# Learn: UK tax explained in plain English

Canonical: https://taxmo.co.uk/learn

Articles, guides and tools on UK tax for sole traders, freelancers and contractors. Where a figure changes each year, the pages point to GOV.UK rather than quoting it.

## VAT

- VAT return boxes 1 to 9: One page per box, plus the domestic reverse charge.
- Freelancer VAT guide: How VAT works when you work for yourself.
- VAT registration guide: When and how to register, and what changes after.
- VAT registration for sole traders: The registration steps as a sole trader, and choosing a VAT scheme.
- Flat Rate Scheme vs standard VAT: How the two compare, with worked scenarios and a checklist.
- File a VAT return without an accountant: Preparing your records and submitting the return yourself.

## Making Tax Digital

- Making Tax Digital for VAT: What MTD for VAT asks of you and your software.
- Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: Who MTD for Income Tax is for, quarterly updates and exemptions.

## Self Assessment

- Self Assessment topics: Expenses, payments on account, records and more.
- Complete tax guide: The whole year for a UK sole trader, in one read.
- Self Assessment deadlines: The dates to put in your diary. Check GOV.UK for your year.
- Side hustle tax guide: Tax on extra income alongside a job or a business.

## Expenses and bookkeeping

- Sole trader expenses: What you can claim and what you cannot.

## Working for yourself

- UK tax guide for expats: Residence, income tax and National Insurance if you move to or from the UK.

## Tools and resources

The hub also lists the Taxmo blog articles, which can be searched and filtered by topic.

- Tax tools: Take-home and day rate calculators, and the rest of the free tools.
- PAYE calculator: Gross to net pay for an employee: income tax, National Insurance, student loan and pension.
- Pension tax relief calculator: What a pension contribution costs after relief, and the annual allowance.
- Am I trading?: HMRC's badges of trade and the trading allowance, and whether to tell HMRC.
- Business structure chooser: Sole trader, partnership, limited company or LLP, compared.
- UK residence test: The Statutory Residence Test: the overseas tests, the UK tests and the ties test.
- Accounting by trade: Expenses and rules for electricians, builders, cleaners and more.
- Tax glossary: Plain-English meanings for the terms HMRC uses.
- UK tax rates: Rates and bands, with where to check the current figures.
- Video manual: Short walkthroughs and written step-by-step guides for the app.
- Compare: Taxmo next to other UK bookkeeping software.

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This page explains what Taxmo and UK tax rules do rather than quoting figures that are indexed or reset at fiscal events. Check current amounts on GOV.UK.