Short and Sons Accountants Ltd

Accountancy in Staines-upon-Thames for businesses, landlords and investors

Short and Sons Accountants Ltd is an accounting and tax firm with its own office in Staines-upon-Thames, England, serving clients in London, Surrey and across the UK, as well as providing services online. The company presents itself as a practice that works with sole traders, landlords, limited companies and taxi industry professionals, and states that it manages the accounts of more than 800 businesses, from sole traders to companies with turnover of up to three million pounds.

The team is in-house: the firm states that it does not outsource its clients' accounts and that it offers clear, fixed pricing. Its client base ranges from small businesses with initial turnover of £5,000 to established companies, with the stated aim of maintaining regulatory compliance and making the figures easy to understand without resorting to accounting jargon.

Accounting and tax services

The service catalogue covers the usual obligations of companies and individuals in the UK:

• Self Assessment tax returns and advice on allowable expenses.
• Making Tax Digital (MTD), both for filing and preparation.
• General accounting and bookkeeping.
• VAT returns.
• Payroll.
• Limited company annual accounts and corporation tax.
• Advice on dividends and pensions.
• Capital Gains Tax planning.
• CIS returns and payments for subcontractors.

The firm works with cloud accounting software such as QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage and Xero, and in 2024 began incorporating artificial intelligence tools to speed up tax production and CIS claims.

Specialisation in the taxi industry

Short and Sons was founded in 2017 by a London taxi driver and its initial focus was London taxi drivers, particularly black cabs. The company describes itself as a specialist in accounting for the industry and offers both Making Tax Digital filings and traditional self assessments, with professional advice on expenses and tax. Its services for this group include solutions aimed at reducing the tax burden and a service tailored to those who work behind the wheel.

Construction, CIS and subcontractors

The firm has also established itself as a reference for self-employed construction workers in Staines and the surrounding area. It handles accurate CIS returns, Making Tax Digital solutions and monthly CIS payroll submissions to HMRC. It also takes care of correctly registering clients, verifying subcontractors and maximising the tax refunds to which they may be entitled.

Landlords and limited companies

For landlords, the practice offers comprehensive tax advice on property portfolios, from Making Tax Digital preparation to capital gains planning. On the corporate side, it provides full accounting support to small businesses and limited companies in Staines, Surrey and London: statutory accounts, corporation tax, payroll, VAT, CIS, bookkeeping and strategic advice on dividends and pensions.

Track record and growth

The firm opened its doors in Staines-upon-Thames with the aim of simplifying tax for taxi drivers and landlords, and began taking on clients at Christmas 2017. In 2018 it expanded into CIS and subcontractor refunds; in 2019 it strengthened its reputation among black cab drivers and began managing VAT and CIS refunds with precision. The integration of cloud accounting software came in 2020, with the adoption of FreeAgent, QuickBooks, Xero and Sage.

In 2021, with nearly 280 clients, the practice moved to an office in central Staines with parking for visits. In 2022, with almost 400 clients, the team grew to three people and began taking on VAT returns. In 2023 it introduced payroll solutions and the management of NEST contributions for the first time, completing an end-to-end accounting offering. In 2024, with more than 600 clients, it expanded its software catalogue and began exploring artificial intelligence. In 2025 the team reached six people and the firm moved to larger offices in Centurion House. In 2026, with more than 800 clients and more than 80 quarterly VAT returns, the company presents itself as a modern practice with AI integration covering payroll, VAT, CIS and bookkeeping for businesses and landlords across the UK.

Team

The team is led by Jason Short, director and founder. It also includes Terry Obika, specialising in limited company year-end; Lewis Chapman, focused on Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital; Caroline Johnson, in payroll, CIS and Xero and QuickBooks support; and Roger Spice, a specialist in VAT, Sage and FreeAgent.

Location and contact

222 Centurion House, London Road, Staines-upon-Thames TW18 4AX · Telephone: 07481 479933 · Email: sales@shortandsons.co.uk