UK accounting, made clear
Practical tax & accounting guides for UK small businesses
Self Assessment, VAT, Corporation Tax, dividends and IR35 — explained in plain English, so you can stop worrying about HMRC and get back to running your business.
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Featured guide
Self Assessment Deadlines: The Complete UK Guide
Every Self Assessment date that matters — registration, filing, payments on account and the penalties for missing them.
Read the guide
12 August 2026
7 min read
Key UK tax dates to remember
The deadlines most small businesses run into every year. Always confirm current dates on GOV.UK — they can change.
31 January
Self Assessment deadline
Online tax return and balancing payment for the previous tax year, plus first payment on account.
5 April
Tax year ends
The UK tax year closes — last day for dividend and pension planning that counts for the year.
6 April
New tax year begins
New allowances and thresholds take effect. Dividend and savings allowances reset.
31 July
Second payment on account
Self Assessment payers make their second advance payment towards the current year's bill.
5 October
Register for Self Assessment
Deadline to tell HMRC you need to file a return for the tax year that ended in April.
31 October
Paper return deadline
If you still file on paper, your Self Assessment return must reach HMRC by this date.
What we cover
Every major tax area a UK small business owner faces, broken down into readable, practical guides.
Self Assessment
Who must file, deadlines, payments on account and how the bill is calculated.
VAT
The registration threshold, schemes, returns and what Making Tax Digital means for you.
Corporation Tax
Rates, marginal relief, filing deadlines and how company profits are taxed.
Dividends & salary
How directors pay themselves, dividend tax rates and the allowance rules.
IR35 & contracting
Inside vs outside IR35, who decides status, and what it means for take-home pay.
Business structure
Sole trader vs limited company — tax, liability, admin and when to switch.
Most-read guides
- 017 min read
Self Assessment
Self Assessment Deadlines: The Complete UK Guide
- 028 min read
Making Tax Digital
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: What Sole Traders Must Do
- 036 min read
VAT
VAT Registration: The £90,000 Threshold Explained
- 046 min read
Limited Companies
Corporation Tax Rates Explained: 19%, 25% and Marginal Relief
- 056 min read
Limited Companies
Dividend Tax in the UK: Rates, Allowances and Smart Planning
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Latest guides
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Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: What Sole Traders Must Do
MTD for Income Tax is now live for the first group of sole traders and landlords. Here is who is in scope, what changes, and how to prepare.
VAT Registration: The £90,000 Threshold Explained
When you must register for VAT, how the rolling 12-month test works, and whether registering early could actually save you money.
Corporation Tax Rates Explained: 19%, 25% and Marginal Relief
How the two-rate Corporation Tax system works, when marginal relief applies, and the filing and payment deadlines every director should know.
Dividend Tax in the UK: Rates, Allowances and Smart Planning
The £500 dividend allowance, the three tax bands, and how directors can plan salary and dividends together to keep their bill down.
Sole Trader vs Limited Company: Which Structure Saves You Tax?
The honest comparison — tax, liability, admin and credibility — to help you decide when incorporation is actually worth it.
IR35 Explained: Off-Payroll Working Rules for Contractors
Inside or outside IR35 — who decides, what it costs, and the tests HMRC uses to judge whether you are genuinely self-employed.
How to Register as a Sole Trader in the UK
A plain-English guide to registering as self-employed, the £1,000 trading allowance and the Self Assessment deadline.
Payments on Account Explained: Why Your January Tax Bill Can Jump
Understand Self Assessment payments on account, who pays them, the 31 January and 31 July dates, and when a reduction may be appropriate.
Sole Trader Allowable Expenses: What You Can Claim
A practical UK guide to allowable business expenses, mixed personal use, records and the trading allowance for sole traders.
VAT Flat Rate Scheme: Is It Worth It for a Small Business?
How the UK VAT Flat Rate Scheme works, the £150,000 joining limit, limited-cost businesses and the questions to ask before joining.
VAT Cash Accounting Scheme: How It Works for Small Businesses
Learn when VAT cash accounting can help with late-paying customers, its £1.35 million eligibility limit and the key exclusions.
Corporation Tax Payment Deadline: When Limited Companies Must Pay
The difference between paying Corporation Tax and filing a Company Tax Return, including the standard 9 months and 1 day payment deadline.
CT600 Explained: A Beginner's Guide to the Company Tax Return
What a CT600 is, who files it, what information it contains and why Companies House accounts do not replace your HMRC filing.
Director Salary vs Dividends: What UK Company Owners Need to Know
Understand the practical tax and legal differences between salary and dividends before deciding how to take money from a limited company.
Who Needs to Register for Self Assessment? A Complete Checklist
Not just the self-employed — landlords, high earners, company directors and more. Here is exactly who must register for Self Assessment, and by when.
