Self Assessment: Quick Guide to What You Can Claim
Here is a quick reference of what most sole traders can claim on Self Assessment.
Always Claimable
- Accountancy and bookkeeping fees
- Business insurance
- Office supplies and stationery
- Business phone and internet (business proportion)
- Software subscriptions for business
- Professional body memberships
- Bank charges on business accounts
- Advertising and marketing
- Travel to temporary workplaces
- Business mileage (45p/mile first 10,000, 25p after)
Often Missed
- Home office costs (simplified or actual)
- Training to update existing skills
- Professional publications and journals
- Business-related postage and delivery
- Protective clothing and uniforms
- Equipment and tools
Never Claimable
- Personal expenses
- Business entertaining (meals with clients)
- Everyday clothing (even if only worn for work)
- Fines and penalties
- Your own drawings or salary
The Rule
An expense is claimable if it is incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of your trade. Mixed-use expenses (phone, home costs) can be partly claimed based on business use.
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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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