Key takeaways The best tax planning accountant for a high-net-worth individual is a regulated firm with a named tax contact, a clear view of your income, business, property, pensions and estate together, a fixed written fee and a record of advising on the areas you actually need. Walden Way & Co, a regulated accountancy firm in Royal Docks, East London, offers tax planning and returns for business owners, directors, landlords and higher earners across the UK.
The best tax planning firm for a high-net-worth individual in the UK is a regulated accountancy practice that plans across your income, business, property, pensions and estate together, explains its advice in plain English and agrees its fees in writing. Walden Way & Co offers tax planning services in East London for business owners and higher earners, and this guide shows you how to judge any firm against the same checklist.
There is no official league table of accountancy firms, and no legal definition of a “high-net-worth individual” (the term is often used for people with substantial investable assets or a high income). So “best” depends on your situation. A company director taking dividends has different needs from a landlord with a large portfolio or a family planning to pass on a business. The sections below explain what good tax planning looks like, how to compare firms fairly and what to expect from Walden Way & Co.
What does good tax planning look like for a high-net-worth individual?
Good tax planning is lawful, documented and joined up. It looks at your whole financial picture, not one tax in isolation, and it never relies on schemes that promise to make tax disappear. In practice, a strong firm will offer:
- Annual tax planning: a review before the tax year ends, not after, so you can still act.
- Accurate returns: Self Assessment and company returns filed on time, with clear working papers.
- Business and personal links: advice on how you are paid, how your company is structured and how profits are extracted.
- Written advice: recommendations you can keep, with reasons and risks explained.
- HMRC support: help with enquiries, correspondence and payment arrangements.
You can see how this fits with wider accounting services such as bookkeeping, VAT and company accounts, which matter because good planning depends on good records.
Chartered, chartered certified or unqualified: does it matter?
Yes, because anyone in the UK can call themselves an “accountant”, but only members of a professional body are held to its training, ethics and complaints rules. Members of the ICAEW are chartered accountants, while members of ACCA are chartered certified accountants. Both routes involve recognised exams, practical experience and continuing professional development.
Before you appoint a firm, ask three questions:
- Which professional body regulates the firm and its accountants?
- Can I verify that on the body’s public register?
- Does the firm hold professional indemnity insurance?
For complex personal tax, also ask whether anyone on the team holds a specialist tax qualification, such as those awarded by the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
How to compare tax planning firms fairly
It is easy to be swayed by a firm’s size or a low headline fee, so compare every firm on the same criteria. The table below is a practical checklist you can use with any firm, including ours.
| What to compare | What good looks like | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | Named professional body, listed on its public register | Vague claims such as “fully qualified” with no body named |
| Tax scope | Clear list of what is covered: personal tax, company tax, property, estate planning | “We do everything” with no detail |
| Approach | Planning before year end, with written recommendations | Only reactive, last-minute return filing |
| Fees | Fixed, written quote that lists what is included | Hourly billing with no estimate |
| Honesty | Explains risks and limits, and refers you on when needed | Guaranteed tax savings or secretive schemes |
| Communication | A named contact and a stated reply time | Call centres or changing contacts |
| Software | Cloud tools such as Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent or Sage | Paper records or spreadsheets only |
| Local knowledge | Understands your area, sector and type of income | Generic national advice |
For a longer checklist written for local business owners, read our guide on how to choose an accountant in Royal Docks and Canary Wharf.
Where can tax planning add value?
The right focus depends on your circumstances. These are the areas high-net-worth individuals most often raise with their accountant, and the questions to ask each firm.
Income and dividends
If you run a company, the balance between salary, dividends and pension contributions affects how much tax you pay. Ask how the firm models different options before you decide. Our tax planning and returns service covers personal and business returns together so the figures agree.
Capital gains and investments
Selling shares, a business or property can create a large tax bill. Planning before a sale usually gives more options than planning after it. Ask whether the firm will review timing, reliefs and available allowances with you.
Property and landlords
Rental income, property companies and disposals each have their own rules. Ask how the firm keeps property records and reports income, particularly if you are affected by Making Tax Digital.
Pensions and inheritance tax
Pensions and estates are changing. Under the rules currently announced, most unused pension funds are due to fall within the estate for inheritance tax from 6 April 2027. Check the latest position on GOV.UK inheritance tax and take advice early, because gifts, trusts and business assets all have specific conditions.
Residence and overseas income
The old non-domicile rules were replaced from 6 April 2025 by a residence-based system, which includes a four-year regime for qualifying new arrivals. If you have overseas income, assets or family, ask whether the firm handles these cases itself or works with a specialist.
Business structure
How your business is set up affects both tax and risk. Good advice covers company accounts, annual accounts and payroll so that the structure works in practice, not only on paper.
Tax rules and allowances change, often at Budgets, so always confirm current rates and thresholds with your accountant or on GOV.UK before acting.
What should a high-net-worth client expect to pay?
