BrightTax and BrightAP integrate to create a seamless workflow between accounts production and tax. Data flows from BrightAP into BrightTax across three separate workflows depending on your client type — sole trader, partnership, or limited company. For company accounts, the integration is also bidirectional: final CT figures flow back from BrightTax to BrightAP.

For sole trader clients where accounts are prepared in BrightAP, you can import the financial data directly into the Self-Employment section of their Individual Tax Return in BrightTax. This removes the need to manually re-enter turnover and other figures.

The workflow:

1. Prepare the sole trader accounts in BrightAP as normal.
2. In BrightTax, open the client's ITR and go to the Self-Employment full (SA103F) pages under What Makes Up the Tax Return.
3. Click Create > Link to Accounts > BrightAP.
4. Search for and select the BrightAP entity.
5. Select the accounting period and click Import.
6. The figures populate automatically — continue with the ITR as normal.

Partnership accounts prepared in BrightAP can now be linked directly to Partnership Tax Returns in BrightTax for the 2025/26 tax year. Select the relevant partnership account from a dropdown in the PTR and BrightTax pulls the data across automatically — eliminating the need to re-enter partnership financial figures between the two systems.

The workflow:

1. Prepare the partnership accounts in BrightAP as normal.
2. In BrightTax, open the 2025/26 Partnership Tax Return for the client.
3. Switch to Edit mode.
4. Go to the partnership trade section (SA800TP) and select from the Import accounts button
5. Select the account that corresponds to this partnership.
6. BrightTax pulls the account data from BrightAP automatically.
7. Review the imported figures and continue with the PTR as normal.

For limited company clients, BrightAP and BrightTax work together across the full accounts and CT cycle. The integration is bidirectional — accounts flow from BrightAP into BrightTax, and final CT figures flow back.

The workflow:

1. Prepare company accounts in BrightAP as normal.
2. Click Send to BrightTax from within BrightAP — a CT return is created automatically in BrightTax.
3. Complete the Corporation Tax calculations in BrightTax.
4. Once the CT return is finalised, click Send back to BrightAP to update the accounts with the final tax figures.

• Eliminates double-entry of financial data between accounts and tax across all three client types
• Ensures consistency between accounts figures and tax computations
• Creates a complete audit trail across both platforms
• Supports a joined-up workflow for firms using both products
• Cloud-based — no software installation or manual file transfers required

• You must have active subscriptions to both BrightAP and BrightTax.
• The client must exist in both BrightAP and BrightTax.
• You must have access to both products under your BrightID login.
• The partnership workflow is available for 2025/26 returns only — earlier partnership years require manual data entry.

Q: Do I need BrightAP to use BrightTax?

A: No. BrightTax works independently of BrightAP. The integration is available to firms that use both products but is not required. BrightTax Accounts Production can be used without BrightAP.

Q: What is the difference between BrightTax Accounts Production and BrightAP?

A: BrightTax Accounts Production uses fixed trial balance templates and is suitable for straightforward accounts. BrightAP supports custom nominal codes, flexible trial balances, bookkeeping, and bank reconciliation. See Accounts Production in BrightTax: Overview for a full comparison.

Q: Is the partnership workflow available for earlier tax years?

A: No. The BrightAP link for Partnership Tax Returns is available for the 2025/26 tax year (PTR 2026) only. For earlier years, enter the partnership figures manually.

Q: Can I use the BrightAP integration if I am not yet using BrightAP?

A: Contact the Bright sales team at brighttaxsales@brightsg.com to discuss adding BrightAP to your subscription.