--- title: blog | Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience description: "I'm Dean Shepherd, a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and Fellow of the AAT, with approaching 30 years in UK tax and accountancy. \n
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I run ESXR, a deliberately small accountancy practice for established service-based businesses — from creative agencies to consultants — who want their finances handled properly by someone who genuinely has time for them. \n
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Before going out on my own, I spent eight years in the tax software industry, shaping how the products actually worked and helping build the software your accountant uses every day. I also lecture on tax and speak at industry conferences, which keeps me at the front of the profession rather than catching up with it. \n
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I write these articles to make tax and money a little less stressful: plain English, no jargon, grounded in what actually works for real businesses rather than textbook theory. \n
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If something here raises a question about your own situation, I'm always happy to help — \ndrop me a message, or \nbook a chat." --- [Skip to content](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd#main-content) [![Eat Sleep Excel Repeat Logo](https://esxr.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/ESXR%20Tshirt%20Transparent.png?width=70&height=70&name=ESXR%20Tshirt%20Transparent.png "Eat Sleep Excel Repeat Logo")](https://www.esxr.co.uk) - [Home](https://esxr.co.uk) - Who I help - [Creative agencies](https://esxr.co.uk/accountants-for-creative-agencies) - [Consultants](https://esxr.co.uk/accountants-for-consultants) - [Film, TV and media](https://esxr.co.uk/accountants-for-film-tv-and-media) - [Content creators](https://esxr.co.uk/accountants-for-content-creators) - [Meet me](https://esxr.co.uk/book-a-meeting) - [Reviews](https://esxr.co.uk/#customer-reviews) - [Pricing](https://esxr.co.uk/#pricing) - [Insights](https://esxr.co.uk/blog) - [About](https://esxr.co.uk/about) - [020 8938 3736](tel:+442089383736) - [Contact](https://esxr.co.uk/contact-us) # Eat Sleep **Blog** Repeat ![Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/Dean03.webp) ## Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience I'm Dean Shepherd, a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and Fellow of the AAT, with approaching 30 years in UK tax and accountancy. I run ESXR, a deliberately small accountancy practice for established service-based businesses — from creative agencies to consultants — who want their finances handled properly by someone who genuinely has time for them. Before going out on my own, I spent eight years in the tax software industry, shaping how the products actually worked and helping build the software your accountant uses every day. I also lecture on tax and speak at industry conferences, which keeps me at the front of the profession rather than catching up with it. I write these articles to make tax and money a little less stressful: plain English, no jargon, grounded in what actually works for real businesses rather than textbook theory. If something here raises a question about your own situation, I'm always happy to help — [drop me a message](https://esxr.co.uk/contact-us), or [book a chat](https://esxr.co.uk/book-a-meeting). ## Recent Articles [![Mobile phone on desk with marked answers on a sheet](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/260713%20GovUK%20Chatbot.webp)](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/governments-new-ai-chatbot) - [Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd) - July 13, 2026 ### [I asked the government's new AI chatbot six tax questions. Here's how it did.](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/governments-new-ai-chatbot) In May, the government launched GOV.UK Chat — an AI assistant built into the GOV.UK app that answers questions in plain... [Read more](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/governments-new-ai-chatbot) [![Return to sender envelope on desk](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/260709%20HMRC%20Direct%20Debits.webp)](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/direct-debit-for-vat-and-paye) - [Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd) - July 9, 2026 ### [Direct Debit for VAT and PAYE: a good idea HMRC is about to ruin](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/direct-debit-for-vat-and-paye) I have been telling clients to pay their VAT by Direct Debit for years. It is one of the few genuinely free wins in tax... [Read more](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/direct-debit-for-vat-and-paye) [![Cozy workspace](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/260703%20DLA.webp)](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/directors-loan-account) - [Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd) - July 3, 2026 ### [Your Company's Money Isn't Your Money: The Director's Loan Account, Explained](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/directors-loan-account) Picture this. You pay for something personal out of the company account because it happens to be the bank card in your... [Read more](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/directors-loan-account) [![Desk scene with glasses resting on a diary](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/260629%20Glasses.webp)](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/can-i-put-my-glasses-through-the-businessheres-the-honest-answer) - [Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd) - June 