every transaction posted and categorized to a chart of accounts you agree - Receipts and bills matched where documents exist, flagged where they do not - Sales invoices and customer payments recorded and applied - Payroll journals rebuilt from provider reports for each pay period - Payment-processor payouts matched to sales, fees and refunds by month - Sales tax, VAT or GST liability recomputed by period for your preparer - Monthly reconciliations of every bank, card and loan account for every back month - Opening balances tied to the last filed return or reviewed period - Second-accountant review of the rebuilt trial balance - Tax-ready year-end package and a list of open questions for your CPA ## Deliverables and KPIs | Deliverable | KPI we report | | --- | --- | | Scope and month plan | Every back month and missing statement listed with a target date | | Back months reconciled | Each month reconciled to the bank statement before the next is started | | CIS figures rebuilt | Subcontractor deductions reconstructed and reconciled where CIS applies | | Tax-ready package | Reconciled statements and schedules issued after a second accountant's review | ## UK software we work in - [Xero](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/xero/) - [QuickBooks Online](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/quickbooks-online/) - [Sage 50](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/sage-50/) - [Dext](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/dext/) - [All 50 platforms](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/) ## Pricing in GBP Pricing depends on volume and scope. Get a custom quote within 1 business day. Quotes for United Kingdom clients are issued in GBP. ## Security and compliance - Statements shared through an encrypted portal, never by unencrypted email attachment - Read-only bank access where possible; we never move money - MFA on every login, access logged, files deleted from our side at project end Full control list on the [security page](https://ledgerbpo.com/security/) and country rules on the [compliance page](https://ledgerbpo.com/compliance/). Certifications are listed only when held. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much do catch up bookkeeping services cost in the UK? Pricing depends on volume and scope, so we send a custom quote within 1 business day after reviewing your file. As a UK benchmark, bookkeeping project work typically runs £20 to £55 per hour (UK provider pricing surveys, 2026). The number of back months and accounts involved moves the quote most. ### Do you submit our VAT return or accounts? No. We rebuild and reconcile the back months so the figures are accurate, but any VAT returns still due, or annual accounts and confirmation statements owed to Companies House, are reviewed and submitted by you or your accountant, never by us directly. ### Do you cover UK hours? Yes. The rebuild is worked from our second office in Pakistan on a schedule that overlaps UK business hours, so weekly progress updates and questions about missing documents land during your working day rather than after you have gone home. ### Will HMRC penalise us for the time it takes to catch up? Penalties for VAT and Companies House filings are based on the filing and payment dates, not on when the bookkeeping is caught up. Getting current sooner reduces the chance of further points or penalties accruing, but any penalty already charged is a matter for your accountant. ### How far back can you go? As far back as bank and card statements exist. Most catch-up projects in the UK cover one to three tax years, since HMRC and Companies House deadlines usually only require that far back, and older periods already filed are tied to the filed return rather than reopened. Next step ## Books closed. Invoices paid. Every month. Tell us what is going on with your books or billing. You will hear from a named person within 1 business day, with a custom quote and a plan for the first close. - Reply from a named person within 1 business day - No setup fee, month-to-month - Your software, your data, no lock-in Start with a custom quote [Get a custom quote](https://ledgerbpo.com/get-a-quote/) [Book a 20-minute call](https://ledgerbpo.com/book-a-call/) Or call [+1-657-777-0006](tel:+16577770006) during US, UK or Australian business hours. --- Source: https://ledgerbpo.com/uk/services/catch-up-bookkeeping/ · Contact: https://ledgerbpo.com/contact/ · Full site map for agents: https://ledgerbpo.com/llms.txt