Accountant for Mobile App Developers UK
Accounting for mobile app developers who earn through Apple and Google. NDCA handles App Store and Google Play payouts, subscriptions, in-app purchases, VAT and R&D tax relief, on a fixed monthly fee with a named accountant.
As an accountant for mobile app developers UK, NDCA is an ACCA-regulated accountancy practice working with UK mobile app developers, run on Xero. We charge a fixed monthly fee, so your bookkeeping, VAT and year-end are managed every month.
What Your Accountant for Mobile App Developers UK Handles
App Store and Google Play revenue
Platform statements can include sales, subscriptions, refunds, commissions and currency conversion, so the bank deposit is not the gross sales figure. We reconcile the platform reports to your bank account so your books reflect what actually happened, not just the net payout.
In-app purchases and subscriptions
Treatment depends on the transaction and the period the service covers. Subscription income may need recognising over that period, with future amounts treated as deferred revenue.
R&D tax relief
Some app development projects may qualify for R&D tax relief where the relevant conditions are met, including genuine technological uncertainty. Routine development does not automatically qualify, and specific HMRC notification rules can apply. We help identify qualifying work and organise the supporting information.
Multi-platform, multi-currency income
Payouts arrive from Apple and Google, and sometimes ad networks or affiliate schemes, often in USD, EUR and other currencies. Xero can be configured to handle the reconciliation and exchange-rate treatment.
See our accountant for UK tech, SaaS and AI businesses page for the wider tech sector.
VAT and platform fees
Apple and Google may act as the merchant or reseller for transactions in certain territories. The VAT treatment depends on the platform arrangement, customer location and applicable rules.
App Store and Google Play take a commission before you are paid, and your VAT return may need to reflect the underlying transaction rather than simply the bank receipt. We review the platform reports and applicable VAT treatment as part of your monthly bookkeeping.
UK VAT registration is generally required when taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in the previous 12 months, or where you expect it to in the next 30 days. App developers can have additional considerations, since Apple and Google operate differently across territories, so we look at your actual position.
Expenses, and knowing how your app is performing
Business costs may be allowable for tax where they meet the relevant rules and conditions.
As an accountant for mobile app developers UK, we know costs such as Apple Developer and Google Play fees, software subscriptions, development tools, cloud hosting, testing devices and equipment may be allowable where they meet the relevant tax rules. Equipment is not automatically fully deductible: treatment can differ depending on the asset.
You should not have to wait for year-end to know how the app is performing. Useful monthly management accounts can include app revenue, platform fees, refunds, development costs, gross margin and cash position, and for larger app businesses, metrics such as recurring revenue and churn. Not every developer needs every metric.
How NDCA works
Three things make our service different for mobile app developers specifically.
As your accountant for mobile app developers UK, you get a named accountant who understands app store payouts, with a direct point of contact who replies within one working day, and ongoing support throughout the year rather than everything left until year-end.
NDCA is an ACCA-regulated practice working remotely with mobile app developers across the UK, from indie developers to growing app studios, on bookkeeping and Corporation Tax.
Xero and Apron
Xero is the accounting platform NDCA primarily uses to reconcile bank transactions, manage multi-currency, record supplier invoices, support VAT reporting and produce management information.
As an accountant for mobile app developers UK, we make sure App Store, Google Play and other payouts are reconciled against actual bank deposits, and supplier invoices are captured through Apron with less manual admin.
App Store payouts and VAT keeping you up at night?
App Store payouts in USD, Google Play on a different cycle, in-app purchases everywhere, R&D costs to track. We handle it, on one fixed monthly fee.
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Switching from another accountant
Switching is simpler than most app developers expect, and you do not need to wait for year-end.
1. You approve the proposal.
2. We request professional clearance from your existing accountant.
3. We collect the relevant records.
4. We review the current setup.
5. We take over the ongoing accounting.
Most clients are fully onboarded within around 2-3 weeks, depending on the records available and the previous accountant.
Accountant for mobile app developers UK: FAQs
Apple and Google may act as the merchant or reseller in certain territories, and the treatment depends on the platform arrangement, customer location and applicable rules. We review the platform reports as part of your bookkeeping.
It depends on the transaction type and how long the service runs. Subscriptions are often recognised over the subscription period rather than upfront, with unearned amounts held as deferred revenue.
Some development work can qualify if it involves genuine technological uncertainty rather than routine coding or off-the-shelf tools. Eligibility and any HMRC notification requirements depend on the specific project.
We reconcile the platform reports to the amounts received into your bank account, gross sales through to fees and FX, so your books reflect what actually happened.
Yes. Store payouts commonly arrive in USD, EUR and other currencies alongside GBP, and we set up Xero to handle the conversions and reconciliation correctly.
There is no fixed income level at which becoming a limited company automatically makes sense. The right structure depends on your profits, personal income needs, other income, how much you plan to leave in the business and your longer-term plans. NDCA can compare the options using your actual figures.
Generally when taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in the previous 12 months, or you expect it to in the next 30 days.
Ready to get your accounts under control?
