Accountants for Sole Traders and the Self-Employed
Registration, tax returns and tax savings for drivers, freelancers, landlords, trades and CIS workers.
If you work for yourself, we make the tax side simple. Most of our clients are self-employed, from delivery and private-hire drivers to freelancers, tradespeople, landlords and online sellers. We register you with HMRC, keep your records straight, claim every expense you are allowed and file your tax return on time. You keep more of what you earn and never face a deadline alone.
Whatever you do, we have got you covered
We look after self-employed people in all sorts of work. If you do not see your job below, it still counts, just ask us.
Driving and delivery
- Uber and Bolt drivers
- Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats riders
- Amazon Flex drivers
- Taxi and private-hire drivers
- Couriers and van drivers
Trades and services
- Builders and CIS subcontractors
- Electricians and plumbers
- Painters and decorators
- Cleaners and gardeners
- Hairdressers and beauticians
Freelance, digital and other
- Freelancers and consultants
- Designers, writers and developers
- Online sellers (eBay, Etsy, Vinted)
- Content creators and tutors
- Landlords with rental income
Everything the self-employed need
Register you and get your UTR
New to self-employment? We register you with HMRC and sort your UTR.
Self Assessment tax returns
Accurate returns filed on time, with your tax worked out clearly.
Claim every expense
We make sure you claim all your allowable costs, so you never overpay.
Bookkeeping
Simple record-keeping and cloud apps that suit people on the move.
VAT, if you need it
If your turnover passes £90,000, we handle registration and returns.
Accountants for delivery and private-hire drivers
If you drive for Uber, Bolt, Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats or Amazon Flex, or as a taxi or private-hire driver, HMRC treats you as self-employed. That means registering and filing a Self Assessment. It is one of our most common jobs. We work out your profit from your earnings statements, claim your mileage and running costs properly, and make sure you do not pay a penny more tax than you need to. See our full Self Assessment service. See simplified expenses on GOV.UK
Accountants for landlords
Renting out a property, or a room, usually means declaring the income to HMRC. We prepare landlord tax returns, claim your allowable costs and apply the mortgage interest rules correctly, so your return is right and your tax is as low as the law allows. If you also have self-employed income, we handle both on one return. See renting out a property on GOV.UK
CIS subcontractors and construction workers
If you work under the Construction Industry Scheme, tax is deducted from your pay before you receive it. When we prepare your Self Assessment, we set that CIS tax against your bill, and many of our construction clients receive a refund. We make sure you claim your tools, travel and other costs too. What subcontractors must do under CIS on GOV.UK
What can you claim? Common allowable expenses
Claiming the right expenses is the simplest way to cut your tax bill. The list below is a guide; we check your exact situation.
| Expense | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Vehicle and mileage | Either simplified mileage (45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles, then 25p) or a share of your actual running costs |
| Phone and internet | The business-use share of your mobile, data and broadband |
| Working from home | A share of your home costs, or the simplified flat rate |
| Tools and equipment | Items you buy to do the work, from tools to a laptop |
| Platform and service fees | Commission and fees taken by apps and platforms |
| Insurance and licences | Business insurance, and licences such as private-hire or trade cover |
| Clothing and safety gear | Protective clothing and uniforms needed for the work |
The dates you need to know
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Register for Self Assessment | By 5 October after the end of the tax year you started |
| File a paper tax return | Midnight on 31 October |
| File an online tax return | Midnight on 31 January |
| Pay the tax you owe | 31 January (with payments on account also due 31 January and 31 July) |
Self Assessment deadlines on GOV.UK
The tax year runs 6 April to 5 April. We are a year-round service, so come to us early and avoid the January rush.
Big change coming: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
This affects sole traders and landlords. HMRC is bringing in Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax. Instead of one tax return a year, you will keep digital records and send updates every quarter using compatible software. It is being phased in by income level:
- From April 2026: if your self-employment or property income is over £50,000
- From April 2027: if it is over £30,000
- From April 2028: if it is over £20,000
We will get you ready, set up the right software and handle your quarterly updates, so the change is painless.
How tax works when you are self-employed
You pay Income Tax on your profit, which is your income minus your allowable expenses. You may also pay Class 4 National Insurance on your profit. Class 2 National Insurance is no longer required for most people, though you can still pay it voluntarily if your profit is low and you want to protect your State Pension. Rates and thresholds change each April, so we always use the current figures. You do not usually need to register or pay tax if your self-employed income is under the £1,000 trading allowance. Above that, you should register. See self-employed National Insurance rates on GOV.UK
Why the self-employed choose WPC Accountants
- We speak plain English, no jargon and no lectures
- Fixed fees agreed upfront, so you always know the cost
- We claim every expense you are entitled to, so you keep more
- Fast, even last-minute, filing when a deadline is close
- A real person to call, all year round, not just in January
Simple, fixed pricing
We charge a clear, fixed fee based on how complex your return is, so you know the cost before we start. Book a free consultation for a quote.
Book a free consultationNo obligation · Fixed fees · No hourly surprises
Frequently asked questions
- Yes. If you drive for Uber, Bolt, Deliveroo, Just Eat or Amazon Flex, HMRC treats you as self-employed. You register for Self Assessment and pay tax on your profit, which is your earnings minus your allowable costs like mileage. We handle the whole thing for you.
- If your self-employed income is under £1,000 in a tax year (the trading allowance), you usually do not need to register or pay tax on it. Above that, you register and pay Income Tax on your profit, after your tax-free Personal Allowance and expenses. We work out exactly what you owe.
- You usually need to file a Self Assessment if you earned more than £1,000 from self-employment, rented out property, or had other untaxed income. If you are not sure, we will check for you in a free consultation.
- Common ones include mileage or vehicle costs, phone and internet, tools and equipment, working-from-home costs, platform fees, insurance and protective clothing. We review your work and claim everything you are entitled to.
- For an online return, midnight on 31 January after the tax year ends. A paper return is due by 31 October, and you register by 5 October in your first year. Tax is due by 31 January, sometimes with a payment on account on 31 July.
- Usually yes. Rental income above the £1,000 property allowance normally has to be declared. We prepare landlord tax returns, claim your allowable costs and apply the mortgage interest rules correctly.
- Making Tax Digital for Income Tax means keeping digital records and sending HMRC quarterly updates. It applies to sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000 from April 2026, over £30,000 from April 2027 and over £20,000 from April 2028. We will get you ready in good time.
- Absolutely. We register you as self-employed, sort your UTR and explain everything in plain English, then look after your first tax return and every one after it.
Explore our services:
Self Employment RegistrationUTR ApplicationSelf AssessmentBookkeepingVAT ReturnsGet in touch
Ready to sort your tax, or just have a question? Contact our team and we will get back to you quickly.
Contact Details
Address
3rd Floor, 112-116 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1JE
Phone
+44 7380 992174Office hours
Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 6:30 pm