Self-Assessment Tax Returns for Sole Traders

If you're a sole trader, you need to file a Self Assessment tax return every year. It's not optional—HMRC requires it, and missing the deadline means penalties and interest. Sole traders must register for Self Assessment if their income from self-employment is over £1,000 in a tax year—Self Assessment registration and filing is mandatory for most sole traders. Self Assessment tax returns must be filed by 31 January following the end of the tax year—late filing penalties apply if returns are filed after the deadline.

The problem is most sole traders find Self Assessment confusing. They don't know what expenses to claim, struggle with tax calculations, or miss filing deadlines. That causes problems—missing expenses means paying more tax than you should, wrong calculations mean incorrect tax payments, and late filing means penalties and interest.

We handle Self Assessment tax returns for sole traders: Self Assessment registration (if you're not already registered), tax return preparation (gathering income and expenses, calculating tax), expense claims (ensuring you claim all allowable expenses), tax calculation (calculating Income Tax and National Insurance), and return filing (submitting your return to HMRC by the deadline). Whether you're a sole trader in Medway needing your first Self Assessment, a freelancer in Maidstone wanting expense claims, or a business owner in Canterbury needing tax return filing, we'll handle your Self Assessment that works. No missed deadlines, no overpaid tax—just proper tax return filing that keeps you compliant and saves you money.

What this helps you do (fast)

• Meet your Self Assessment filing obligations — File your Self Assessment tax return on time, every year. On-time filing means no penalties, no interest, and no HMRC enquiries.
• Claim all allowable expenses — We'll make sure you claim all allowable business expenses you're entitled to. Claiming expenses reduces taxable profit, which saves you money on Income Tax and National Insurance.
• Calculate tax correctly — Proper tax calculation ensures you pay the right amount of Income Tax and National Insurance. No overpayments, no underpayments, no surprises.
• Avoid penalties and interest — On-time filing and accurate returns mean no late filing penalties or interest charges. Avoiding penalties saves money and stress.
• Understand your tax obligations — We'll explain what you need to pay and why. Understanding your tax obligations helps you plan and budget better.
• Peace of mind — Knowing your Self Assessment is handled correctly gives you peace of mind. No worrying about deadlines, calculations, or compliance issues.

How it works

Step-by-step process for Self Assessment tax returns for sole traders:

1. Discovery call — We chat about your situation: whether you're already registered for Self Assessment, what your self-employment income is, what expenses you have, whether you've filed Self Assessment before, and what you want to achieve.
2. Self Assessment registration — If you're not already registered, we'll register you:
   • HMRC registration — Register you for Self Assessment with HMRC (if you're not already registered)
   • Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) — Get your UTR number from HMRC (needed for filing returns)
   • Government Gateway account — Set up or access your Government Gateway account (needed for online filing)
   • Registration confirmation — Confirm registration and understand filing deadlines
   Self Assessment registration ensures you're set up to file returns.
3. Income and expense gathering — We gather all your income and expenses:
   • Self-employment income — All income from your sole trader business (sales, fees, payments received)
   • Allowable business expenses — All allowable expenses (travel, office costs, professional fees, equipment, marketing, training, etc.)
   • Other income — Any other income (employment, property, savings, dividends) that needs to be reported
   • Supporting documents — Receipts, invoices, bank statements, and other documents to support your return
   Income and expense gathering ensures we have all the information needed for your return.
4. Tax calculation — We calculate your tax:
   • Trading profit calculation — Calculate your trading profit (self-employment income minus allowable expenses)
   • Income Tax calculation — Calculate Income Tax on your trading profit (using tax bands and rates)
   • National Insurance calculation — Calculate Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance contributions
   • Total tax due — Calculate total tax and National Insurance due, and any payments on account for next year
   Tax calculation ensures you know exactly what you need to pay.
5. Tax return preparation — We prepare your Self Assessment tax return:
   • Return completion — Complete all relevant sections of the Self Assessment tax return (self-employment pages, income, expenses, tax calculations)
   • Expense claims — Ensure all allowable expenses are claimed correctly (maximizing expense claims to reduce tax)
   • Return review — Review return for accuracy and completeness before filing
   • Supporting documentation — Prepare supporting documentation if needed (expense receipts, invoices, etc.)
   Tax return preparation ensures your return is accurate and complete.
6. Return filing and payment — We file your return and handle payment:
   • Online filing — File your Self Assessment tax return online via HMRC's Government Gateway (faster and more reliable than paper filing)
   • Filing confirmation — Get confirmation from HMRC that your return has been received
   • Payment advice — Advise on payment of tax due (payment deadline is 31 January, same as filing deadline)
   • Payment on account — Explain payments on account if applicable (advance payments for next year's tax)
   Return filing ensures your return is submitted on time and payment is handled correctly.

