Expenses — Guides, Tips & Expert Advice
What you can and cannot claim as business expenses — allowable deductions, receipts, and HMRC rules.
64 articles on Expenses
Clothing and Uniform Expenses for the Self-Employed
Can you claim work clothing as a business expense? The answer depends on whether it's protective, branded, or ordinary clothing. Here's what HMRC allows.
The Complete List of Allowable Expenses for UK Sole Traders 2026
A comprehensive guide to every allowable expense UK sole traders can claim against their Self Assessment tax bill in 2025/26 and 2026/27, with practical examples and HMRC rules explained.
Entertainment Expenses: What HMRC Allows and What It Doesn't
Client dinners, corporate hospitality, staff parties — entertainment expenses are one of the most misunderstood areas of UK tax. Here's exactly what HMRC allows and what it blocks.
Equipment and Tools: Claiming Correctly as a Sole Trader
Whether you buy a laptop, power tools, or specialist equipment, here's how to claim the cost correctly — including when to use capital allowances and when to treat it as a revenue expense.
Food and Subsistence Expenses: When You Can Claim
Can you claim lunch as a business expense? Sometimes. Here's when food and subsistence costs are allowable for UK sole traders, and when they're firmly personal.
Insurance Premiums: Which Are Tax Deductible
From professional indemnity to public liability, most business insurance premiums are tax-deductible. Here's a complete guide to what you can and cannot claim.
Marketing and Advertising Expenses for Sole Traders
From Google Ads to business cards, marketing and advertising costs are fully allowable business expenses. Here's what counts and how to claim it properly.
Pension Contributions as a Business Expense
How pension contributions work for sole traders, the tax relief available, and why saving into a pension is one of the most tax-efficient things you can do.
Phone and Internet Expenses for Sole Traders
How to claim phone and internet costs as a sole trader, including mobile phone bills, landlines, broadband, and the rules around splitting personal and business use.
Professional Development and Training Expenses
Can you claim training courses, books, and conferences as business expenses? The answer depends on whether you're updating existing skills or acquiring entirely new ones.
Professional Fees: Accountants, Solicitors, and Insurance
The fees you pay to professional advisers — accountants, solicitors, consultants — are generally tax-deductible. Here's what counts and what doesn't.
Repairs and Maintenance vs Improvements: The Tax Difference
Repairs are revenue expenses you can deduct immediately. Improvements are capital expenditure treated differently. Here's how to tell the difference and claim correctly.
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