This week, Phillip Hammond, the Chancellor presented his Autumn Budget for 2017 and for small business owners, nothing that was announced really “rocked the boat”. It was a budget of lots of small measures rather than any big announcement. There were however a few pointers to some bigger changes that may come about in the […]
Are you using your Personal Tax Account?
What’s the thing you dislike most about dealing with your own personal tax affairs? Other than the ever-present stress of getting your tax return done and dusted, don’t you just dread putting in phone calls to HMRC? I know I do. Dealing with even the most mundane of matters can eat into my precious working […]
Self-employed? 6 tips to boost your chances of getting a mortgage
Self-employment is an increasingly popular lifestyle and career choice for many. But while the benefits of being your own boss and the flexibility afforded are something to celebrate, the path can be littered with challenges. Obtaining a mortgage is one of them. It’s not easy. But, in my two-part blog series I help show you how […]
I’m self-employed. How can I prove my income for a mortgage?
Many people dream of becoming their own boss and enjoying the flexibility that self-employment affords. But when it comes to securing a mortgage, being classed as self-employed, rather than employed can seem like pushing water uphill. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that hard – it is possible to get a […]
Why is everyone talking about Xero?
As an accountant, I regularly receive calls from software companies, inviting me to trial their product. So when I was first approached by Xero I have to admit that my initial reaction to the “salesy“ (although admittedly slick) marketing pitch was to run a mile. But actually, Xero proved to be anything but an […]
Changes to the flat rate VAT scheme
If you’re a freelancer, contractor or small business owner currently reaping the rewards of the flat rate VAT scheme, regrettably your luck may be about to change. Draft changes to the flat rate VAT scheme to take effect from April 2017, propose the introduction of a new category of trader known as a “limited cost […]
Payments on account – a guide for sole traders
Payments on account are one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of the self-assessment process and although the intention is to help self-employed people spread out their tax bill, the advantages might not seem so apparent when you ‘re first asked to pay a whopping big tax bill up front. What are payments on account? […]
10 Reasons why it pays to submit your tax return early
Who has sat down at the last minute to do their tax return only to discover that there is something they don’t understand, paperwork that can’t be located or that their tax position is more complicated than first envisaged? And, then the problem you discover is that there’s not enough time to figure it out […]