Capital Accountants Ltd

Can a UK company hire self-employed workers instead of employees?

In the UK, businesses can work with self-employed professionals instead of hiring employees. This is a common practice in industries such as IT, marketing, construction, and other project-based sectors. This model gives companies more flexibility: there is no need to run payroll, pay employer National Insurance contributions, or follow full employment contract obligations. The contractor…
Read more

Do you need to pay taxes in the UK if there was no income?

Many UK business owners and self-employed individuals assume that if there was no income, there is no need to file taxes. However, this is not entirely true. Even if your business was inactive or had zero income, in most cases you are still required to submit reports to HMRC (such as Self Assessment or company…
Read more

How much does a mistake in tax reporting really cost?

Mistakes in tax reporting cost more than they seem. Under the rules of HM Revenue & Customs, even a single missed Self Assessment deadline results in a £100 penalty, followed by daily charges and additional sanctions that can easily exceed £1,600. For VAT, penalties also accumulate through the penalty points system. In most cases, the…
Read more

Keep Your Finances Under Control

Working as a Self-employment, many people treat all money on the account as personal income. However, this is the most common mistake — and the most costly one later on. A portion of your income always belongs to taxes and must be set aside for settlements with HM Revenue & Customs. Mixing personal and business…
Read more

The Real Risk Is Not Tax — It Is Employment Law

Employees in the UK are strongly protected by law. If a person is paid but not formally registered, they may lose key rights, including pension contributions and employment protections. In case of dispute, an employee can seek legal advice and bring a claim against the employer. Even simple bank payments without proper employment setup can…
Read more

Self Assessment Preparation Checklist

Office costs included (rent, internet, supplies)• Travel expenses added (fuel, transport)• Professional services included (accountant, legal)• Home office costs calculated• Equipment and software expenses included• All expenses supported by documentation Contact us — we will identify all allowable expenses and help you reduce your tax legally.

How to Prepare Your Self Assessment Correctly

Filing a Self Assessment tax return is not just a formality — it directly affects how much tax you pay and whether you face penalties from HMRC. To avoid issues, you should prepare in advance:• all sources of income (salary, self-employment, dividends, rental income)• allowable expenses (receipts, invoices)• bank statements• details of any tax reliefs…
Read more

What Expenses Can You Claim in the UK

Many UK business owners overpay tax simply because they don’t claim all allowable expenses. As a result, their profit appears higher than it actually is — and so does their tax bill. Common allowable expenses include:• office costs (rent, internet, supplies)• travel expenses (fuel, transport)• professional services (accountant, legal)• a portion of home office costs•…
Read more

Self Assessment: What You Need to Prepare

To submit your Self Assessment accurately and avoid penalties, make sure you prepare:• all sources of income (salary, self-employment, dividends, rental income)• expenses (receipts, invoices)• bank statements• details of any tax reliefs Even small mistakes or missing income can lead to HMRC penalties or overpaying tax. Don’t risk your money — contact us today and…
Read more

New Rules for Voluntary National Insurance Contributions from 2026