Blog
Guides we wish someone had given us
Practical answers on MTD, CIS, payroll and expenses, written by the two of us between client work. One of them is in Romanian, and more will be.
Missed an MTD quarterly deadline? Here's what actually happens
The 7 August 2026 MTD deadline has passed and thousands didn't file. What HMRC actually does about it this year (nothing), and how to catch up before November.
Read itMTD quarterly updates are not tax bills. Here's what they actually are
The most common MTD misunderstanding: quarterly updates don't mean paying tax four times a year. What's actually in an update, and what happens if it's wrong.
Read itThe MTD thresholds: £50k now, £30k next April, £20k the year after
MTD for Income Tax thresholds by year, and why qualifying income means turnover, not profit. Check whether you're in scope for 2026, 2027 or 2028.
Read itSole trader or limited company in 2026? The honest version
When incorporating saves money, when it just adds admin, and how MTD changes the sums. An honest guide for drivers, subcontractors and small business owners.
Read itThe HGV overnight allowance: £34.90, £26.20, and who gets what
The lorry driver overnight subsistence rates explained: the £34.90 agreed rate, the 75% sleeper cab rate, HMRC approval, and what self-employed drivers claim instead.
Read itLocum work: when you're PAYE, when you're self-employed, and the mess in between
Locums and agency healthcare staff often have several income types at once. How the pieces fit, what to claim, and when a limited company helps or hurts.
Read itMTD pe înțelesul tuturor: ce trebuie să faci dacă ești self-employed în UK
Ghid MTD în română: cine intră sub reguli, ce sunt rapoartele trimestriale, ce amenzi există și ce ai de făcut dacă ai ratat termenul din 7 august.
Read itMTD for Income Tax: the April 2026 survival guide for sole traders
MTD for Income Tax is live for sole traders and landlords over £50k. What changed, what software you need, and the penalty grace period explained. Updated August 2026.
Read itCIS refunds: why subcontractors are owed thousands, and how to claim
20% deducted at source, expenses never claimed, refund never filed. How CIS refunds work, what a typical claim looks like, and the paperwork you actually need.
Read itThe construction VAT reverse charge: still catching people out in 2026
When the domestic reverse charge applies, when it doesn't, and the exact invoice wording HMRC expects. Five years in, it's still the biggest VAT error we fix.
Read itFive payroll mistakes that cost UK SMEs real money in 2026
Late RTI, wrong starter tax codes, unclaimed Employment Allowance, directors' NIC and forgotten P11Ds. The five payroll errors we fix most on new clients.
Read itTransport operators: the 2026 tax deadlines you cannot miss
VAT, RTI, O-licence financial standing, corporation tax. One calendar for haulage and logistics businesses, and what happens if a deadline slips.
Read itThe definitive allowable expenses list for transport and CIS workers
Fuel, overnight allowances, tools, PPE, training. What HMRC accepts and what it rejects for drivers and subcontractors. Updated August 2026 with corrected overnight rates.
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