The problem
As a sole trader, there’s no separation between you and the business in the eyes of HMRC – which means your tax return, your expenses and your records all have to be right, with no company accountant doing it for you unless you bring one in. Getting behind on this is easy and expensive to fix later.
What’s included
- Self Assessment tax return preparation and filing
- Guidance on what expenses you can and can’t claim
- Ongoing bookkeeping, or a light-touch year-end tidy-up – whichever suits how you work
- Advice on Payments on Account, so HMRC bills don’t catch you out
- A plain-English explanation of what you owe and why, before anything is filed
Who it’s for
Sole traders of any size – from a single side income to an established trading business – who want their tax return done properly and want to understand their own numbers, not just receive a bill.
How it works
You send us your income and expense records (however they’re currently kept – spreadsheet, shoebox of receipts, or proper bookkeeping software), we prepare your return, talk you through it, and file it with HMRC once you’re happy.
Pricing
Priced around the volume of transactions and how organised your records already are – see our Pricing page for what affects your quote.
FAQs
What’s the deadline for my Self Assessment return?
The well-known deadline is 31 January following the end of the tax year, for both filing online and paying any tax owed. [Confirm current HMRC Self Assessment deadlines before publishing, in case rules change.]
I’m behind on a few years of returns – can you help?
Yes. It’s more common than you’d think, and the sooner it’s sorted the less interest and penalties build up. Get in touch and we’ll work out where things stand.
What expenses can I claim as a sole trader?
Generally anything wholly and exclusively for the business – a wide category that catches people out in both directions, under-claiming through caution and over-claiming by accident. We’ll go through what applies to your specific business when we prepare your return.
Do I need to register for VAT?
Only once your taxable turnover passes the VAT registration threshold, though you can register voluntarily before that if it suits your business. [Confirm the current threshold against HMRC guidance before publishing.] See our VAT returns page for what registration involves.
What happens if I miss the Self Assessment deadline?
HMRC applies an automatic penalty for a late return, with further penalties and interest the longer it’s outstanding – even if you don’t owe any tax. If you’re already late, the sooner it’s filed the less it costs, so get in touch rather than wait.
Let’s talk about your business
Book a free, no-obligation consultation and we’ll talk through what you actually need.