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Practical resources to help sole traders and small businesses stay on top of their finances — free from Figtree Finance.

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Straightforward guides written in plain English — no jargon.

MTD

Making Tax Digital: The Complete Guide for Sole Traders

Everything you need to know about MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA). Who it affects, when it starts, what software you need and how to get ready before the April 2026 deadline.

Read the MTD Hub
Self Assessment

Self Assessment: A Step-by-Step Guide for Freelancers

New to Self Assessment? This guide walks you through registering with HMRC, what income to declare, which expenses you can claim and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

Get help with your return
Tax Tips

Allowable Expenses: What Can Sole Traders Claim?

A comprehensive breakdown of the expenses HMRC allows sole traders to deduct from their income — from home office costs and travel to equipment, marketing and professional fees.

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Deadlines

Key Tax Deadlines for 2024/25 & 2025/26

Never miss a deadline again. This guide covers all the important HMRC dates for Self Assessment, VAT, payroll, Corporation Tax and Making Tax Digital submissions.

Get deadline reminders
CIS

CIS Explained: A Guide for Construction Contractors & Subcontractors

The Construction Industry Scheme can be confusing. This guide explains how CIS works, what deductions apply, how to reclaim overpaid tax and what records you need to keep.

CIS accounting services
Business Structure

Sole Trader vs Limited Company: Which is Right for You?

One of the most common questions we get asked. This guide compares the tax implications, admin requirements and flexibility of operating as a sole trader versus setting up a limited company.

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Key tax deadlines

Never miss an important date. Here are the key deadlines every sole trader and limited company should have in their diary.

31 Jan 2025Self Assessment online filing deadline (2023/24 tax year)
31 Jan 2025Payment of Self Assessment tax bill (2023/24)
5 Apr 2025End of 2024/25 tax year
6 Apr 2025Start of 2025/26 tax year
31 Jul 2025Second payment on account deadline
31 Oct 2025Paper Self Assessment deadline (2024/25)
31 Jan 2026Self Assessment online filing deadline (2024/25 tax year)
Apr 2026MTD for Income Tax starts (income over £50,000)
Apr 2027MTD for Income Tax expands (income over £30,000)

Need tailored advice?

Our guides are a great starting point, but every business is different. Get in touch and we'll give you advice that's specific to your situation.