Frequently asked questions

If your self-employed income is above the trading allowance, you normally need to register and submit a return. Check GOV.UK if you are unsure.

The trading allowance is a small-income allowance. If your gross self-employed income is above it, full registration and filing rules usually apply.

Claim costs that are wholly and exclusively for business, such as business travel, software, professional fees, and business-use share of phone or internet.

Common deadlines are 31 January for online filing and balancing payment, and 31 July for second payment on account. Always confirm your own HMRC deadlines.

Payments on account are advance payments toward your next bill, usually split into January and July.

You can request a reduction if you expect lower profits, but underpaying can lead to interest.

Yes. The estimate includes Class 2/Class 4 logic for planning based on the selected tax year.

No. This is a planning estimate only. Your final bill depends on your submitted return and HMRC records.

Pension method setup is often the reason. Salary sacrifice, net pay arrangement, and relief at source can change taxable pay, NI-able pay, and student-loan-able pay differently. Use the Take-Home Pay Calculator to compare methods.

Select the method your employer actually runs in payroll. If unsure, check your pension enrolment documents or payslip wording, then compare methods side by side in the tool.

Not always. Salary sacrifice usually reduces both NI and student loan deduction bases, while net pay and relief-at-source often do not. The payslip effect depends on payroll method, not just pension amount.

Yes. The UK Tax Residency Planner helps model day counts, sufficient ties thresholds, and split-year timeline scenarios for planning.

No. It provides a structured planning output and rule path, but final status depends on full HMRC facts and conditions. Use it as preparation for accountant/adviser review.

Split-year treatment can divide one tax year into UK and non-UK parts in specific move/work/home cases. The planner shows timeline scenarios, but each case has strict statutory conditions.

Yes. Create an account, then save runs from the calculator and compare them later in Saved runs.

This version is focused on self-employed/sole trader tax planning. Company tax is different and will be handled in future calculators.