Agricultural & Horticultural Business Accounting
Accounting and tax support for land, growers and rural enterprises.
Specialist Sectors
Accounting that understands the rhythm of land and seasons
Accounting and tax support for land, growers and rural enterprises.
Agricultural and horticultural businesses face unique timing, subsidy, valuation, and succession questions that general accountancy does not always address. We combine technical accuracy with genuine sector knowledge to give growers, farmers, and landowners advice that connects to how their business actually works.
- Annual accounts with correct treatment of farming stocks, livestock, and assets.
- Agricultural Property Relief and succession planning advice.
- Grant income, single farm payment, and subsidy accounting handled accurately.
Our approach
How we deliver agricultural and horticultural business accounting
Farm and enterprise review
We review the farming or horticultural operation in detail the enterprises, the asset base, the subsidy and grant income and the ownership and tenancy structure to establish a clear picture of what the accounting needs to reflect.
Annual accounts and tax compliance
We prepare accurate annual accounts with correct treatment of farming stocks, growing crops, livestock, single farm payments, ELM scheme payments and other rural enterprise income, and compute the tax position correctly for the farming structure in use.
Planning, succession and advisory
We advise on Agricultural Property Relief, business succession options, diversification tax consequences and the interaction between farm income and the personal tax positions of farming family members.
Who this is for
Businesses and individuals that need
01
Arable and livestock farmers
Farming businesses requiring accurate annual accounts, correct treatment of trading stocks and livestock, and tax planning that reflects the cyclical and seasonal nature of farm income.
02
Horticultural businesses and growers
Growers and plant nurseries requiring accounts that properly handle growing crops, harvest timing, subsidies and the specific cost structures of horticultural production.
03
Rural landowners and diversifying estates
Landowners with a mix of farming, environmental land management, renewable energy, holiday lets and other diversification activities that create complex tax and accounting questions.
Client feedback
“Previous accountants never really understood the farming side. Having advisers who know what BPS receipts are and how to treat growing crops in the accounts has made a real difference to the advice we receive.”
Client review Arable farm, West Sussex
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How is Agricultural Property Relief relevant to farming families?
Agricultural Property Relief (APR) provides 100% IHT relief on the agricultural value of qualifying agricultural property including farmland, farm buildings and farmhouses occupied for agricultural purposes where the property has been owned and occupied for two years or let under an agricultural tenancy for seven years. APR does not cover development value. We review APR eligibility as part of both annual tax compliance and estate planning work.
How are environmental land management payments taxed?
Environmental Land Management (ELM) payments, including Sustainable Farming Incentive payments and Countryside Stewardship, are generally taxable as trading income where the recipient is a farming business. We ensure the correct tax treatment is applied and that the transition from Basic Payment Scheme to ELM based support is reflected correctly in the accounts.
How is farming income taxed where there are losses?
Farming losses can be offset against other income in the same year or carried back to earlier years under general loss relief provisions. However, where a farming business has made losses in five consecutive years, the loss relief is restricted by the hobby farming rules. We monitor the position and advise on how to structure the business to avoid or manage this restriction.
What accounting treatment applies to farming stocks and growing crops?
Farming stocks, growing crops and livestock are valued for accounts purposes using specific agricultural accounting conventions. Harvested crops are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Growing crops are treated differently and their valuation timing affects the profit recognised in each accounting period. We apply the correct treatment consistently.
Ready to take the next step?
Book an introductory meeting to discuss your specialist sectors needs with a specialist.