📒 Self Assessment Season: A Self-Employed Guide to Paying the Right Tax (Without Overpaying!)

If you’re self-employed, here’s your friendly reminder that the deadline to submit your Self Assessment tax return is 31st January 2026.

And before you panic — there’s still time! But getting organised now gives you the best chance to:
✅ Claim all the expenses you’re entitled to
✅ Avoid a last-minute rush
✅ Stay stress-free and HMRC-happy

Let’s walk through what you need to know — and how to make sure you only pay what you owe (not a penny more!)👇

💸 What Can You Claim as a Self-Employed Person?

You can claim any business expense that’s “wholly and exclusively” for your work. But it has to be genuine, and HMRC will expect you to keep records to back it up.

Here are some of the most common expenses self-employed people can claim:

🏠 Working from Home

You can use HMRC’s simplified flat-rate option for ease.

🚗 Travel

You can claim:

• Mileage (currently 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles)

• Parking for work trips

• Train, bus or taxi fares for client visits or meetings

❌ Daily commuting doesn’t count.

☕ Meals & Entertaining

You can claim for meals only when:

• You’re travelling for business

• You’re out meeting a client

Your lunch while working at home? Sadly, not deductible.

📱 Phone & Internet

If you use your personal phone or Wi-Fi for work, you can claim a realistic percentage of the cost that relates to business use.

🎓 Training

You can claim for training that helps you improve or maintain your current skills.
Starting a new business or switching industry? That wouldn’t count.

📂 Record Keeping: Your Tax-Time Superpower

No matter how much (or little) you earn, keeping good records will save you SO much stress at tax time.

Here’s how to keep things simple and clean:

✅ Keep digital or scanned copies of all receipts
✅ Make a short note on each expense (e.g. “client call software”, “business mileage to job”)
✅ Log everything in a spreadsheet, app, or accounting tool
✅ Keep all records for at least 6 years

And yes — if there’s no receipt, you generally can’t claim it, unless it’s mileage or a flat-rate expense.

⏳ Don’t Leave It All to January!

The 31st January deadline might seem far away, but throw in Christmas and time flies.

Starting early means:

• Fewer surprises

• More time to ask questions

• A better chance of spotting missed expenses

• And if you’re due a refund? You’ll get it sooner 💷

🧠 Not Sure What You Can (or Can’t) Claim?

Totally normal! Tax rules aren’t always clear — and guessing can lead to either overpaying or landing in hot water.

If you want help:
✔️ Reviewing your expenses
✔️ Making sure you’re not missing anything
✔️ Getting your tax return submitted with confidence

…you know where I am 💁‍♀️

Let’s make tax feel a little less scary — and a lot more in your control.

Yours in tax clarity and calm,
Lisa x