MTD Quarterly Update Deadlines: The Dates Sole Traders Must Not Miss
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax replaces one annual return with four quarterly updates. Here are the exact submission windows and what late filing costs.
MTD Exemptions: Who Can Avoid Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
Digital exclusion, age, disability, religion or simply being below the income threshold — here is who can stay outside Making Tax Digital, and how to apply.
The VAT Rolling 12-Month Test: How to Check If You Must Register
A step-by-step worked example of the VAT rolling 12-month turnover test — the most commonly misunderstood rule in UK VAT registration.
Dividend Vouchers and Board Minutes: The Paperwork HMRC Expects
Every dividend needs a board minute and a dividend voucher. Here is what each document must contain, and what happens if you skip them.
IR35 Status Determination Statement: What It Must Include
What a Status Determination Statement is, who must issue one, what it must contain, and how contractors can challenge one they disagree with.
The Small Company Exemption from IR35: Does Your Client Qualify?
When a client counts as a 'small company', IR35 status decisions shift back to the contractor. Here is the test that decides small-company status.
Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance for the Self-Employed, Explained
National Insurance is the part of a sole trader's tax bill people forget to budget for. Here is how Class 2 and Class 4 actually work — and what they protect.
The Personal Allowance Taper: Why Income Between £100,000 and £125,140 Is Taxed at 60%
Earn over £100,000 and your tax-free Personal Allowance quietly disappears. Here is how the taper works, and the legitimate ways to plan around it.
How to Pay Your Self Assessment Tax Bill (And What to Do If You Can't)
Every accepted way to pay HMRC, how long each one takes to clear, and the Time to Pay option if 31 January arrives before the money does.
Mileage Allowance for the Self-Employed: The 45p and 25p Simplified Expenses Rule
Claiming a vehicle as a sole trader? Here is how the simplified mileage rates work, when they beat claiming actual costs, and the rule you cannot switch mid-vehicle.
Working From Home Tax Relief for the Self-Employed: Simplified vs Actual Costs
Two ways for sole traders to claim a home office: HMRC's flat monthly rate, or a proportion of real household bills. Here is how to choose between them.
What Expenses Can a Limited Company Claim? A Director's Guide
The 'wholly and exclusively' rule, the costs directors commonly get wrong, and the one everyday expense HMRC almost never lets you deduct.
The Confirmation Statement (CS01): What It Is and When It's Due
Every UK limited company must file a confirmation statement at least once a year — separate from your accounts and Company Tax Return. Here is what it covers.
Umbrella Company vs Limited Company: Which Is Better for Contractors?
Inside IR35, outside IR35, short contracts, long contracts — how umbrella and limited company routes actually compare, and the red flags to avoid.
How to Write a Valid VAT Invoice (And What HMRC Requires)
Missing VAT number, wrong date, no breakdown by rate — small invoicing mistakes that can stop your customer reclaiming VAT. Here is what a compliant invoice needs.
Making Tax Digital for VAT: Digital Links and Bridging Software Explained
MTD for VAT has been mandatory since 2022, but the 'digital links' rule still trips up spreadsheet users. Here is what actually counts as compliant.
How to get the most from these guides
1
Start with your situation
Sole trader, contractor or company director — pick the guide written for your setup, not a generic overview.
2
Note the figures that apply
Each guide flags the rates, thresholds and deadlines that matter, and where to verify them on GOV.UK.
3
Act, or ask a professional
Use the guides to have a better-informed conversation with your accountant — or to handle simple filings yourself.
Common questions
Do I need an accountant as a sole trader?
There's no legal requirement to hire an accountant. Many sole traders file their own Self Assessment return, especially with simple affairs. An accountant can still save time and help you claim everything you're entitled to.
When must I register for VAT?
You must register if your VAT-taxable turnover exceeds the registration threshold in any rolling 12-month period, or if you expect it to in the next 30 days alone. The threshold changes over time — always check the current figure on GOV.UK.
What's the difference between a sole trader and a limited company?
A sole trader and their business are legally the same person; a limited company is a separate legal entity. Companies pay Corporation Tax on profits and involve more admin, but offer limited liability and can be more tax-efficient at higher profits.
Is the information on AccountingBlogs financial advice?
No. Everything here is educational content written in plain English. It is not regulated tax, accountancy or financial advice. Always verify figures on GOV.UK or speak to a qualified professional before acting.
Written for real businesses
No jargon, no padding. Every guide answers the questions sole traders, contractors and company directors actually ask.
Grounded in HMRC rules
Rates, thresholds and deadlines are drawn from published GOV.UK guidance, with reminders to verify before you act.
Independent & honest
AccountingBlogs sells nothing and gives no regulated advice — just clear explanations you can take to your accountant.
Stop guessing about your tax
Read a guide, understand your obligations, and deal with HMRC with confidence — starting today.
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