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Highlights

• Major tax news
• Blog milestones
• Key site updates

Deadlines

• Self Assessment dates
• VAT return cutoffs
• PAYE reminders

Key Updates

• New guides published
• Resources added
• Legal or policy changes

Looking Ahead

• Upcoming posts
• Planned features

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When you start freelancing in the UK you must register as self-employed with HMRC. It’s free, online, and essential.

Steps

• Create a Government Gateway account.
• Use HMRC’s online form to register as self-employed.
• Wait for your UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) to arrive.
• Keep HMRC letters safe — they contain your login info.

Tips

• Register by 5 October in your business’s second tax year.
• Keep a note of your UTR and Government Gateway ID separately.

Freelancers don’t get auto-enrolled into pensions. But contributions save tax now and build for later.

Why it matters

• Contributions reduce taxable income.
• Government adds tax relief to your contributions.

Options

• Personal pension (SIPP).
• Stakeholder pension.
• Lifetime ISA for under 40s.

Steps

• Set up a monthly contribution, even small.
• Review annually.

NI contributions fund state benefits including State Pension.

Types

• Class 2: flat weekly rate for self-employed above threshold.
• Class 4: percentage of profits above thresholds.

Paying

• Calculated via Self Assessment.
• Paid with your tax bill in January/July.

Watchouts

• Keep an eye on thresholds; they change.
• Missing years reduce State Pension entitlement.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) is HMRC’s plan to require digital record-keeping and reporting.

What it means

• You need to use software compatible with HMRC’s system.
• Spreadsheets alone are not acceptable unless linked with bridging software.

Timeline

• VAT-registered freelancers already covered.
• Income Tax Self Assessment to be phased in from 2026.

Action

• Choose compliant accounting software.
• Test exporting returns early so you’re ready.