TaxScouts

A UK online service where an accountant reviews and files your tax return after you upload your details through an app.

About TaxScouts

TaxScouts helps people and small businesses file their tax returns without the usual hassle. You answer a short questionnaire, upload or photograph your documents in its app or online portal, and an accredited accountant prepares the return for you to approve and files it with HMRC (the UK tax authority). Its customers include self-employed people, freelancers, landlords, company directors and first-time filers, and it also offers accounts and tax returns for limited companies.

TaxScouts launched in 2018 as a UK start-up. TechCrunch (July 2018) names Mart Abramov as co-founder and chief executive and says it was founded by alumni of TransferWise and MarketInvoice; Abramov had worked at TransferWise, Intuit, MarketInvoice and Skype. The 2018 articles do not name a city, but later coverage describes it as London-based. In July 2024 the German tax app company Taxfix announced it was acquiring TaxScouts to enter the UK market. An April 2024 article names Mal Cowley as chief executive. TechRadar's review says it works with about 100 UK accredited accountant partners and more than 40 internal staff; that is a reviewer's figure, not an official one.

In 2018 Abramov said: "Doing taxes is either tedious when you have to do them yourself, or expensive when you hire an accountant." He said the company was "automating as much of the admin part of tax preparation as possible in our online app." In 2024 Mal Cowley said the company combines "cutting-edge technology with the best accountants in the business" and aims to deliver on price, quality, simplicity and speed.

Its main services are self assessment tax returns, 1:1 tax advice sessions by phone or video, and year-end accounts, corporation tax and ongoing support for limited companies. Startups Magazine (April 2024) says it has filed over 100,000 self assessment returns and has a 4.8 out of 5 rating from about 5,000 reviews on Trustpilot; those are company claims. TechRadar notes that the service does not include bookkeeping software and that support is via chat and email, not phone.

We did not find a careers page or graduate, internship or apprenticeship information, and the 2018 articles do not describe the working culture. What we can say is that the model blends technology with qualified accountants, so it employs both product and technology specialists and accountants. Check taxscouts.com or the parent company's careers pages for current roles.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Accountant-prepared self assessment returns.', 'title': 'Tax return filing'}
• {'desc': 'Year-end accounts, corporation tax and ongoing help.', 'title': 'Limited company support'}
• {'desc': '1:1 phone or video sessions with a tax expert.', 'title': 'Tax advice sessions'}
• {'desc': 'Upload documents and approve returns online.', 'title': 'App and portal'}

Key facts

• Launched 2018; co-founded by Mart Abramov (TransferWise and MarketInvoice alumni)
• Acquired by Taxfix in July 2024
• Over 100,000 self assessment returns filed (company claim, April 2024)
• About 100 accredited accountant partners (TechRadar review)

Website: www.taxscouts.com