Accounts for town and country.
Hexham is the main market town of the Tyne Valley, built around its abbey and market place. It serves a large rural area, and its businesses reflect that: agricultural suppliers, vets, independent shops, cafes, tradespeople and professional firms. The town also has significant employers, including a large wood panel manufacturing site, which supports local contractors and suppliers. Many of the town’s businesses are small and owner-managed, and a good number are family concerns.
We do not have an office in Hexham. We are based at Team Valley in Gateshead and work with Tyne Valley clients by phone, by email and through cloud software, which saves a journey for people with farms or busy shops to run. If you want to meet, Team Valley is reached along the A69 and the A1, and you are welcome to visit. Draft accounts and returns can be sent for you to review at home.
Farming, tourism and local trade.
Agriculture is central to the area, and Hexham’s livestock mart has long been part of the town’s working week. Many farms combine traditional farming with other activities, such as holiday cottages, contracting work or renewable energy. Each new income stream can affect how records should be kept and how the business is taxed, so it helps to think about the structure before the figures grow. It can also affect VAT, depending on what is sold.
Tourism is the other major thread. Hadrian’s Wall, Hexham Abbey and the racecourse bring visitors, who in turn support guest houses, holiday lets, pubs and cafes across Tynedale. Seasonal trade means takings can vary widely through the year. Hexham is also a popular home for people who commute to Newcastle by the Tyne Valley railway line, some of whom have self-employed or rental income alongside their job. Those situations each need their own approach.
Who we work with in Hexham
- 01
Farms and agricultural contractors
- 02
Holiday cottages and guest houses
- 03
Pubs, cafes and restaurants
- 04
Independent shops and market traders
- 05
Tradespeople and rural contractors
- 06
Commuters with rental or side income
Services Hexham clients ask about
A hypothetical example from the Tyne Valley.
Imagine a couple who run a small sheep farm near Hexham and have started doing fencing and hedging work for neighbours in the quieter months. The contracting income is paid into the farm account, and they are unsure whether it should be treated as part of the farm or as a separate trade. Priestman & Co. could review the arrangements, explain how each activity may be treated for tax, and set up bookkeeping that tracks the farm and the contracting work separately. The couple would then understand the true return from each.
Getting to our Team Valley office
From Hexham, the A69 runs east along the Tyne Valley to join the A1 west of Newcastle, and the A1 then leads south to Team Valley. The Tyne Valley railway line links Hexham with Newcastle, and a bus can take you on to the estate. Most clients find phone and email work well without the trip.
Tax and reporting rules can change. This page offers general information, not advice specific to your circumstances. The example above is illustrative only.
Hexham: common questions
For most people, yes. Records can be shared through cloud software or secure upload, and nearly all questions can be dealt with by phone or email, so distance is rarely a problem. When a meeting would help, the A69 and A1 make Team Valley a manageable journey. We can talk through how we would work with you.
It may. Diversified activities, such as holiday lets, contracting or a farm shop, can be treated differently from the main farm business for some tax purposes, and they may affect VAT. The position depends on how the activity is run and your wider circumstances. We can review what you are doing and explain the likely effect.
A good starting point is keeping bookkeeping up to date through the year rather than at the end. That lets you see profit as it builds and set money aside for tax in the busy months. We can help you set up records that show where you stand and give you an idea of what may be due.