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A survey have found that a majority of accountants are urging the government for lower business taxes to support small firms.
More than 60% want to see tax relief for small businesses, according to research by accountancy software firm FreeAgent.
Roan Lavery, CEO and co-founder of FreeAgent, said: "There are over five million registered small businesses in the UK, and they are the backbone of our economy.
"Despite this, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face a lot of challenges, and are often left feeling left out in the cold when it comes to support.
"We’re currently living in a period of genuine economic uncertainty, with rising costs of living, regulatory updates and late payment issues impacting many UK businesses.
"Our research clearly shows that there is a strong appetite from professionals who deal with SMEs on a daily basis to level the playing field when it comes to the opportunities provided to these business owners.
"As this new Government makes its budget debut, the nation will be watching closely.
"I would urge both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to take these findings into consideration when delivering the Budget speech this month.
"Small businesses and their accountants both play hugely important roles in helping the UK’s economy to thrive, and it is of the utmost importance that they feel listened to and supported through this challenging time."
The survey found that 62% of accountants want lower business taxes for SMEs and freelancers.
Nearly half (49%) support tougher action on tax avoidance and evasion by multinational firms.
More than a third (37%) want increased financial aid or incentives for new businesses, while 34% are calling for greater statutory protections for the self-employed, such as pensions, sick leave and maternity pay.
A similar proportion (34%) believe the government should reform or replace IR35 legislation, which affects self-employed workers.
One in three (33%) support a tax rebate or credit scheme for SMEs that submit Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax updates on time.
Accountants are also seeking changes to help their own profession.
A total of 44% want a simpler VAT rating system, while 37% are calling for improvements to the MTD scheme itself.
More than a third (36%) want a delay to mandatory e-invoicing, set to begin in 2029, and 35% want national insurance anomalies removed.
Another 33% said IR35 should be scrapped altogether.