How much does self assessment software cost?

If you’re thinking about investing in self assessment software, you’re likely wondering how much it costs. And while the price is, of course, a key factor, it’s also useful to assess the overall value self assessment software can offer your firm in terms of time savings, compliance, and user experience. 

We’re written previously about why accountants should use cloud-based self assessment software and how to approach choosing the right self assessment software for your firm. In this blog, we’ll break down the cost of self assessment software, the features that are generally included, and the factors that can influence pricing. 

What factors impact the cost of self assessment software?

The cost of self assessment software varies, but there are several elements that play a key role in determining the overall price. When you’re selecting your self assessment software or working out what your firm needs, it’s useful to keep the below in mind:

The number of clients or tax returns

The number of self assessment filings you need to process will likely dictate how much the software will cost your firm up front. Lots of providers structure their pricing plans into tiers, with higher costs for packages that accommodate higher numbers of clients or filings. Individual users or small practices might find that an entry-level plan is enough, while larger firms often need more comprehensive options that are designed to handle higher volumes. 

Essential vs extra features

Self assessment software generally includes core functionalities – like tax calculation, digital submission to HMRC, and deadline tracking. Now, software also has to be compliant with making Tax Digital, and you’ll often encounter more advanced features like automated data imports or pre-filled forms. These can enhance the cost, though provide significantly enhanced value, too. For an overview of the features you can expect in cloud-based self assessment software, take a look at our in depth article. 

You’ll find the following features in Capium’s self assessment software: 

• Digital tax submission: submit self assessment returns directly to HMRC with minimal effort
• Tax calculation: automatically calculate tax liabilities, ensuring compliance and accuracy 
• Deadline and submission tracking: stay on top of important deadlines with automated reminders
• Built in dividend databases: meaning you can bring in dividend history from the previous tax year at the click of a button
• GDPR and MTD compliant: so you don’t have to worry about staying on top of the regulations yourself.

3. Automation and integration

When you or your team are managing multiple filings or clients, automation becomes your new best friend. Features like automated tax calculations, bulk filing options, and integration with accounting or bookkeeping systems can save significant time. While these advanced capabilities may come with a higher price tag, they’re worth considering purely for the impact they can have on your efficiency. 

The same can be said for integration – while it may cost more, having self assessment software that integrates with your accounting suite can save huge amounts of time and avoid duplication of effort for your team. 

4. Scalability for firms that want to grow

If you’re a busy practice with ambitions to grow, the self assessment software your firm needs today is likely to look quite different to the self assessment software your firm will need in five years time. As above, the more filings you handle, the more software is likely to cost – so it’s important to choose a software that can scale with you.

Advanced plans often include features like multi-user access, support for complex tax scenarios, and customisable reporting. When weighing up the cost options, it’s worth looking at how likely you are to need these features in the near or mid-term future, and factoring that into your decision making. 

5. What kind of support is on offer?

Finally, as with all software purchases, it’s absolutely fundamental that your team receives the support and training they need to use it to the best of their availability. Fancy features mean nothing if they’re not being used, and high quality customer support and training resources can make a big difference. 

Some providers charge extra for support or onboarding services, while others (like Capium) include it as part of their package.

Understanding the value of self assessment software 

Self assessment software is about more than just the price you pay for it – it’s about the value it brings to your firm, the savings you’re able to make in time and effort, and the way it enables you to grow and offer enhanced service to your clients. 

At Capium, we structure our pricing into plans and modules – so that you can choose the best option for you now, and as you scale and grow. Sign up for a free trial today to experience how our cloud-based self assessment software can help streamline self assessment season for your firm.