Aurestone Journal
Plain-English articles on self assessment, HMRC deadlines, allowable expenses, and cleaner business finances.
Featured article
A plain-English guide to choosing between staying a sole trader and setting up a limited company, including tax, admin, limited liability, and when incorporation may start to make sense.
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Latest articles
Your second MTD for Income Tax quarterly update is due on 7 November 2026. Learn what it covers, what to submit, and what to do if your first update was late.
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Missed the first Making Tax Digital quarterly update deadline? Learn what happens next, whether penalties apply, and how to submit your late update correctly.
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Every recurring deadline a UK limited company director needs to track — accounts, Corporation Tax, confirmation statement, VAT, payroll, and personal Self Assessment.
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The practical signs that it's time for a sole trader to incorporate, beyond just hitting a profit number — and how the switch actually works.
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A practical list of allowable expenses for UK limited company directors, and how claiming them correctly reduces Corporation Tax.
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How UK limited company directors are taxed on salary versus dividends, and why a combination of both is usually the most tax-efficient approach.
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A practical guide to exactly what digital records Making Tax Digital for Income Tax requires sole traders to keep, and how that differs from what most people do today.
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A simple rule of thumb for how much self-employed delivery drivers should set aside for Income Tax, National Insurance, and Payments on Account.
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A plain-English UK tax guide for Uber Eats and Deliveroo riders and drivers, covering Self Assessment, expenses, and working across multiple apps.
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Everything Amazon Flex drivers in the UK need to know about registering with HMRC, what counts as income, and what you can claim.
Read articleA second Self Assessment payment on account may be due by midnight on 31 July 2026. Find out who must pay, how to check the amount, and when you can reduce it.
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A worked comparison of HMRC's mileage rate against claiming actual vehicle costs, so delivery drivers can choose the method that saves the most tax.
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Every expense a self-employed delivery or courier driver can legally claim against tax, from vehicle costs to safety gear, in one place.
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The first Making Tax Digital quarterly update deadline for affected sole traders and landlords is 7 August 2026. Here is what to prepare before then.
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Companies House identity verification is now a legal requirement. Here is what UK directors, PSCs, and limited company owners need to know in 2026.
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Doing your own accounts might feel like saving money — but missed deductions, HMRC penalties, and hours lost every month often cost far more than an accountant would.
Read articleMTD for Income Tax is live. Here is a step-by-step action plan for UK sole traders and landlords who need to get compliant, including software, digital records, quarterly updates, and what to do if you are already behind.
Read articleWhat software do you need for Making Tax Digital? A plain-English guide to MTD-compatible software, bridging tools, spreadsheets, and what to look for if you are a sole trader, freelancer, or landlord.
Read articleFind out if Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies to you, the 2026, 2027 and 2028 thresholds, quarterly update deadlines, and what to do next.
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A plain-English guide to the UK side hustle tax headlines, the £1,000 trading allowance, online platform reporting, and when Vinted, eBay, Etsy or hobby income needs to be declared to HMRC.
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Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is now here for many UK sole traders and landlords. Learn who is affected, the deadlines, software rules, penalties, and whether becoming limited is worth considering.
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Find out how much tax a UK sole trader pays in 2025/26, including Income Tax, National Insurance, Payments on Account, and what this means for your real take-home pay.
Read articleIf the same confusion returns every month, the problem is probably not one deadline. It is the operating layer underneath it.
Read articleReporting should make the next decision clearer. If it only creates more questions, it is not doing enough.
Read articleA heavier close rarely means the business is too complex. More often, it means finance admin is being left until pressure builds.
Read articleNext step
Read the guidance first, then message Aurestone or book a short review when you want advice on your own numbers.
