Understanding how tax works is essential when you’re self-employed.
This section explains how the UK tax system applies to sole traders, including Income Tax, National Insurance, Self Assessment and VAT.
You’ll also find guidance on registering with HMRC, claiming allowances, meeting tax deadlines and preparing for Making Tax Digital.
Whether you’re starting out or checking that your tax affairs are in order, these guides explain the rules in plain English.
If the ‘taxable supplies’ of your business over the past 12 months have exceeded the current VAT registration threshold, you must register for VAT. The current registration threshold (as of April 2026) is £90,000. This means that at the end of any given month, if the total value of your taxable supplies over the previous … Read more
Find out how National Insurance works for sole traders, including Class 2/4 rates, how to pay, and how it differs from employee and limited company rules.
In this guide, we look at the taxes the self-employed pay. We also look at some common mistakes to avoid when it comes to dealing with HMRC.
Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) reduces your capital gains tax bill if you sell your business. How does BADR works and what are the current rates?
Making Tax Digital for the self-employed: who it applies to, quarterly deadlines, and how to prepare before the April 2026 deadline.
Common errors sole traders make at tax return time, from payments on account shocks and late payment penalties to MTD changes in 2026. Be prepared!
You’re self-employed if you work for yourself and aren’t paid through PAYE. If you earn more than £1,000 a year this way, you need to register with HMRC.
In today’s Autumn Budget, the Chancellor confirmed that the basic and higher rates of dividend tax will rise by two percentage points from April 2026.
HMRC has issued a festive reminder to anyone making extra money from market stalls and other seasonal side hustles, to check if their earnings are taxable.
How do student loan repayments work when you’re self-employed?. Find out how HMRC calculates what you owe, and how much you’ll repay via Self Assessment.