How iXBRL.UK compares to other tagging providers
An honest comparison of the main UK iXBRL options — managed tagging services, software licences, and us. Provider details below are drawn from each provider's public website and may change; always confirm current pricing directly with any provider.
First: services and software are different purchases
The iXBRL market splits into two models. Managed services (us, FinTags, DataTracks) tag your accounts for you, per document. Software licences (IRIS, Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE) sell you an annual tool your team uses to tag accounts yourselves. Which is right depends on your volume and whether you have staff who tag regularly.
| Provider | Model | Published entry pricing | Notable focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| iXBRL.UK | Managed service, per document | £45 +VAT (minimum tagging) · £95 full tagging · £140 CT600 & computations | Fixed quotes confirmed upfront, qualified-accountant review on every filing, 24hr standard turnaround |
| FinTags | Managed service, per page / per document | Advertised from ~£30 per document / ~£6 per page | High-volume budget tagging; multi-jurisdiction (UK, Ireland, South Africa); group discounts |
| DataTracks | Managed service, per document | Advertised "as low as" ~£88 per document | Enterprise breadth: also handles ESEF, FATCA/CRS, CbCR and other regulatory formats; ISO-certified operations |
| IRIS / ONESOURCE | Annual software licence | Typically several hundred to £2,000+ per year depending on modules | Practice suites for firms that tag in-house at volume, integrated with accounts production |
Competitor pricing as advertised publicly at the time of writing (July 2026); models and rates change — verify directly before deciding.
Where we position ourselves — and where we don't
You want it done, checked, and back fast
Every filing is tagged by a specialist and independently reviewed by a second qualified accountant before delivery, at a fixed price you approve before we start — typically back within 24 hours.
Volume matters more than review depth
If you're tagging very high volumes of simple, similar accounts and price per page is the deciding factor, a volume-first provider like FinTags may fit better.
Your team tags in-house, year-round
Practices with dedicated staff tagging hundreds of accounts annually often do better on a per-filing basis with an IRIS-style licence — if they're prepared to own taxonomy updates and training.
Four questions to ask any provider (including us)
Who reviews the tagging?
Automated tagging without human review is fast but risk-prone. Ask whether a qualified person checks the mapping before you file — for us, a second reviewer signs off every document.
Is the price fixed before work starts?
Per-page pricing can look cheap until page counts surprise you. We quote a fixed price after a free review of your actual document, confirmed before any work begins.
What happens if the filing is rejected?
Ask what revision rounds are included. Our tiers include one or two revision rounds as standard, and we validate against current HMRC and Companies House schemas before delivery.
Do they handle your specific complexity?
R&D claims (CT600L), charity accounts (CT600E, SORP), group structures — confirm the provider handles your supplementary pages routinely, not occasionally. See our software company and charity pages.
Frequently asked questions
Is a cheaper per-page price always better value?
Not necessarily — a lower headline rate can still cost more overall depending on page count, revision rounds included, and whether a qualified person reviews the output. Compare total cost and review process, not just the advertised rate.
Should I choose a managed service or software?
It depends on your volume: occasional filers usually do better with a managed service handling the tagging for them, while practices tagging hundreds of accounts a year may find an annual software licence more cost-effective per filing.
Can I switch providers if my current one doesn't fit?
Yes — there's no lock-in tying your accounts to a specific tagging provider from year to year. Send us your accounts and we'll quote independently of who tagged your filing last time.
The fastest way to compare? A real quote on your real accounts.
Send your accounts over — we'll quote a fixed price for free, and you can put it next to any other provider's number.
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