Help and support from HMRC for new businesses

Starting a new business can be a very challenging time, but HMRC can help you out. Here's how.

HMRC has done some research and asked new small businesses what help they’d like when they’re first starting a company.

Based on their replies, HMRC has designed a range of digital products to get that help to you when you need it and in a way that suits you.

There are e-learning guides to cover many if the HMRC issues you’ll have to deal with when you’re running your own business. The Tax guide for your self-employed business helps you to register with HMRC and keep business records. Business expenses for the self-employed guides you through the expenses you can and can’t claim.   

Use VAT – Getting started to check if you need to register for VAT and if you do, VAT – How VAT works covers charging and reclaiming VAT, records to keep and making a VAT return and payments.

If you’re taking on staff, Becoming an employer is a great starting point to help you get it right.

Thousands of businesses find these easy to use and love that they can use them as and when they need or want to.

Do you get bored reading? You might prefer to use HMRC’s webinars to get started. Webinars are online presentations.

The webinars cover a wide range of subjects.

There are:

  • live webinars: book a place and switch on at the stated time. You take part by answering polling questions or asking your own questions. These usually last for one hour, including the Q&A session
  • pre-recorded webinars: these are available all day every day
    These are about 20 to 30 minutes long.

Are you in a hurry? Download HMRC’s YouTube videos.

If you like to get information in bite-sized chunks, you’ll like these. They give you a good overview of a variety of subjects.

Are worried you’ll forget to send a tax return or make payments on time?

HMRC can send you emails to help you to understand what you need to do and when you need to do it.

There is a ready reckoner to help you to budget for your tax bills. You can use your weekly or monthly profit to get an idea of how much you’ll need to pay for tax and National Insurance.

Once you know how much you’ll need to pay, why not set up a budget payment plan ?
It’s often easier to pay regular instalments during the year than pay the full amount in January and July each year.

These are just some of the products available to you.

All of these products are free and available at any time of the day or night. You can access them on PCs, tablet and mobile devices.

Here’s find the full range of HMRC webinars, email alerts and videos, have a look and see what you need. Dip in and out as and when you like.

Further reading on accounts and tax

Ben Lobel

Ben Lobel

Ben Lobel was the editor of SmallBusiness.co.uk from 2010 to 2018. He specialises in writing for start-up and scale-up companies in the areas of finance, marketing and HR.

Related Topics

Tax & Vat

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