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 […]
6 things you should do before the end of the tax year
The end of the tax year is fast approaching and some of you, whose accounting year end follows the tax year, will soon become embroiled in finalising your small business accounts. But, before you leap into self-assessment mode, it’s worth taking a quick review of your taxes and personal finances. Here are 6 simple things […]
Budget 2017: Key points for small business owners
It would appear that small businesses and the self-employed have once again come into the firing line through measures introduced in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget. For the full 68 page report on the Budget 2017 you can click here. In the meantime, here are the key points affecting small business owners: Compliance with Making Tax […]
What happens if I don’t file my self-assessment tax return on time?
If you’re new to self-assessment or haven’t quite got your act together on the paperwork front, you may worrying about whether you’re going to “make it” before the deadline and anxious about the repercussions of a late tax return submission to HMRC. Here are the facts: Your tax return for 2015-16 is due […]
I’m a sole trader – will I need to submit 4 tax returns a year?
You’re a sole trader running a small business. You’re feeling comfortable with the whole annual self-assessment tax process and you’ve mastered Excel spread-sheets. But, brace yourself. The government has planned a big digital overhaul of the tax system with a raft of new tax changes coming your way. The rationale behind the “Making Tax Digital” plan is HMRC’s […]
National Insurance Contributions – it’s all change for the self-employed
Many sole traders look at their tax position only in terms of the Income Tax payable and sometimes forget to take into account the tax they have to pay as National Insurance (NI). It’s easy to understand why NI is often regarded as the “forgotten tax” as the thresholds at which you pay NI and Income Tax differ. You […]
Is there an easier way to prepare sole trader accounts?
As sole traders we dream of spending each working day immersed in the things that made us set up our business in the first place – making a product or selling a service. We didn’t dream about the tedious, demoralising and sometimes overly complex chores that come part and parcel of the self-employment package. Frequently, the easier option is just […]
Hobby business or self-employed? Why it’s important to understand the difference
You’ve been employed or you’re working part-time. Either way you’ve had that niggling inclination to re-invent yourself, to indulge your passion in doing something creative or have a go at doing something completely new. You start selling on Etsy, take a few portrait photographs for friends, design some jewellery – you ‘re loving being able […]