Accountants for self employed people and sole traders
Working for yourself is easier with an accountant beside you all year, not only in January. We keep your records in order from your phone, claim the right costs and tell you what to put aside for tax.
ACCA qualified accountants with over 20 years in practice
What we do for you through the year
Keep your records straight
Snap receipts and statements as they come in. We sort them each month, so the year end is quick and nothing goes missing.
Claim the right costs
We check each cost against HMRC's rules and make sure the business share of anything you also use privately is claimed, and only that share.
File your tax return
Your return is prepared, checked with you on a call and filed well before the deadline.
Self Assessment tax returnsPlan for payments on account
Once your bill passes £1,000 you usually pay half of next year's tax in advance, by 31/1 and 31/7, so we tell you what to set aside.
Watch the VAT threshold
You must register for VAT when your taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000, or will in the next 30 days. We keep an eye on your running total.
Make Tax Digital simple
When Making Tax Digital reaches your income level, we set you up with software and send your quarterly updates.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
Costs you can claim
HMRC lets you claim the costs of running your business: office costs, travel, work clothing such as uniforms, staff, stock, financial costs, premises, advertising, subscriptions and business training.
Tools, machinery and vans you buy are claimed through capital allowances if you use traditional accounting. On the cash basis most of them are ordinary allowable expenses instead, with cars the exception.
If the trading allowance would save you more than your real costs, you can use it instead: the first £1,000 of income is tax free, but then you cannot claim any other expenses.
Simplified expenses for 2026/27
Flat rates you can use instead of working out the real costs. Once you use the flat rate for a vehicle, you must keep using it for as long as that vehicle works for the business.
| What | Flat rate |
|---|---|
| Car or van, first 10,000 business miles | 55p a mile |
| Car or van, after 10,000 miles | 25p a mile |
| Motorcycle | 24p a mile |
| Working from home, 25 to 50 hours a month | £10 for each month |
| Working from home, 51 to 100 hours a month | £18 for each month |
| Working from home, 101 hours or more a month | £26 for each month |
National Insurance in plain words
Class 4 National Insurance is worked out on your profit: 6% on profit between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% on anything above.
Class 2 works differently. With profits of £7,105 or more it is treated as paid and there is nothing to pay. Below that, you can choose to pay it voluntarily, at £3.65 for each week.
Thinking about going limited?
Some sole traders move to a limited company as their profit grows. It changes how you pay tax and adds company paperwork, so it pays to compare the numbers before deciding, and to talk it through with an accountant.
Compare the two
See your take home pay as a sole trader and through a company on the same profit.
The tax rules on this page come from GOV.UK and HMRC guidance. Last checked .
Questions self employed people ask
What is the trading allowance?
The first £1,000 of your trading income each tax year is tax free. If you use it, you cannot also claim your business expenses, so it suits people with small side income and few costs.
Can I claim for my van?
Yes, one of two ways: capital allowances on what the van cost, or the flat mileage rate of 55p a mile for the first 10,000 business miles. You cannot switch a van to the flat rate once you have claimed capital allowances on it.
When do I need to register for VAT?
When your VAT taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000, or you expect it to go over in the next 30 days on its own.
Can I claim for working from home?
Yes. You can use a flat monthly amount based on the hours you work at home, or work out the business share of your household bills.
Do I pay National Insurance as a sole trader?
You pay Class 4 on your profit above £12,570. Class 2 is treated as paid once your profit reaches £7,105, so there is nothing extra to pay.
An accountant for the whole year
Tell us what you do and how you keep your records now, and we will send you a quote. Or book a free call.