Self-Employment
Everything self-employed workers need to know about Self Assessment, Class 2 and Class 4 NI, and tax-efficient business structures.
HMRC £473 Letter: P800 or Simple Assessment?
The £473 HMRC letters in the news are P800 refunds, not tax owed. Here's what a genuine Simple Assessment (PA302) bill means, and how to check and pay it.
Free MTD Software & Bridging Options for Excel
Free and low-cost Making Tax Digital software options: what MTD-compatible means, bridging software for Excel, and how sole traders and landlords choose.
How to Register for Self Assessment by 5 October
Register for Self Assessment by 5 October 2026: self-employed, not self-employed, and partnership routes, UTR timing, and what happens if you're late.
HMRC Mileage Rate Rises to 55p for 2026/27 — First Increase Since 2011
HMRC mileage rate for cars rises to 55p per mile from 6 April 2026 — first increase since 2011. Rate table, who gains, MAR claim steps, and self-employed guide.
Statutory Paternity Pay 2026/27: Rates, Eligibility and the New Day-One Right
The 2026/27 Statutory Paternity Pay rate, the 90%-of-earnings cap, the Lower Earnings Limit, and the April 2026 reforms that make paternity leave a day-one right with non-consecutive weeks.
UK Tax Year Dates and Key Deadlines 2026/27
Every important UK tax date for the 2026/27 tax year: when it starts and ends, Self Assessment filing and payment deadlines, payments on account, PAYE dates, and VAT return deadlines.
Is Topping Up Your State Pension Worth It? Class 3 Voluntary NI ROI (2026/27)
Paying voluntary Class 3 National Insurance to fill gap years costs about £957 per year and adds roughly £359 a year to your State Pension — a payback of under three years. Here's how to decide.
HMRC Mileage Rates 2025-26 + 2026-27 UK: 45p/25p AMAP Explained
HMRC Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) rates are 45p/mile for the first 10,000 business miles and 25p/mile thereafter — frozen at these levels since 2011-12. Full table including motorcycle and bicycle rates, passenger 5p add-on, and the employer reimbursement vs employee claim choice.
Maternity Leave Tax & NI 2026-27 UK: PAYE on SMP, Pension, KIT Days
SMP is fully taxable via PAYE and subject to Class 1 NI like normal pay. Tax code shifts mid-leave, the pension auto-enrolment asymmetry, KIT days at full salary, and the year-end refund pattern when SMP straddles the tax year boundary.
MAP vs Self-Claim Mileage UK 2026: Employer Reimbursement or P87 Claim
Two ways to recover the cost of business mileage in a private car: an employer Mileage Allowance Payment (MAP) at the AMAP rate, or self-claim via Form P87 or Self Assessment. Cost comparison for the employee, employer NI implications, and when each method wins.
£1,000 Trading & Property Allowance UK 2025-26: When to Claim vs File Self Assessment
How the £1,000 trading allowance and £1,000 property allowance work for side-hustlers and casual landlords, when they replace SA filing, and when claiming the allowance loses you money.
HMRC Time to Pay Arrangement: How to Set Up a Self Assessment Payment Plan in 2026
Step-by-step guide to setting up an HMRC Time to Pay arrangement on Self Assessment debt under £30,000 — online self-service, interest, and what triggers a phone call instead.
Payment on Account 31 July 2026: How to Reduce Your POA Before HMRC Collects
Your second payment on account for 2025-26 is due 31 July 2026. How to check if you can reduce it — and the SA303 claim process — plus the interest charge on over-reductions, who typically benefits from a reduction, and avoiding unnecessary refunds.
Payments on Account Explained — Who Pays, How HMRC Calculates the 50/50 Split (2025-26)
HMRC requires Payments on Account (POAs) when your Self Assessment bill exceeds £1,000 and less than 80% is collected at source. Learn the trigger rules, 50/50 calculation, July 31 and January 31 deadlines, and how PAYE / CIS / dividend income each affect whether you pay POAs at all.
Payment on Account vs Balancing Payment — Why the January 31 Bill Is Bigger (HMRC SA)
The January 31 Self Assessment payment bundles the prior-year balancing payment plus the first POA for the current year — often 150% of last year's tax. Side-by-side worked examples for rising income, falling income, and first-year-POA shock, with the exact 50/50 + balance maths.
Starting a New Job in the UK — P45, Starter Checklist, Emergency Tax Code, and NI Continuity (2025-26)
Hand the new employer your P45 within 30 days or fill in the HMRC Starter Checklist. The wrong checklist tick triggers an emergency tax code (1257L W1/M1) that over-withholds for months. Student loan plan, NI continuity, and workplace pension auto-enrolment carry-over.
