Self Assessment 2025/26: a calm checklist before 31 January
The online deadline for 2025/26 returns is 31 January 2027. Here is what to gather now so January is quiet, not frantic.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: who is in, and when
Sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 joined MTD in April 2026. The £30,000 and £20,000 groups follow in 2027 and 2028.
The £90,000 VAT threshold: when you must register
VAT registration is based on a rolling 12-month total, not your tax year. Here is how the test works and why the timing matters.
Sole trader or limited company? How to decide
Both structures can work well. The right one depends on your profits, your plans and how much admin you are happy to take on.
Allowable expenses for the self-employed: what you can claim
Every legitimate expense reduces the profit you pay tax on. Here are the costs people most often forget, and the rules that apply.
Salary or dividends in 2026/27: paying yourself as a director
Most owner-directors combine a modest salary with dividends. Higher dividend tax rates from April 2026 make the numbers worth rechecking.
Taking on your first employee: a payroll checklist
Your first hire is a big step. Here is what HMRC and the law expect from you before the first payday.
How long to keep business records (and how to keep them)
Good records make returns quicker, help you claim everything you are owed and protect you if HMRC asks questions.
Landlords: Making Tax Digital and new property tax rates
Landlords face two big changes: quarterly digital reporting and, from April 2027, separate higher tax rates on property income.