🧾 Self Assessment 2026: What Business Owners Need to Know

The Self Assessment deadline is fast approaching! If you’re self-employed, a limited company director, or a mix of both, this is your friendly reminder that you need to:

✅ Submit your tax return
✅ Pay any tax owed
…by 31st January 2026.

If you’ve already filed and paid — amazing! Go make yourself a cuppa, you’re sorted ☕✅

But if it’s still on your to-do list, don’t panic — there’s still time to get everything in order and file confidently. Let’s run through what you need to check before you hit submit 👇

💼 Include All Your Taxable Income

Whether your income is straightforward or a bit of a mix, HMRC expects the full picture. That includes:

• Sole trader or self-employed income

• Salary and dividends if you’re a company director

• Rental income

• Savings interest

• Pension income

• Side hustles or freelance work

• Any benefits in kind (like a company car or private health insurance)

Even if you’ve paid some tax through PAYE, you still need to declare everything on your Self Assessment.

💸 Don’t Forget to Claim What You’re Entitled To!

Claiming allowable expenses reduces your tax bill — so it’s well worth taking a few extra minutes to check you’ve included everything you can.

If you're self-employed or a sole trader, you might be able to claim:

• Business travel and mileage

• Use of home as office

• Office equipment or software

• Phone, internet, and utilities (business-use portion)

• Subscriptions, training, or marketing costs

If you’re a company director, remember to:

• Report both salary and dividends correctly

• Include reimbursed expenses (and ensure they’re treated properly)

• Claim for pension contributions and charitable donations

• Consider any tax relief on professional fees or memberships

Not sure what applies to you? That’s what I’m here for!

👀 Coming Soon… The Tax Playbook

If you’d love a clear, jargon-free guide to help you understand exactly what to include, what to claim, and how to save tax — you’ll want to grab my Tax Playbook when it launches (very soon!).

It’s packed with tips, checklists, and real-life examples to help business owners just like you stay compliant, confident, and tax-efficient 💼📘

Stay tuned — I’ll let you know the moment it’s ready!

✅ In the meantime…

If you’re still working on your Self Assessment and want help pulling the numbers together, reviewing your expenses, or simply making sure you’ve covered everything — you know where to find me 💁‍♀️

Let’s get it done (without the stress).

Yours in tax confidence,
Lisa x
Team TaxTalks