Guides
Short, practical explainers for UK freelancers, contractors and small-business owners — the context behind the numbers our tools give you. Information, not advice; reviewed against published HMRC rates.
-
Claiming business mileage: HMRC AMAP rates 2026/27
How to claim business mileage in 2026/27 using HMRC's Approved Mileage Allowance Payments — the new 55p car rate, the 10,000-mile drop to 25p, and what counts as business travel.
-
From day rate to take-home pay: a contractor's guide (2026/27)
How to turn a UK contractor day rate into realistic annual take-home pay in 2026/27 — billable days, limited company vs umbrella, and the taxes that come out along the way.
-
How to invoice as a UK freelancer (with a free template)
A plain-English guide to invoicing as a UK freelancer or sole trader — what every invoice must legally show, VAT vs non-VAT invoices, payment terms and chasing late payers.
-
How much VAT should I charge? (UK 2026/27)
How to work out the right UK VAT rate to add to your prices in 2026/27 — the 20% standard rate, when 5% or 0% applies, and how to show it on invoices.
-
IR35 inside vs outside explained (2026/27)
What IR35 means for UK contractors in 2026/27: inside vs outside, who decides your status, and how being caught changes your take-home pay.
-
Salary vs dividends for a UK director (2026/27)
How a limited company director pays themselves tax-efficiently in 2026/27 — the low-salary-plus-dividends approach, the key thresholds, and the numbers that decide it.
-
The VAT registration threshold explained (2026/27)
When you must register for UK VAT, how the £90,000 rolling threshold and the 30-day forward test work, and what changes once you're registered.