Tax

Good tax planning is essential for small businesses. Read our practical information on how business income is taxed, key business taxes and tax help

Understanding business property taxes can help you take advantage of tax reliefs and ensure you aren't caught out by unexpected charges. Our guide.

We've scoured the web to get you the most up-to-date advice which includes the most useful tools on offer from the officials themselves.

Being self-employed as a sole trader can be a straightforward way to be in business - but you need to comply with your tax obligations. Our guide.

Our overview of how VAT works, when you might need to (or choose to) become VAT-registered and what your obligations will be if you do.

Complying with each and every tax rule can be complex. Our guide to what to do if you business faces tax problems or is visited by the tax inspector.

While nobody likes paying income tax, the right approach to your tax return will minimise aggravation and can reduce the amount you end up paying.

Effective planning can minimise your liability for capital gains tax by taking advantage of available allowances and reliefs. We explain your options.

Although it can affect your entitlement to some state benefits, effective tax planning may allow you to reduce your NI contributions. Our overview.

If you have employees, you'll almost certainly be required to operate PAYE to collect income tax and NI contributions. Our guide to the basics.

Corporation tax is charged on taxable profits including trading profits and most investment profits as well as capital gains. What you need to be aware of.

What research and development is eligible for tax relief and what costs qualify. What tax reliefs are available and how to make a claim

Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (previously called Annual Residential Property tax) is payable on certain high-value, enveloped properties.

Taking on a first employee is a big step for any business. This e-tutorial from HMRC will take you through the process of becoming an employer.

UK business rates, which are largely unavoidable, are a tax on non-domestic property and they vary depending where the premises are located.

If you work from home, you may be liable for business rates for the part of your home you use for work - in addition to council tax on the rest.

Effective tax planning is essential if you are to minimise your tax bills. Simple tax planning can significantly reduce your tax liabilities.

Personal and business capital gains are treated differently, depending on whether you are self-employed or trade as a limited company.

Company capital gains tax can be reduced, deferred or eliminated altogether by making use of available allowances, reliefs and exemptions.

All incorporated companies need to pay corporation tax on their profits. Our guide to calculating, paying and minimising corporation tax.

All active UK limited companies (and some dormant ones) must file corporation tax returns, typically, every year: file yours properly and on time.

Employee benefits can be complicated. You need to ensure that your payroll systems deal with employee benefits properly and report in real time.

Minimising employees' Class 1 NI contributions directly benefits the employee and the employer, by making it easier to recruit and retain employees.

Employers pay employers' National Insurance contributions on employees' earnings. They must also collect employees’ Class 1 NI contributions.

Many businesses start out as part-time jobs or hobbies that develop into a business. It's possible to be employed and self-employed simultaneously.

A business can become loss-making at any time - but you may be able to set the loss off against your tax. Claire Georghiades explains.

Pay is an important issue for you and your employees. Incentive pay can form a key part of that offer if you get your incentive pay scheme right.

Knowing the important deadlines in the tax year 6 April 2018 to 5 April 2019 will help you to prepare and send off the main forms in good time.

There are two ways to work out motor expenses for the self employed - by actual cost or mileage. Which is best for you? Claire Georghiades explains.

Employers pay employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) for each employee, and also collect their employees’ contributions. Our guide to NICs.

You are legally obliged to operate PAYE for any employee with an income above the lower earnings limit.

HMRC expect you to file pay information accurately and on time - and employees also won't be happy if they aren't paid correctly. Managing payroll.

Income tax planning can make a significant difference to the tax you pay. You should take advantage of any opportunities to minimise your tax bill.

Find out about how RTI penalties could apply to your business, depending on how many people you employ in each PAYE scheme, in this HMRC factsheet.

How to register for self assessment online, your business or personal tax account, and where to find help with self assessment

If you are a sole trader or in a partnership, you are liable for flat rate Class 2 and profit-related Class 4 National Insurance (NI) contributions.

Stamp duty land tax is payable on property and land purchases above set SDLT thresholds and applies to both freehold and leasehold transactions.

Businesses and individuals must account for and pay various taxes. Understand your tax obligations and how to file, account and pay any taxes you owe.

Tax issues are complex. Serious tax investigations are likely if HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) suspects your tax returns are inaccurate.

If you have a tax problem, call HMRC. Whether you have a tax payment problem or not, it’s worth looking at ways to improve your cash flow management.

Knowing income tax amounts and payment dates will help you plan your cash flow and arrange financing. Tax is calculated and collected in two ways.

The deadlines for registering for self assessment, filing your self assessment tax return and paying any self assessment tax you owe

Your income tax allowances include allowable expenses which you can set against your taxable profits as well as the personal income tax allowance.

As well as ensuring you comply with your legal obligations under the "Making Tax Digital" initiative, maintaining accurate, current VAT records makes it easy to get the VAT you paid back.

It can be easy to make mistakes with VAT - and ignorance is no defence. Here's our guide to some of the possible pitfalls and how to avoid them.

It's worth understanding the different ways in which the annual investment allowance, other capital allowances and allowable expenses are treated.

Handy infographic featuring all the key dates you need to know for filing returns and paperwork with HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House

Private residence relief allows most homeowners to sell their homes without being liable for any capital gains tax on property profits.

The VAT return summarises your sales and purchases and the VAT relating to them. All the information you need should be in your VAT records.

This toolkit supports tax advisers by providing guidance on the errors often found in tax returns re capital allowances for plant and machinery.

