The AccountingBlogs blog
Guides & explainers
Every guide on AccountingBlogs, from Self Assessment deadlines to IR35 — in plain English, grounded in published HMRC rules.
Self Assessment Deadlines: The Complete UK Guide
Every Self Assessment date that matters — registration, filing, payments on account and the penalties for missing them.
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.