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Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience

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, or book a chat.

Recent Articles

Tame the Paper Chaos: How Receipt Capture Apps Can Save You Hours Each Month

If you run a creative business, chances are your desk (or inbox) is a swirl of receipts, invoices and payment...

What on Earth is a Director’s Loan Account? (And Why Should You Care?)

If you’re running your creative business as a limited company you’ve probably heard your accountant mention something...

Can You Claim Tax Relief on Air-Conditioning for Your Business?

If you’ve ever spent a sweltering summer afternoon trying to edit video, design visuals or pitch to a client while...

Claiming Tax Relief on Your Car as a Creative Business Owner

If you run a creative business, whether that’s a design studio, film production outfit or content creation empire, you...

How to Put Your Home Running Costs Through the Business

As a creative business owner, you're probably spending at least part of your working life at home. Whether it's editing...

VAT for UK Content Creators (Including the 2025 EU Livestream Rule Change)

If you're a content creator based in the UK - whether you’re streaming, posting on YouTube, running a Patreon or...

HMRC-approved Tax Schemes for Creative Companies

As a founder in the creative industries, whether you're making films, designing video games, producing animations, or...

Understanding HMRC's Self-Employment Rules for Film and TV Freelancers

Working as a freelancer in the UK film and television industry can be incredibly rewarding but navigating the complex...

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: Your Complete Guide for Creative Freelancers

What Is Making Tax Digital for Income Tax? Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) represents a fundamental shift in...

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