Payments on account: why your first proper tax bill is 150% of what you expected
Payments on account explained for sole traders: how the 150% first bill happens, the July payment, when to reduce them and when reducing backfires.
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The sole trader blog
Short, useful posts on the tax and money stuff that actually hits sole traders: payments on account, CIS refunds, the VAT cliff and more.
How to register as a sole trader — and the five things nobody tells you
Registering as a sole trader takes 10 minutes and costs nothing. The deadline, the process, and five things to sort the same week that save real money later.
Read postCIS subbies: you're probably owed a refund. Here's why.
Why most CIS subcontractors overpay tax through 20% deductions and how to claim the refund — average four figures — through Self Assessment.
Read postThe £90k VAT cliff: the growth trap nobody warns you about
How the rolling 12-month VAT threshold catches growing sole traders, what registration really costs a consumer-facing business, and the strategies that work.
Read postWhy every sole trader we onboard gets pointed at a free Mettle account
A separate business bank account is the single best habit a sole trader can build. Why we recommend a free Mettle account by NatWest — and how it pairs with FreeAgent.
Read postGet paid faster: invoicing tips every sole trader should steal
Late payment is a system you can redesign. Practical invoicing tactics for sole traders — terms, deposits, automatic chasing and the interest you're legally owed.
Read postSpotting the scams: protecting your business from fraud and phishing
Sole traders are prime targets for invoice fraud, fake HMRC messages and phishing. The red flags to know and the simple habits that keep your money and data safe.
Read postCash basis vs accruals: which method should you use?
Cash basis is now the default for sole traders — but is it right for you? The difference between cash and accruals accounting, the pros and cons, and when to switch.
Read postBusiness insurance for sole traders: what you need, what's the law
A plain guide to sole trader business insurance: public liability, professional indemnity, tools cover and the employers' liability you're legally required to have if you hire.
Read postData protection and GDPR for sole traders: the basics you can't skip
Yes, GDPR applies to sole traders. The ICO data protection fee, lawful basis, privacy notices and the security basics that keep you compliant and your clients' data safe.
Read postEmployed and self-employed at once: how your tax actually works
Got a job and a side business? How UK tax works when you're both employed and self-employed — one personal allowance, two NI types, and how to avoid paying twice.
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