HMRC

Articles and news on HMRC regulation and legal matters as regards UK small businesses’ tax, payments, and customs affairs.

Accounting

What is the VAT threshold?

At what point does your small business have to start paying VAT? Should you voluntarily pay VAT? And what are legitimate ways to stay under the VAT threshold?

News

HMRC to limit helpline in run-up to tax return deadline

HMRC has announced that it will be restricting access to its helpline at a critical time for many small business owners

Accounting

What is payment on account and how do I pay it?

Accounting

Mileage allowance in the UK – what is it and how does it work?

You can claim back hours spent on the road for your small business, whether you’re an employee or self-employed. What are the rules around mileage allowance?

Tax

Self-employed hit with interest rate hike on overdue tax bills

HMRC imposes 7.5% interest rate on overdue self-employed tax bills from Monday, July 31

Making Tax Digital

9 myths about Making Tax Digital busted

There’s been a lot of misinformation around Making Tax Digital (MTD), leaving many businesses wondering how exactly it applies to them, what their responsibilities are, and whether it will affect their tax liability.

Accounting

Sole traders pay most tax since records began

Self-employed paid £22bn in income tax in January – the biggest-ever figure since records began in 1999 and one-third higher since last year

Accounting

Sole traders increasingly avoid charging VAT

Tens of thousands of small businesses deliberately stay small to avoid charging VAT, which means you have to hike prices if you wander over the £85,000 threshold

Making Tax Digital

Making Tax Digital mothballed for millions of self-employed

HMRC postpones Making Tax Digital income tax reporting for millions of small businesses, raising threshold to £30,000 income from April 2026

Accounting

What the off-payroll U-turn means if you’re self-employed

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng made a shock announcement in the mini-Budget last Friday. The Government will repeal off-payroll working legislation from April 2023. Here’s what it means for freelance contractors

Sole trader

What is a sole trader? A small business guide

Emily Coltman, chief accountant at FreeAgent, investigates one very popular structure for new business owners: sole tradership

Making Tax Digital

What is the HMRC penalty system for Making Tax Digital?

HMRC’s new penalty regime is intended to be fairer and less severe in order to promote more timely submissions. We explain how it works and when it comes into force