Reclaiming time with OpenTax – Amy Hancock on the Digital Disruptors

What if tracking tax deadlines was as easy as checking a dashboard?

That’s the kind of clarity described by Amy Hancock, founder of Hancock & Hastings and a practicing accountant working with over 200 clients across sectors like construction and audit.

In her conversation with Ryan Pearcy on Digital Disruptors, Amy explores how OpenTax is reshaping the way accountants stay on top of client obligations – without the usual HMRC headaches.

“It just feels so simple. Why haven’t we had this for so long?” – Amy Hancock

For small-to-medium firms like Amy’s, the administrative burden of constant client queries, toggling through outdated portals, and tracking VAT, PAYE, and CT obligations isn’t just time-consuming – it’s a barrier to delivering value. OpenTax eliminates that friction.

A Smarter Way to Stay Ahead

“We started using OpenTax to reduce the constant back-and-forth,” says Amy. “And once our clients had their own portal access, the queries dropped off.”

With OpenTax, the scattered steps of logging into multiple HMRC services are replaced by a single, consolidated view – giving firms total clarity across VAT, PAYE, and Corporation Tax. 

OpenTax surfaces what matters: who owes what, when, and whether it’s been paid.

That shift doesn’t just save time. It changes the relationship between firms and clients – replacing reactive admin with proactive advice.

Key Benefits

1. Portfolio Visibility at a Glance
   From one login, Amy and her team can now see which clients have payments due, which are overdue, and where there might be discrepancies.
2. Less Chasing, More Clarity
   With the client portal feature, clients can view their own deadlines and amounts due – no more WhatsApps, emails, or calls asking “how much do I owe?”
3. Conversation Starter for Advisory Work
   “We’re having more conversations about cash flow forecasting,” says Amy. “Clients are thinking ahead now that they can see what’s due and when.”
4. What Practices Are Actually Gaining Amy estimates OpenTax saves her a couple of hours per month already  and potentially more during busy periods like December and July.

Why Now?

As Ryan points out in the episode, firms often have legacy agent accounts, HMRC platform limitations, and disconnected client systems. OpenTax addresses these head-on by centralising the experience for both the accountant and the client.

“For ages, firms have said they want a great client portal,” Ryan notes. “Well, this is it.”

And with continual improvements rolling out  from Corporation Tax visibility to client-access features –  OpenTax is quickly becoming a go-to foundation for modern tax workflows.

For years, accountants have adapted to clunky HMRC systems and endless client chasers. OpenTax flips that dynamic – giving practices real-time visibility, automation, and a stronger foundation for advisory work.

Amy’s already seeing the impact: “Once our clients had their own portal access, the queries dropped off.”

What started as a time-saver is becoming a strategic shift – helping firms move from reactive to proactive, one dashboard at a time.

As the conversation closes, one thing becomes clear: OpenTax isn’t just a dashboard. It’s a mindset shift. By reducing admin and unlocking visibility, it’s enabling firms to focus on what really matters: helping clients succeed.

“It’s a no brainer to get this. It’ll just save you time.” –  Amy Hancock