Payment on Account 31 July 2026 — Reduce Your POA Claim Before HMRC Collects (HMRC SA)
Your second payment on account for 2025-26 is due 31 July 2026. Learn when and how to reduce a POA via SA303 or the HMRC online account, the interest risk of reducing too far, and a worked example showing when a reduction is the right call.
UK Self Assessment Late Filing Penalty Relief 2024-25 — Reasonable Excuse & HMRC Appeal (HMRC)
Missed the 31 January 2026 Self Assessment deadline for 2024-25? Here is the full penalty ladder (£100 fixed, £10/day, 5% or £300 tiers), what counts as a reasonable excuse, how to appeal using form SA370 within 30 days, and tribunal case-law examples that succeeded and failed.
IR35 Off-Payroll Rules: How They Affect Your Take-Home Pay
What IR35 means for contractors, how inside vs outside status affects take-home pay, and the key factors HMRC considers in status determination.
Employer NI Increase April 2025: What Businesses Need to Know
The employer National Insurance rate rose to 15% in April 2025 and the secondary threshold was cut to £5,000. Here is what this means for businesses and how the expanded Employment Allowance helps offset the cost.
HMRC Interest Rates on Late Tax Payments 2025-26
HMRC charges simple daily interest on late tax payments at the Bank of England base rate plus 4%. Current rates and repayment interest on overpaid tax.
How National Insurance Is Calculated in 2025-26
A clear guide to how Class 1 National Insurance is calculated for employees and employers in 2025-26, including thresholds, rates, and a worked example.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: What You Need to Know for April 2026
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA) launches in April 2026 for sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000. Find out what quarterly reporting means for you and how to get ready.
Is Salary Sacrifice for Pension Worth It? NI Savings, Benefits, and Trade-Offs
Salary sacrifice reduces your National Insurance bill and boosts your pension — but it can affect mortgage affordability, benefits entitlement, and state pension qualifying years. Here's what you need to know before signing up.
Self Assessment Deadlines for the 2025-26 Tax Year
Everything you need to know about Self Assessment deadlines for the 2025-26 tax year, including the 31 January 2027 online filing deadline, late filing penalties, and payment on account rules.
Self Assessment: Who Needs to File a Tax Return?
Who must register for Self Assessment in 2025-26 — self-employment, rental, CGT, dividends, HICBC — and why high PAYE earnings alone no longer count.
Sole Trader vs Limited Company: Which Is More Tax-Efficient?
The tax you pay as a sole trader versus a limited company depends heavily on your profit level. This guide compares income tax and NI versus corporation tax and dividend tax, with worked examples at key income levels.
Are Voluntary National Insurance Contributions Worth Paying?
Filling NI gaps can significantly boost your State Pension. With Class 3 contributions costing £18.40 per week (2026/27), the payback period is under three years. This guide covers qualifying years, the ROI calculation, and the deadline to fill historical gaps.
How Your Bonus Is Really Taxed in the UK (It's Not 40%)
Think your bonus is taxed at 40%? It's not — bonuses are taxed through cumulative PAYE like regular salary. Here's how it actually works and how to keep more.
CIS Explained: Deductions, Registration & Reclaiming Tax
How the Construction Industry Scheme works: 20% or 30% deduction rates, how to register as a subcontractor, and how to reclaim CIS tax overpayments from HMRC.
Employment Allowance: Reduce Your Employer NI Bill
How the Employment Allowance works for small businesses, who qualifies, and how to claim up to £10,500 off your employer National Insurance bill in 2025/26.
Making Tax Digital (MTD): What You Need to Know
An overview of HMRC's Making Tax Digital programme, covering MTD for VAT, Income Tax Self Assessment, and what businesses need to do to comply.
UK NI Classes 1, 2 & 4 — 2025-26 & 2026-27 (HMRC)
HMRC NI classes for 2025-26 and 2026-27: Class 1 (employed 8%/2%), Class 2 voluntary (£3.50/wk 2025-26, £3.65 2026-27), Class 4 (self-employed 6%/2%). Who pays and impact.
Salary Sacrifice Pension: Save £1,000s on Tax and NI
Salary sacrifice can save you thousands in tax and National Insurance. See how it works, the real savings at each income level, and the trade-offs to watch for.
Self Assessment Tax Return: Who Needs to File and How
A practical guide to the UK Self Assessment tax return system, covering who must file, key deadlines, and how to submit your return to HMRC.
UK Self-Employment Tax 2025-26 & 2026-27 — Class 2 & Class 4 NI (HMRC)
HMRC self-employment tax for 2025-26 and 2026-27: voluntary Class 2 (£3.50/wk 2025-26, £3.65 2026-27), Class 4 at 6% (£12,570–£50,270) and 2% above, plus income tax. Payments on account and registration.
Take-Home Pay UK: What Deductions to Expect From Your Salary
Your gross salary and your take-home pay can look very different. This guide explains every deduction you might see on a UK payslip — income tax, National Insurance, pension, and more.