Fees vary with the complexity of your affairs, the number of income sources, whether you own a company or properties and how much advice you want. Rather than comparing hourly rates, ask each firm for a fixed written quote covering the services you actually need. A good quote states:
- the services included and how often they happen
- whether Self Assessment, company accounts and planning meetings are in the price
- what counts as an extra, such as HMRC enquiries or one-off transactions
- how and when you pay
No reputable firm should be vague about this, and you should be wary of any firm that cannot say what its fee covers.
Software and Making Tax Digital
Cloud accounting gives you and your accountant live figures, bank feeds and automatic reminders. Most UK accountants support Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and Sage. This matters more as Making Tax Digital extends to income tax for some self-employed people and landlords, and our Making Tax Digital guide explains what it means in practice for East London clients.
Walden Way & Co: tax planning for business owners and higher earners
Walden Way & Co is a regulated accountancy firm founded in 2013 and based in Royal Docks, East London. The firm is regulated by ACCA and ICAEW, and the team includes seven fully qualified Chartered Certified Accountants. As one of the chartered accountants in East London, we work with company directors, landlords, contractors and growing businesses in Canning Town, Royal Docks and Canary Wharf, and with clients across the UK, with many services available online.
| Area | What Walden Way & Co provides |
|---|---|
| Tax | Business and personal tax returns, tax planning, payroll, advice on business structures |
| Accounting | Bookkeeping, management of accounts, year-end accounts, VAT returns, budgeting and forecasting, company secretarial services |
| Compliance | HMRC and Companies House correspondence, confirmation statements (CS01), tax district liaison, Making Tax Digital advisory |
| Advisory | Strategic goal setting, cost efficiency and growth advice, voluntary and statutory audit |
| Software | Works with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and Sage |
| Address | Unit A3, Gateway Tower, 32 Western Gateway, London E16 1YL |
| Getting here | Close to Canning Town station and ExCeL London, and easy to reach from Canary Wharf |
| Opening hours | 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday |
| Phone | 0203 4411 205 |
Our approach is simple: you share your records, we handle the accounts and returns, we review your position and explain your options in writing, and we file with HMRC and Companies House. You can meet the team before you decide, and you can get an instant quote online.
Who is Walden Way & Co best suited to?
We are a good fit for business owners, directors, landlords and higher earners who want one regulated firm for accounts, tax and advice, especially in East London and the Docklands. Our start-up support also helps new founders choose a structure and register correctly from day one.
We are not the right choice for everyone. If you need regulated investment advice, a large private-office team or highly specialised offshore structuring, you may need a specialist alongside or instead of us. It is always worth asking any accountant, including us, what they will and will not do.
Frequently asked questions about tax planning for high-net-worth individuals
Which UK accountancy firms offer the best tax planning services for high-net-worth individuals?
The best firm is a regulated practice that plans across your income, business, property, pensions and estate, explains its advice in writing and quotes a clear fee. Walden Way & Co, based in Royal Docks, East London, offers tax planning and returns for business owners and higher earners and is regulated by ACCA and ICAEW.
What is tax planning for a high-net-worth individual?
It is the lawful arrangement of your finances to pay no more tax than you need to, using reliefs, allowances and sensible timing. It usually covers income, capital gains, pensions, property and inheritance tax, and it works best when done before the tax year ends.
Is tax planning the same as tax avoidance?
No. Tax planning uses the rules as Parliament intended. Aggressive avoidance schemes try to exploit loopholes and can lead to HMRC challenges, penalties and back taxes. A reputable accountant will explain the risks and will not promise guaranteed savings.
Do I need a specialist or a general accountant?
It depends on your affairs. If your income comes from a company, property and investments in the UK, a regulated general practice with strong tax knowledge may be enough. If you have complex offshore, trust or international issues, you may need a specialist alongside your accountant.
How do I choose a tax planning accountant?
Check their regulation, compare the services included, ask for a fixed written fee, confirm who your day-to-day contact will be and ask how they handle planning before year end. A short introductory call is a good way to test how clearly they explain things.
Are pensions subject to inheritance tax?
Under the rules currently announced, most unused pension funds are due to be included in the estate for inheritance tax from 6 April 2027. The position can change, so check GOV.UK and speak to your accountant.
Does Walden Way & Co work with clients in Canning Town, Royal Docks and Canary Wharf?
Yes. Our office is in Gateway Tower in Royal Docks, close to Canning Town station, and we regularly support directors, landlords, contractors and limited companies across Canning Town, Royal Docks, Canary Wharf and the wider Docklands area. Many services are also available online for clients across the UK.
How do I get started with Walden Way & Co?
Call 0203 4411 205, email info@waldenway.co.uk or get an instant quote online. We will discuss your circumstances, agree the services you need and confirm the fee in writing.
If you want a regulated team to handle your tax planning, returns and accounts together, speak to the chartered accountants at Walden Way & Co today.