This toolkit provides guidance to tax advisers and those completing a SA tax return on the common errors in relation to Capital Gains Tax for shares.

It's vital to understand and meet deadlines for returning information to HMRC and Companies House each year. Our overview of the key forms and dates.

Employers could be missing out if they don’t take advantage of key tax breaks. Find out if your small firm could benefit from tax reliefs.

VAT accounting schemes can make your life easier, simplifying your VAT accounting and in some cases improve your cash flow.

The best calculators we've found online, many of which come from official sources such as HMRC and the Valuation Office and are continuously updated.

If you register for VAT with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), you must charge VAT on any goods and services you sell that are subject to VAT.

A corporation tax calculator can help you estimate your corporation tax liabilities, but corporation tax calculations can be complex.

If your company is liable for corporation tax, you need to keep adequate records to complete your company tax return. Here's a good HMRC guide.

You need to ensure you are complying with any sector tax obligations. At the same time, there may be opportunities to reduce your tax costs.

Every worker has a tax code issued by HMRC. But what are they for and how do you know if yours is correct? We answer key questions about tax codes.

Two income tax schemes, 'Cash Basis' and 'Simplified Expenses', are designed to make it easier for SMEs to manage their income tax obligations.

Tax penalties can be incurred if you make careless errors, while deliberate tax evasion or fraud can be treated severely - so avoid penalties.

Tool to help self-employed businesses use fixed rates (‘Simplified Expenses’) to calculate how much to claim with mixed business and private use.

Company cars can be a popular employee benefit - but employers need to be aware of the tax implications of different vehicles. Our guide.

The Employment Allowance reduces the amount of employer’s NICs payable. Find out how it works, who qualifies and how to claim.

The rules on the taxation of dividend income have changed. Use this HM Revenue & Customs guide to find out how you are affected.

This toolkit helps business owners renting property to complete tax returns correctly.

If you are only entitled to basic personal allowances and your tax is straightforward, use this tax, interest and penalty calculator from HMRC.

A series of frequently asked questions on what expenses you can claim when self-employed and working from home, including 'allowable expenses'.

Visit the HMRC website for guidance and tools to help you understand what to do when paying an employee for the first time under the RTI system.

Chartered accountant Elaine Clark ofCheapAccounting.co.uk provides answers to key questions about when to turn a sole trader business into a company.

When you become self-employed you become responsible for your own tax and NI. You'll need to know what and how much tax to pay and when.

RDEC credits and why smaller companies might claim them. RDEC qualifying criteria, RDEC rates and how to make an expenditure credit claim

National, regional and other grants that support research and development and what they cover. How to apply for a research and development grant.

Which companies are eligible for SME research and development tax credits, what costs you can claim and how to claim. How grants affect tax credits

There's a common misconception that grant funding disqualifies your business entirely from claiming R&D tax incentives - but it's not true.

Stamp duty, capital gains tax and other tax considerations can be important elements of a corporate finance transaction. Tax planning is key.

Effective tax planning is the best way to reduce tax liabilities. That means planning in advance from business start up through to eventual exit.

There’s a difference between losing records through fire or flood and shoddy filing - and HMRC will apply different rules accordingly.

If you think you paid too much tax in a previous tax year, use this HMRC tool to claim a tax rebate.

The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) affects businesses involved in construction and some businesses which spend large amounts on construction.

It is possible to make quite a bit of money selling your old stuff on eBay or at a car boot sale. But where do HM Revenue and Customs draw the line?

Paying National Insurance contributions entitles you to certain state benefits such as a state pension. Check if you have enough years to qualify.

Childcare vouchers can affect the tax credits your employees get. This calculator can help employees decide if it’s worth taking childcare vouchers.

Use this Tool to claim a National Insurance rebate from HM Revenue & Customs.

If you earn income from sources other than through your employer, you may be classed as being both employed and self employed.

You should receive a National Insurance number when you reach 16. If you have lost or did not receive yours find out how you can track it down.

This toolkit supports tax advisers by providing guidance on the errors often found in tax returns re capital allowances for plant and machinery.

When a company car or van or fuel for private use is made available to an employee, there is deemed to be a benefit in kind, ie you pay tax on it.

Self-employed people can claim certain expenses. Use this e-learning guide to find out which expenses are allowable when filing your tax return.

You can visit the HMRC website to use a handy online tool to check whether employees have paid too much income tax under the PAYE scheme.

Watch this HMRC video which explains how you can claim allowable expenses off your taxable profit for the year on your self-assessment tax return

This fast, simple tool from the GOV.UK website helps you work out what maternity, paternity or adoption leave and pay your employee is entitled to.

Use this Tool to find out how you can pay any VAT owing to HM Revenue & Customs.

To ensure payslips show the right information, including tax and NI deductions, visit the UK Tax Calculators website to use an online payslip checker.

Sole traders must register with HM Revenue and Customs when they start trading. Use this Tool to register your new business with HMRC.

Paying yourself from the business you own and run is more complex through a company than a partnership or sole trader structure. An expert explains.

VAT-registered businesses charge VAT on sales of goods and services. Use this tool to find the correct VAT rate you must charge and pay to HMRC.

This toolkit is designed to help anyone completing a Company Tax Return avoid the common errors relating to directors' loan accounts.

Guidance on how much salary you should pay, setting up the right dividend structure and how much tax you will pay