
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have announced the launch of a new interactive online tool and clearer guidance for those who are already self-employed and those considering it.
The new tool explains what records a self-employed person may need to keep, taxes that may apply to their business, and includes other useful information, such as how to pay a tax bill.
HMRC’s new Set Up as a sole trader: step by step guide can help people who work for themselves understand the situations in which they may need to register as a sole trader and how they can do so.
The tools can be used on an anonymous basis and are only for information purposes. Using them will not result in being registered as self-employed, and the government have said that they do not collect or store any information about the user.
If you are unsure about whether you may need to register as self-employed, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to help you.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-support-for-small-business-from-hmrc

Last week, the Chancellor unveiled her Spending Review setting out how government departments will allocate money over the coming years. While much of the focus was on large-scale public services like the NHS and schools, there are some important signals here for businesses to take note of - both in terms of opportunity and outlook.

The UK’s economic growth is set to slow more than expected, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which has downgraded its forecast for 2025 to 1.3%, down from 1.4% earlier this year.