UK Self-Employment & Gig Economy Guides
10 guides on Self-employed tax, NIC, trading allowance, IR35, and digital platforms.
Allowable Expenses — InvestmentKit
What business expenses are allowable for UK self-employed: wholly and exclusively test, travel rates, home office simplified expenses, office costs, staff costs, and professional fees.
Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) — InvestmentKit
CIS for UK subcontractors: 20% and 30% deduction rates, gross payment status, applying for registration, annual returns, and penalties for non-compliance.
Digital Platform Tax — InvestmentKit
HMRC data gathering from digital platforms (Uber, Airbnb, Amazon), OECD Model Rules, platform reporting requirements, DAC7 in the UK, and penalties for non-disclosure.
IR35 Off-Payroll Working — InvestmentKit
IR35 rules for UK contractors: deemed employment status, medium/large company determinations, CEST tool, deemed payment calculation, penalties, and the appeal process.
National Insurance for Self-Employed — InvestmentKit
NI for the UK self-employed: Class 2 (£3.45/week, abolished from 2026?), Class 4 (9% on £12,570-£50,270, 2% above), merger with income tax, and State Pension contribution record.
Self Assessment for Self-Employed — InvestmentKit
Completing SA103S or SA103F for self-employed tax returns: turnover, allowable expenses, Class 4 NIC, payments on account, and a worked tax bill calculation example.
Self-Employment Registration — InvestmentKit
How to register as self-employed with HMRC: deadlines, UTR number, choosing an accounting date, Class 2 National Insurance, and what counts as self-employment.
Side Hustle Tax — InvestmentKit
Tax on UK side hustle income: eBay, Etsy, Uber, Deliveroo, OnlyFans. The £1,000 trading allowance, HMRC digital platform data sharing, and reporting all income to HMRC.
Simplified Expenses — InvestmentKit
Using HMRC flat rates for vehicle costs (45p/25p per mile), home office (£6-26 per week), and private use of business premises. Eligibility and when to use simplified versus actual costs.
Trading Allowance — InvestmentKit
The £1,000 tax-free trading allowance in the UK. Choosing between the allowance and actual expenses, side hustle income, property versus trading income, and reporting requirements.