29, 2026 ### [Can I Put My Glasses Through the Business? Here's the Honest Answer](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/can-i-put-my-glasses-through-the-businessheres-the-honest-answer) A client asked me this the other day, and I suspect a lot of people quietly wonder the same thing: [Read more](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/can-i-put-my-glasses-through-the-businessheres-the-honest-answer) [![Clear desk with laptop and calendar](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/260626%2031%20July%20POA.webp)](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/your-second-payment-on-account-is-due-on-31-july) - [Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd) - June 26, 2026 ### [Your Second Payment on Account Is Due on 31 July — Here's What It Actually Is (and How to Pay Less)](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/your-second-payment-on-account-is-due-on-31-july) Every July, I get a version of the same message: "HMRC says I owe more tax. Didn't I already pay in January?" [Read more](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/your-second-payment-on-account-is-due-on-31-july) [![Female creative business owner](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/260318%20Creative%20Business%20Owner.webp)](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/received-an-email-from-companies-house-about-identity-verification-dont-panic) - [Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd) - March 18, 2026 ### [Received an email from Companies House about identity verification? Don’t panic](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/received-an-email-from-companies-house-about-identity-verification-dont-panic) If you (or one of your clients) have recently received an email from Companies House about People with Significant... [Read more](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/received-an-email-from-companies-house-about-identity-verification-dont-panic) [![Man at desk with laptop showing a paid invoice](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/260317%20Payment%20Processing.webp)](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/why-creative-businesses-should-consider-using-a-third-party-payments-provider) - [Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd) - March 17, 2026 ### [Why Creative Businesses Should Consider Using a Third-Party Payments Provider](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/why-creative-businesses-should-consider-using-a-third-party-payments-provider) If you’re running a creative business, chances are you didn’t start it because you love chasing invoices. [Read more](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/why-creative-businesses-should-consider-using-a-third-party-payments-provider) [![Lady sat at desk with paperwork](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/250718%20Using%20Freelancers-1.webp)](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/should-i-use-a-limited-company-to-avoid-mtd-for-income-tax) - [Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd) - March 16, 2026 ### [Should I Use a Limited Company to Avoid MTD for Income Tax?](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/should-i-use-a-limited-company-to-avoid-mtd-for-income-tax) Some creative freelancers get a little nervous whenever a new HMRC initiative appears on the horizon. [Read more](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/should-i-use-a-limited-company-to-avoid-mtd-for-income-tax) [![Business owner contemplating policy documents](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/260202%20Life%20Insurance.webp)](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/can-my-company-pay-for-my-life-insurance) - [Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd) - February 2, 2026 ### [Can my company pay for my life insurance?](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/can-my-company-pay-for-my-life-insurance) This is a question I get a lot from directors. [Read more](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/can-my-company-pay-for-my-life-insurance) [![Creator setting up camera equipment](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/ContentCreatorsWide.webp)](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/can-i-offset-the-costs-of-a-side-hustle-against-my-main-business) - [Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd) - December 15, 2025 ### [Can I Offset the Costs of a Side Hustle Against My Main Business?](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/can-i-offset-the-costs-of-a-side-hustle-against-my-main-business) It’s a familiar story. [Read more](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/can-i-offset-the-costs-of-a-side-hustle-against-my-main-business) PREVIOUS [1](https://esxr.co.uk/blog) [2](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd/page/2) [3](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd/page/3) [4](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd/page/4) [5](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd/page/5) [NEXT](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd/page/2) ### Finding this content useful? Sign up for more! [![Eat Sleep Excel Repeat logo](https://esxr.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/ESXR%20Tshirt%20(80x80blk).png?width=80&height=80&name=ESXR%20Tshirt%20(80x80blk).png "Eat Sleep Excel Repeat logo")](https://esxr.co.uk/) I believe service-based businesses are the beating heart of the UK’s economy. 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