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Ellis Atkins Chartered Accountants case study

A smoother switch to better value and support

After more than two decades with the same provider (IRIS), Ellis Atkins reassessed its software to better support its team and clients.

By moving to TaxCalc, it found improved support, reduced costs and everyday work became more efficient.

20+ years with previous provider

Minimal migration downtime

Switched following rising costs and declining service

Improved efficiency across the firm

Rising costs and declining support - why we switched

The firm needed a more cost-effective solution with reliable support to continue delivering a high standard of service.

“After careful consideration, we decided to move away from IRIS in favour of TaxCalc — a change driven by both rising costs and a noticeable decline in service and support.”

Inspiring the next generation of accountants in Dorking

Founded in 1977, Ellis Atkins has a proud heritage. While the original namesake partners have long since retired, the strong foundation they built lives on. Thanks to a dedicated and long-standing team, the firm remains well regarded in the Dorking community, known for its long-established client relationships and a reputation built largely on word-of-mouth recommendations.

Ellis Atkins is proud to support young people in the Dorking community by offering valuable work experience and apprenticeship opportunities that help inspire careers in accountancy. The firm is excited to welcome its next apprentice in September, who will join a growing team of three apprentices currently progressing through their ACCA Level 7 Accountancy and Taxation course with BPP University.

Beyond the workplace, the team at Ellis Atkins actively engages with local schools by attending careers events, helping students connect the subjects they enjoy with real-world career pathways. Through these efforts, Ellis Atkins remains committed to nurturing local talent and guiding the next generation of professionals toward a successful future in finance.

Why we decided to move

Partner James Bray explains the reasons for moving to TaxCalc.

He says: “After careful consideration, we decided to move away from IRIS in favour of TaxCalc — a change driven by both rising costs and a noticeable decline in service and support after 20+ years with IRIS.

“The decision was reinforced during a visit to Accountex, where our Partners had the opportunity to speak directly with the TaxCalc team and hear first-hand experiences from other accountancy practices. The feedback was clear: the difference between their previous systems and TaxCalc was like night and day.”

“The platform came highly recommended for its intuitive design, logical workflows, and excellent customer support. In addition to being far more user-friendly, TaxCalc also offered a more sustainable cost model — allowing us to deliver the same high standards of service to our clients while improving efficiency internally.”

A smooth switchover

James adds: “The switchover to TaxCalc was much smoother than we expected. We had minimal downtime and were able to explore the system for a few weeks before formal training. The data import went smoothly and even gave us the opportunity to tidy up our client records.”

“The 1:1 support from Esther Theobold has been especially helpful with bespoke tasks, workflow setup, and understanding automations to improve efficiency. Overall, the support and training provided by the TaxCalc team have been excellent, and the transition was far less daunting than anticipated.”

What clients are saying about Ellis Atkins

“I have been in the capable hands of Ellis Atkins since 2005 when I had an idea for a bike sales and repair shop. They have assisted me from starting up my business, bookkeeping, managing the payroll for my team, advising on management and employee incentives, and business and tax planning.  I can highly recommend Ellis Atkins.”

Dan Webb,

Director, Head for the Hills

Why UK accounting practices are switching to TaxCalc

Transparent prices

Predictable prices aligned to what you actually use. No hidden escalations, long contract lock-ins, or forced upgrades.

Quick and easy onboarding

Dedicated migration and onboarding support, plus ongoing training, ensures transitioning from your current platform is fast and smooth.

Simple, compliant software

Guided step-by-step workflows and a clear interface makes TaxCalc software simple to learn and use, while remaining compliant.

Support from experts

Regular software improvements, plus reliable support from a UK-based team that you can reach by phone, email or in-product tickets.

Switch with confidence

Move to software that supports your team, improves efficiency and keeps costs under control. See how TaxCalc can help your firm.

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