Guides and free tools
Straight answers to the questions tradespeople ask about tax and paperwork.
Guides
Making Tax Digital for sole traders: what changes and when
When Making Tax Digital for Income Tax starts for sole traders and tradespeople, what you'll have to do each quarter, and how to get ready.
How much tax should I put aside when I'm self-employed?
A simple way to work out how much of each payment to keep back for Income Tax and National Insurance, with worked examples for 2026/27.
Mileage or actual costs: which is best for your van?
Should you claim 45p a mile or your van's actual costs? How each works for tradespeople, a worked example, and the rule about not switching.
What can tradespeople claim as expenses?
The costs plumbers, electricians, builders and other trades can claim against tax, the ones you can't, and how to keep the records.
Free tools
Free invoice template
Make an invoice and save it as a PDF. No sign-up.
Self-employed tax calculator
Your Income Tax and National Insurance for 2026/27.
CIS calculator
What a contractor takes off your labour.
VAT calculator
Add or take out 20% VAT.
Mileage allowance calculator
45p and 25p a mile for the year.
Does Making Tax Digital apply to me?
When MTD for Income Tax starts for you.