Breaking free from
legacy software frustration
and high costs
AEH had reached a tipping point with IRIS Desktop. While the system was functional, it increasingly worked against the firm rather than supporting it.
One of the biggest day-to-day frustrations was error handling. IRIS would flag that an error existed, but wouldn’t show where the error actually was.
Staff were left trawling through returns to locate the issue — a process that regularly turned simple fixes into time-consuming exercises.
Alongside this operational drag sat a growing financial concern. AEH was paying around £1,000 per month for software that was becoming harder to justify, particularly given the inefficiency and frustration it introduced. That cost was set to double to £2,000 a month on renewal. On top of that, the firm faced one-off set up fees of about £30,000 to move to unlimited client numbers.
I'm not sure I would change from TaxCalc even with a gun to my head."
The training went really well, and our staff picked it up quickly. That was a huge relief.”
Tony Humphrey, owner and director
Finding a better alternative
The challenge
A smooth transition
The firm needed a compliance solution that:
• Made issues easy to identify and resolve
• Reduced wasted time and stress for staff
• Offered far better value for money
Improvements in workflow and client service
Key benefits & results
- LowHappier staff – “They’re not wasting time waiting for slow software.”
- Easier navigation – “Admin staff find it much more intuitive.”
- Time savings – “Tasks that used to take ages are now much quicker.”
Firm Name: AEH Accountancy
Location: Rugby
Practice Size: 10 staff
Previous Software:
IRIS
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The verdict
Final thoughts
TaxCalc has given AEH a compliance platform that removes friction rather than creating it — combining clarity, efficiency and sensible pricing.
Asked what the likelihood is he would recommend TaxCalc, Tony said: 'Extremely high', citing transparency, usability, and value as key reasons
The impact
Liam’s advice to other firms
Why TaxCalc?
From the outset, TaxCalc felt fundamentally different. The software behaved in a way that made sense — clearly surfacing issues and allowing them to be dealt with quickly and confidently.
Tony described the contrast: “It really has been a breath of fresh air.”
Beyond usability, the move away from a £2k-a-month legacy platform made the decision commercially compelling, without sacrificing compliance capability.
Implementation and onboarding
- HMRC authority request – “A simple but hugely helpful tool.”
- Tax return letter, questionnaire, and checklist – “Saves so much time.”
- Overall speed – “Everything just works faster.”
‘Far better than anything before’ – practice thrilled with product and support
Customer stories / AEH Accountancy
Software problems hit tipping point
Switching core systems is rarely something firms look forward to — but AEH’s experience exceeded expectations.
Migration, onboarding and early adoption all went smoothly, with minimal disruption to the team and no loss of momentum.
“It’s too good to believe — from migration to where we are now has been seamless.”
Staff were able to get productive quickly, without the friction and workarounds that had become familiar under IRIS.
Since moving to TaxCalc, AEH has seen immediate benefits:
• Clear, actionable error handling, eliminating time wasted hunting for problems
• Faster, calmer compliance workflows
• Significant cost savings compared to their previous £2k/month spend
• Renewed confidence in the software across the team
Tony’s view on switching again is unambiguous. He says:
“I’m not sure I would change from TaxCalc even with a gun to my head.”
Tony Humphrey, owner and director, pictured with some of his team
