Plain-English answers to the
UK tax questions that actually come up
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Topics
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9 topics · 5 guides, growing every month.
Self-Assessment
Filing your personal tax return — registration, payments, deadlines, and the common pitfalls clients trip on every January.
- →What should I do if HMRC opens an investigation or compliance check?
Companies House
Identity verification, confirmation statements, officer changes and dormancy — the legal admin every UK director needs to stay on top of.
- →How do I complete Companies House identity verification?
VAT
When to register, how to file your returns, what you can reclaim, and what to do if your circumstances change.
Corporation Tax
How company profits are taxed, the rules around director's loans and S455, and the practicalities of paying HMRC.
- →How is S455 tax calculated on a director's loan and how can it be avoided or reclaimed?
Dividends
Salary vs dividends, how much you can take, the personal tax on dividends, and the paperwork you need.
Expenses
What you can claim, how to record it, vehicle and home office costs, and how benefits in kind work.
- →How do I calculate and claim home office expenses?
- →What vehicle and travel expenses can my business claim?
PAYE & Payroll
Running payroll for your company — PAYE basics, NIC, tax codes, payslips, P11D, auto-enrolment and reporting to HMRC.
Year-End Accounts
How your year-end accounts work, what your accountant needs from you, and what the figures actually mean.
Self Assessment
Registering for Self-Assessment and UTR
Latest
Recently updated
Latest guides reviewed by our accountants.
- Self-Assessment 4 Jun 2026
What should I do if HMRC opens an investigation or compliance check?
Receiving a letter from HMRC about a compliance check or investigation can be unsettling, but understanding the process and knowing how to respond calmly and effectively is key.
- Expenses 28 May 2026
How do I calculate and claim home office expenses?
Claiming home office expenses can reduce your taxable profit, and you can calculate them using either a simplified flat rate based on hours worked or by working out the actual proportion of your household costs used…
- Expenses 28 May 2026
What vehicle and travel expenses can my business claim?
Your business can claim a range of vehicle and travel expenses for journeys made wholly and exclusively for business purposes, including mileage, fuel, public transport, accommodation, and subsistence, provided you…
- Companies House 27 May 2026
How do I complete Companies House identity verification?
Companies House identity verification requires you, as a director, to confirm your identity online using a government-approved ID and a 'selfie' to combat fraud and ensure data accuracy.
- Corporation Tax 27 May 2026
How is S455 tax calculated on a director's loan and how can it be avoided or reclaimed?
S455 tax is a Corporation Tax charge on your company, applied to outstanding director's loans not repaid within 9 months and 1 day of your company's year-end.
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