Every piece of work in BrightTax is linked to a client record. Before you can create a tax return, Year End Accounts, or any other task, you need to create the client first. BrightTax supports two client types: Individuals and Organisations.

• Have the client's key information to hand — name, address, UTR number (for individuals), and company registration number (for organisations).
• Decide whether the client is an Individual or an Organisation before you start — this determines which fields are shown.

1. From the Dashboard, select Client List from the left-hand menu.
2. Use the toggle in the top-left of the Client List to select either Individual or Organisation.
3. Click the Create Client button in the top-right corner.
4. Fill in the client details on the Details tab. Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required — you cannot save without completing these.
5. Enter as much information as you have available. You can return to the client record at any time to add or update details.
6. Click Save. The client record will switch to read-only mode once saved.
7. Once saved, go to the Address Details tab to add the client's addresses.

Individual Clients

• UTR Number — required for HMRC Self Assessment submissions. Must be 10 digits.
• National Insurance Number — recommended for identity verification with HMRC.
• Date of Birth — required for certain HMRC submissions.
• Responsible User — the team member assigned to manage this client.

Organisation Clients

• Company Registration Number — required for Companies House submissions. Must match exactly — including leading zeros.
• UTR Number — required for Corporation Tax submissions.
• Responsible User — the team member assigned to manage this client.

Once the client is saved, three icons appear alongside their record in the Client List:

• Eye icon — view the client record.
• Create task icon — create a new task directly for this client.
• Bin icon — delete the client record (only available if the client has no tasks).

I cannot save the client record

• Check that all required fields (marked with a red asterisk) have been completed.
• Check that the UTR number is exactly 10 digits with no spaces or additional characters.
• For organisations, ensure the company registration number is in the correct format.

I cannot add an address

• Save the client record first — addresses cannot be added until the client exists.

I cannot find a client I have already created

• Check that the Individual/Organisation toggle is set correctly — the client list shows only the selected type.
• If the client's record was deleted, it cannot be recovered. You will need to recreate it.

Q: Can I create a client without a UTR number?

A: Yes — UTR is not required at the point of creation. However, you will not be able to submit any returns to HMRC without it. Add the UTR to the client record before attempting submission.

Q: Can I bulk import clients from my previous software?

A: Yes. The Customer Success team can assist with bulk imports from BTC and other systems. Email customersuccess@brightsg.com to arrange this.

Q: Can I assign a client to a specific user?

A: Yes. The Responsible User field assigns the client to a team member. If Client List Locked to Responsible Clients is enabled for a user, they will only see clients assigned to them.