Self Assessment vs PAYE: How They Differ
PAYE and Self Assessment are two different ways HMRC collects tax.
PAYE (Pay As You Earn)
- Your employer deducts tax and NI from your salary before you receive it
- Tax is collected throughout the year in each pay packet
- Your employer handles the calculations based on your tax code
- You do not need to file a return (unless you have other income)
Self Assessment
- You calculate your own tax based on your income and expenses
- You file a tax return and pay the tax yourself
- Tax is paid in lump sums (31 January and 31 July)
- You are responsible for keeping records and meeting deadlines
If You Have Both
If you are employed and self-employed, your PAYE employer collects tax on your salary, and you use Self Assessment to report and pay tax on your self-employment income. Both are factored into your total tax calculation.
Accounted handles the Self Assessment side, factoring in your PAYE income for an accurate total tax estimate.
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Tax & Compliance Specialists
Our tax specialists have decades of combined experience in UK sole trader and small business taxation, MTD compliance, and HMRC submissions. All content is reviewed against current HMRC guidance before publication and updated quarterly to reflect legislative changes.
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