Sole trader guides

Sole trader expenses: a practical guide

How allowable business expenses reduce taxable profit, what counts, what does not, and why using the right profit figure matters for every tax estimate.

Making Tax Digital for sole traders

What Making Tax Digital for Income Tax means in practice, who it affects, income thresholds, digital record requirements and how to prepare.

Payments on account: what sole traders need to know

How payments on account work, when they apply, why they catch people out and how to plan your monthly set-aside to cover them.

Self Assessment deadlines for sole traders

The key filing and payment deadlines sole traders must know, what late filing costs, and how to use your tax estimate to prepare in advance.

Bookkeeping for sole traders: practical basics

What records sole traders must keep, how to build a monthly bookkeeping habit and why clean records improve pricing and tax estimates.

Tax on side hustle income: a practical guide

How self-employed side income is taxed, the trading allowance, when to register, how employment income affects the calculation, and what to set aside.

Sole Trader Tax in Scotland 2026/27

How Scottish income tax rates affect sole trader take-home profit, with worked examples comparing Scotland and rUK at different profit levels.

Payments on Account: How They Work for Sole Traders

HMRC requires most sole traders to pay tax in advance through payments on account. This guide explains how they are calculated, when they are due, and how to reduce them if your income drops.

Sole Trader vs PAYE Employment: Full Tax Comparison 2026/27

A thorough comparison of sole trader and PAYE employment tax treatment, covering income tax, National Insurance, expenses, pension, and net income at equivalent gross amounts.

Self Assessment for Sole Traders: Deadlines, Penalties and Tips

A practical guide to completing Self Assessment as a sole trader, covering registration, key deadlines, what to include, and how to avoid late filing penalties.

How Much Tax to Set Aside as a Sole Trader (Monthly Guide)

A practical approach to calculating your monthly tax set-aside as a sole trader, so you are never surprised by a January payment.

Sole Trader Tax in Wales 2026/27

Wales uses the same rUK income tax rates as England for 2026/27. This guide confirms how sole trader tax is calculated in Wales and what, if anything, differs from England.

Sole Trader Allowable Expenses — Full List 2026/27

A comprehensive guide to what sole traders can and cannot claim as allowable expenses in 2026/27, covering the 'wholly and exclusively' test, home working, mileage, equipment and professional costs.

Registering as a Sole Trader — Step by Step

How and when to register as a sole trader with HMRC, what the £1,000 trading allowance means for your registration deadline, and what to expect after you register.

Sole Trader vs Partnership — Tax Comparison

How a business partnership compares to sole trader status for UK tax purposes, including profit-sharing rules, registration, joint liability, and when either structure makes sense.

Trading Allowance £1,000 — When It Applies

The £1,000 trading allowance lets you earn up to £1,000 from self-employment without paying tax or filing a return. This guide explains when it applies, how to choose between the allowance and actual expenses, and how to claim it on Self Assessment.

Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) for Sole Traders

How CIS works for sole trader subcontractors, how tax deducted at source is reclaimed through Self Assessment, how to register, and what records to keep.

Sole trader vs limited company: a practical comparison

How sole trader and limited company tax differs, when incorporation may be worth considering, and how to run an honest comparison using the same profit assumption on both sites.