Guides
The business side, made plain.
- HMRC mileage rates for 2026/27 and 2025/26, explainedHMRC mileage rates 2026/27: 55p a mile for the first 10,000 miles in a car or van, then 25p, motorbikes 24p. Plus earlier years (45p) and employee rates.
- Making Tax Digital for sole traders: who, when and what to doMaking Tax Digital for Income Tax in plain English: who joins and when (£50,000, £30,000, £20,000), what counts as qualifying income, and quarterly deadlines.
- What expenses can I claim as a self-employed tradesperson?The expenses a self-employed tradesperson can take off their profit: materials, tools, van costs, workwear, subcontractors, and what HMRC won’t allow.
- Sole trader invoices: what to put on one (UK)Everything a UK sole trader’s invoice must show, from the invoice number to your name and address, plus when you need a VAT invoice and how to get paid faster.
- Self Assessment deadlines and payments on account, explainedWhen to register, file and pay your 2025/26 Self Assessment tax return, how payments on account work, why your first January bill can be bigger, and the late penalties.
- How much tax should I put aside if I’m self-employed?How much of your profit to save for Income Tax and National Insurance in 2026/27, with worked examples at £20,000, £35,000 and £55,000 profit.
- What HMRC needs in a mileage logWhat to write down for each business journey, why HMRC wants it kept as you go, which trips count, and how long to keep your mileage log if you’re self-employed.
- Van mileage allowance or actual costs: which should I claim?Flat rate mileage at 55p a mile or the real cost of running your van? How each works for the self-employed, worked examples, and the rule that locks you in.
- CIS for subcontractors: deductions, registering and refundsCIS in plain English: why contractors take 20% or 30%, what they can’t deduct from, monthly statements, gross payment status and getting it back.
- When do tradespeople need to register for VAT?The £90,000 VAT threshold, how the rolling 12 months works, the 30-day deadline, voluntary registration, the Flat Rate Scheme and the construction reverse charge.
- Quote or estimate: what’s the difference?Why a quote is a fixed price and an estimate isn’t, what customers expect a quote to include, how long it should stay open, and what to do when the job changes.
- Free UK invoice template for tradesmen and sole tradersA free invoice layout for UK tradespeople with everything HMRC expects, filled in as an example, plus how to send the same invoice from your phone in a minute.
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