Overview

Bright AP integrates with BrightTax to provide a connected workflow between accounts production and tax preparation.

Depending on the type of client, financial information can be transferred from Bright AP into BrightTax, reducing the need to manually enter figures in both systems.

For limited company clients, the integration is bidirectional. Company accounts can be sent from Bright AP to BrightTax, and the final Corporation Tax figures can then be sent back to Bright AP to update the accounts.

There are three separate integration workflows:

Workflow 1 – Sole Trader Accounts: Bright AP to BrightTax

For sole trader clients whose accounts are prepared in Bright AP, financial information can be imported directly into the Self-Employment section of their Individual Tax Return (ITR) in BrightTax.

This avoids having to manually re-enter turnover and other financial figures.

How to import sole trader accounts

1. Prepare the sole trader accounts in Bright AP as normal.
2. In BrightTax, open the client's Individual Tax Return.
3. Navigate to What Makes Up the Tax Return.
4. Open the Self-Employment full (SA103F) pages.
5. Select Create > Link to Accounts > BrightAP.
6. Search for and select the relevant Bright AP entity.
7. Select the accounting period and click Import.
8. The financial figures will populate automatically in the tax return.

You can then review the imported figures and continue completing the Individual Tax Return as normal.

Further guidance: See Importing Sole Trader Accounts from BrightAP into BrightTax for the full step-by-step instructions.

Workflow 2 – Partnership Accounts: Bright AP to BrightTax

Partnership accounts prepared in Bright AP can be linked directly to Partnership Tax Returns (PTRs) in BrightTax.

This integration is available for the 2025/26 Partnership Tax Return tax year only.

The relevant partnership account can be selected within BrightTax, allowing the financial information to be imported automatically rather than entered manually.

How to import partnership accounts

1. Prepare the partnership accounts in Bright AP as normal.
2. In BrightTax, open the client's 2025/26 Partnership Tax Return.
3. Switch to Edit mode.
4. Navigate to the partnership trade section (SA800TP).
5. Select Import accounts.
6. Select the Bright AP account that corresponds to the partnership.
7. BrightTax will import the account information automatically.
8. Review the imported figures and continue completing the Partnership Tax Return as normal.

Once the accounts are linked, you can complete the return and produce the relevant backing schedules within BrightTax.

Further guidance: See Linking BrightAP Partnership Accounts to a Partnership Tax Return for the full step-by-step instructions.

Important: The Bright AP partnership integration is currently available for the 2025/26 tax year only. Partnership figures for earlier tax years must be entered manually.

Workflow 3 – Company Accounts: Bright AP to BrightTax and Back

For limited company clients, Bright AP and BrightTax integrate across the accounts production and Corporation Tax process.

This workflow is bidirectional:

• Bright AP to BrightTax: Company accounts are submitted as iXBRL and sent to BrightTax to create the Corporation Tax return.
• BrightTax to Bright AP: Once the Corporation Tax calculation has been finalised, the final tax figures can be sent back to Bright AP to update the accounts.

How to send company accounts to BrightTax

1. Prepare the company accounts in Bright AP as normal.
2. Navigate to Produced Accounts > Status.
3. Change the accounts status to Ready for Signing.
4. Submit the accounts as iXBRL and send them to BrightTax.
5. The Corporation Tax return will be created automatically in BrightTax.
6. Complete the Corporation Tax calculations in BrightTax.
7. Once the Corporation Tax return has been finalised, select Send back to Bright AP.
8. The final Corporation Tax figures will be transferred back to Bright AP to update the accounts.

Further guidance: See Sending Company Accounts from BrightAP to Corporation Tax in BrightTax for the full instructions, including how to send the final tax figures back to Bright AP.

Important: The company accounts must be at Ready for Signing status before they can be submitted as iXBRL and sent to BrightTax.

Benefits of the Bright AP Integration

Using Bright AP alongside BrightTax provides several benefits:

• Reduces duplicate data entry: Financial information can be transferred between the two products rather than entered manually.
• Improves consistency: Helps keep accounts figures and tax computations aligned.
• Provides a connected workflow: Supports the accounts production and tax preparation process across both systems.
• Supports audit trails: Helps maintain a record of information transferred between the products.
• Cloud-based integration: No separate software installation or manual file transfers are required.

Before You Begin

Before using the Bright AP and BrightTax integration, make sure that:

• You have active subscriptions to both Bright AP and BrightTax.
• The relevant client exists in both products.
• You have access to both products using your BrightID login.
• You are using a supported tax year for the relevant integration workflow.

Note: The partnership accounts integration is currently available for the 2025/26 Partnership Tax Return only. Earlier partnership tax years require manual data entry.