Accounting Blog

Do you still pay tax if a client pays late? This guide explains how cash basis and accrual accounting affect tax timing, what happens when payments cross tax years, and how to avoid paying tax before you’re paid, with practical tips for freelancers and small businesses.

Can’t afford your tax bill? Learn what “spreading tax payments” really means, from instalment plans and short deferrals to hardship options and adjusted withholding. This practical guide explains how to negotiate with tax authorities, assess affordability, avoid penalties, and create a realistic plan to pay tax without financial crisis safely.

Time to Pay is an HMRC payment arrangement that lets sole traders spread tax debts into manageable instalments. This plain-English guide explains how Time to Pay works, what taxes it covers, when to apply, and how to improve approval chances while avoiding penalties, stress, and enforcement action from HMRC guidance.

Learn what “no income” really means for a tax year, when you’re required to file, and why filing can still matter. This guide explains overlooked income sources, filing thresholds, refunds, credits, and documentation issues so you can confidently decide whether to file or skip a return with clarity and confidence.

Can you claim expenses for business travel abroad? This guide explains what counts as allowable overseas travel expenses, how business purpose is judged, and how to handle mixed business and holiday trips. Learn what you can claim, what’s disallowed, and how to keep records that stand up to scrutiny globally.

Exchange rates quietly reshape overseas income for freelancers and global businesses. This guide explains how FX movements affect real take-home pay, pricing competitiveness, cash flow, and risk—plus practical strategies for invoicing, timing conversions, reducing fees, and building resilience so currency swings don’t undermine an otherwise healthy international business operations sustainably.

Do sole traders need to issue invoices for every job? This practical guide explains when invoicing is required, when it’s optional, how VAT affects the rules, and how to handle cash jobs, regular clients, and record-keeping—helping sole traders stay compliant, professional, and stress-free with clear examples and real-world scenarios included.

Can you claim business research and planning costs for tax? This guide explains when pre-trading expenses are allowable, how revenue and capital costs differ, and what evidence you need. Learn which startup research, travel, software, and consultancy costs are commonly deductible—and where claims are often restricted.

If you’re a sole trader planning maternity or paternity leave, your tax usually changes because profits change, not because of a special leave rule. Learn how parental payments, expenses, invoicing timing, VAT, and payments on account affect tax, cash flow, and planning before, during, and after leave as self-employed professionals.