We handle all aspects of Self Assessment for sole traders. The key is gathering all income and expenses, calculating tax correctly, and filing on time, so you meet your obligations and save money on tax.

Costs & timelines

Pricing factors:

• Return complexity — Simple returns (basic income and expenses) cost less than complex returns (multiple income sources, complex expenses, capital gains, etc.)
• Record keeping quality — Well-organized records cost less to process than messy records that need sorting
• Timing — Returns filed well before deadline cost the same, but late returns (filed close to deadline) may cost more due to urgency
• Ongoing support — If you want ongoing support (quarterly reviews, tax planning, advice), that's separate

Commonly reported ranges by local providers:

• Simple Self Assessment return: £200–£400 for basic sole trader return with straightforward income and expenses
• Standard Self Assessment return: £300–£600 for typical sole trader return with moderate complexity
• Complex Self Assessment return: £500–£1,000+ for complex returns (multiple income sources, capital gains, complex expenses, etc.)
• Self Assessment registration: Usually included in return preparation, or £50–£100 separately if just registration

Why Self Assessment tax return filing costs what it does:

• Income and expense gathering requires time to review documents and understand your business
• Tax calculation requires knowledge of tax rules, rates, and allowances
• Tax return preparation requires completing all relevant sections accurately
• Return filing requires submission and confirmation
• Ongoing communication and support throughout the process

Timeline: For returns filed before the deadline, preparation usually takes 1-2 weeks from when we receive all your documents. We'll need your documents at least 2-3 weeks before the 31 January deadline to ensure on-time filing. If you provide documents very close to the deadline, we may not be able to guarantee on-time filing due to high demand.

Payment: Tax due must be paid by 31 January (same as filing deadline). If you can't pay in full, HMRC offers payment plans, but you need to arrange this before the deadline. We can help you understand payment options if needed.

No hidden fees. Return preparation price includes registration (if needed), income/expense gathering, tax calculation, return preparation, and online filing. Ongoing support and tax planning are separate if you want them.

Kent (UK) focus

We work with sole traders across Kent: sole traders in Medway needing their first Self Assessment, freelancers in Maidstone wanting expense claims, and business owners in Canterbury needing tax return filing.

Kent sole traders face the same Self Assessment obligations as everyone else—registering for Self Assessment, filing returns by 31 January, paying Income Tax and National Insurance. The difference is when you get proper help with Self Assessment, you claim all allowable expenses, calculate tax correctly, and file on time. That's what helps Kent sole traders stay compliant and save money on tax.

Common Kent sole trader scenarios:

• New sole traders — New sole traders needing first Self Assessment registration and filing
• Experienced sole traders — Experienced sole traders wanting to ensure they're claiming all expenses and filing correctly
• Sole traders with complex income — Sole traders with multiple income sources needing comprehensive Self Assessment
• Late filers — Sole traders who've missed deadlines and need help catching up

Kent business market context:

• Many Kent businesses are sole traders (consultants, freelancers, tradespeople, service providers)
• Proper Self Assessment filing helps Kent sole traders stay compliant and save money on tax
• On-time filing helps Kent sole traders avoid penalties and interest

Remote-first, Kent-focused. We don't need to meet in person (though we can if you prefer), and we understand what Kent sole traders are dealing with. Self Assessment registration, tax return preparation, expense claims—we'll handle your Self Assessment that keeps you compliant and saves you money.

FAQs