Making Tax Digital is the biggest shake-up of the self-assessment tax system in decades. The new rules will transform the way tax returns are submitted, introducing the need for electronic annual submissions and quarterly updates. Recently HMRC has shared an ‘act now’ warning, targeting 860,000 sole traders and landlords who need to get ready for […]
Holding shares in a company can amount to a sizeable asset, especially when you’re planning what will happen to your estate after you die. Depending on the way the business is structured will impact on how your assets are handled so it’s sensible to consider what you might need to do for inheritance purposes. Generally […]
Running your own business, or being self-employed, offers a chance to conduct your working life on your terms. Yet there are numerous situations which you need to consider, including planning for retirement. So how should you plan for the years ahead? Working for yourself can offer significant benefits but there is uncertainty too. Financial benefits […]
In the Autumn Budget, Rachel Reeves promised that there would only be one fiscal event each year with no other significant tax changes coming more frequently. So would the Spring Statement offer any surprises? In her Spring Statement on 26th March 2025 the Chancellor Rachel Reeves repeatedly mentioned how the world changes rapidly: economic and […]
HMRC has introduced a new interactive online business tool, alongside clearer guidance for self-employed individuals and those exploring self-employment opportunities. Designed to support new and established sole traders, the free tool provides detailed insights into record-keeping requirements, relevant business taxes and other essential information, such as how to pay tax bills. This could help whether […]
If you’re selling goods and services online, new tax rules could affect you. HMRC has recently issued an alert for online sellers achieving profits from buying or making goods, or selling services, to check whether they are considered a trader. In this situation tax on any earnings over £1,000 would need to be paid. The […]
A new online training course for small business leaders – called Help to Grow: Management Essentials – has been launched by the Government. The free self-guided course has been designed to offer practical advice and resources for small business leaders and is an introductory version of the full Help to Grow: Management course launched in […]
The complexity of the tax system means that there are a number of business expenses which you might have overlooked or are unaware of. The following are particularly useful for sole traders or if you’re self-employed. So what will HMRC allow you to claim? Don’t forget that to be classed as allowable expenses, any of […]
Preparing your business for sale – particularly if you’ve established and developed it over many years is a significant decision. But if you’re approaching retirement or want to realise the value or equity you’ve built up, you may be keen to position your business for a potential future sale. If this is the case there […]
Whether managing your corporate or personal tax affairs, March is a really good time to spend a little while preparing for the impending end of the tax year. As ever, the budget statement on 6th March means a number of changes will take effect from April 6th, requiring due consideration in advance. There are also those perennial matters for which prior planning prevents post-Christmas palpitations – Yes, now is a good time to be thinking self-assessment.
Important – If you are self-employed or in a trading partnership and your accounting year end does not match the tax year (April to March), new annual self-assessment reporting changes will impact you from this tax year.
If you’re thinking of becoming self-employed, you may be weighing up the choice between incorporating a Limited Company or trading as a sole trader. One of the key things to consider is the amount of personal tax you’ll end up paying, how it is calculated and when you have to pay it. It is subtly different in each case and you also need to be aware of other taxes which apply.