Free Tax Articles

Plain-English answers to the questions every self-employed person asks. No jargon, no upsells — just the information you need.

Self-Assessment & Tax Basics

Expenses What expenses can I claim as self-employed? Most self-employed people overpay tax simply because they don't know which costs they're allowed to deduct. Here's a plain-English breakdown of what counts, what doesn't, and the one rule that ties it all together. 3 min read Tax planning How much tax should I save each month? Unlike employees, the self-employed receive no tax deducted at source. That means you're responsible for setting aside money throughout the year so that the bill in January doesn't come as a shock. Here's a simple, reliable way to think about it. 3 min read Getting started Do I need to register as self-employed? The short answer is yes — if you earn more than £1,000 from self-employment in a tax year, HMRC requires you to register. Here's when to do it, how it works, and what to do if you've already missed the deadline. 3 min read Making Tax Digital Making Tax Digital for sole traders: what do I need to do? Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is the biggest change to UK tax reporting in a generation. If you're a sole trader, here's what's actually changing, when it affects you, and what you need to do. 5 min read Making Tax Digital Does Making Tax Digital apply to me? Not every sole trader needs to sign up for Making Tax Digital at the same time. Whether it applies to you — and when — depends on one number: your gross income from self-employment and property combined. 4 min read

Guides by Trade

Tattoo Artists Self-employed tattoo artist tax — the complete UK guide Whether you rent a chair, own a studio, or work as a guest artist, the same HMRC rules apply to you. This guide covers everything a self-employed tattoo artist needs to know about UK tax — from registering to filing. 7 min read Tattoo Artists What can a self-employed tattoo artist claim as expenses? Every allowable expense you claim reduces your tax bill directly. Here's a practical breakdown of what HMRC allows tattoo artists to deduct — including a few things that might surprise you. 5 min read Self Assessment Self Assessment for tattoo artists: a step-by-step guide If you're a self-employed tattoo artist, you need to file a Self Assessment tax return every year. Here's exactly how it works — registration, deadlines, expenses, and what catches people out. 7 min read

Expense Questions

Expenses Can I claim home office costs as a sole trader? If you do any work from home — admin, client calls, accounts — you're entitled to claim a proportion of your household costs against your self-employment income. Here's how to do it correctly. 4 min read Expenses Can I claim mileage as self-employed? (And what's the rate?) Yes — if you use your own vehicle for business journeys, HMRC's approved mileage rates let you claim a flat rate per mile. Here's what qualifies, what the rate is, and how to keep the records HMRC expects. 4 min read