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Help for Sole Traders & Partnership Owners
If you are self-employed, a sole trader or operate your business as a partnership, then read our accounting guide to bookkeeping and expenses you can claim.
This is also available as a PDF download from the button below.
For answers to any other questions with regards to your sole trader accounting, please contact us or book a FREE 15 min discovery call with a member of our highly qualified and experienced team.
Rules
There are various rules that a self-employed person (sometimes called a sole trader) has to abide by as follows:
- You must keep an up to date record of income
- You must be able to provide a receipt for income received
- Records must be kept for at least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline of the relevant tax year. For example, your 2018-19 return is due online by 31 January 2020, you must keep your records until at least the end of January 2025.
- You must advise HMRC that you have a new source of income and hence need to complete a tax return by 5th October in your business’ second tax year.
- You must complete tax returns annually
- Expenses claimed must be reasonable and for business purposes, and an up to date record should be kept
Guidelines
The above rules are all in law. However, there is a lot of other legislation that applies. Principally official guidelines, or advice given to the tax Inspector on what he should challenge and allow. Individual cases are taken to court and form the frame work for these guidelines. The following general guidance is based on these guidelines along with experience over many years.
Tax Returns
A tax return reports all your personal income, from all sources, for a full tax year 6th April to 5th April, in order to assess your tax bill. Sole trader income requires extra pages on your tax return. The tax inspector will compare results with others in the same trade to pick out those who look different, for investigation. He has seen it all before.
The profit of the business is subject to tax. That is income less legitimate allowable expenditure.
It is now compulsory to keep such records of income and expenditure as you go along, as the tax inspector now has a right to inspect them and they must be correct and up to date. Hence it is a good idea to get it right and log it down from the start.
Income
A record of income is compulsory, but how you keep it is up to you e.g. invoice book, list of monies received etc.
The tax inspector will expect all income to be included as gross before deductions. And income rules mean income can be included as earned, whether or not invoiced or received or on a cash basis.
On investigation the tax inspector is allowed to look at ALL your bank statements so do mark/ note non-business income, or he may think it needs taxing e.g. gifts, winnings, cloud software (Xero) etc.
Bank Account
A separate bank account for business income is a very good idea, although not compulsory.
Cash
Cash is a dirty word with HMRC especially as regards VAT so the less cash income the better. It is also best (but not compulsory) to bank all income intact i.e. before deduction of any expenses. If you need cash then draw it separately.
Income
Income to be included in the accounts is usually all income earned, regardless of whether it has yet been collected.
Invoices
Consecutive invoice numbering and recording of credits, bad debts and spoiled numbers is also recommended and compulsory if VAT registered. Also, as you are preparing a tax return, all your income will need to be noted (not just business income). So, you need to keep interest certificates etc too.
What Expenses Can I Claim as a Sole Trader or Partnership?
The main rule on expenses is that they must be for your business and ‘reasonable’. That is, would a reasonable person, in your position, with your expertise, incur such an expense.
However, the more evidence the better (i.e. receipts) and you must now keep an ongoing record of what you are going to claim.
There is no comprehensive list of expenses but please see on for a brief summary of allowable expenditure under headings used by the tax inspector.
Accountancy, legal & other professional fees
Costs of getting professional help in the running and maintaining of your business.
- Accountants
- Solicitors fees for business work
- Professional Subscriptions
- Financial Advisors fees (if it includes business advice given)
- Licence/registration fees
Advertising, and business entertaining
Any costs incurring in promoting your business, directly or indirectly.
- Social media/Google ads
- Promotional products/gifts with your name on (max value £50 each)
- Website costs
- Leaflets/flyers/Posters
- Mailshot costs
- Networking events/clubs
- Sponsorship – race night, news-sheets etc
- Donations – raffle prizes (should be local or small)
Bank, credit card & other financial charges
Costs of getting loans, running bank accounts, being paid etc.
- Bank charges
- Overdraft arrangement fee
- Credit card membership fees
- Paypal fees
- Fees charged for collection of income via credit/debit card
- Ebay charges
Broadband
If you have a separate broadband contract for your business then the whole cost will be an allowable expense. However, if you use your home broadband for both business and personal then you can only claim for the business use percentage. An estimate of business and personal use has to be taken and can be included.
Business use of home
If you work from home you can claim a proportion of your electric, gas, water, council tax, insurance and mortgage interest or rent. If you are lucky enough to have a cleaner you can also claim the business proportion of their costs. The amount to claim is based on the amount of rooms in your house used for business purposes and the amount of time working from home.
We have a separate spreadsheet that can calculate this for you, please ask. See Rent, Rates, Power and insurance costs.
A proportion of your own home costs is allowed – both fixed costs (mortgage interest, rent, council tax, insurance, broadband) and variable costs (gas, electric, cleaning). Up to £6 per week needs no backup; but over this, and you should have detailed calculations for apportionment, as well as copies of bills to substantiate costs.
We have a spreadsheet that helps you work this out and links to HMRC detailed rules. Let us know if you need it.
Car, van expenses
Cost of running business vehicles – bought for the purposes of the business.
- Costs for vehicles used both for the business and personally, will need apportioning.
- If you have access to a second vehicle (i.e. car) for personal use, then you may be able to have all your business vehicle costs. However, it is usual to apportion costs between business and personal use. (If you have any personal use then 100% is wrong).
- The official method of such apportionment is mileage but it is rare for someone to keep all mileage records both business and personal use. A reasonable estimate is therefore usually acceptable.
Costs are usually:
- Road Fund Licence
- MOT
- Insurance
- Fuel
- Repairs and servicing
- Cleaning and accessories
- Vehicle leasing payments (but not HP payments)
- Speeding and parking fines are not allowed!
You do not have to put any vehicle costs though, you could choose the mileage alternative instead – see travel costs.
Charitable donations
You can get tax relief on some charitable donations. However, these are not to be included as a business expense, they are taken into account separately in your tax return.
Clothing
Generally clothing is not an allowable expense. However, there are a few exceptions. If you have to wear a uniform or costume as part of your business then these can be claimed. Clothing which has a logo is also an allowable expense. Protective clothing (such as safety helmet, high vis jacket, steel toe cap boots, aprons, etc) can also be claimed as an expense.
Computer equipment, consumables & software
Computer Equipment will not be classed as an expense, but will be classed as an asset and you can claim capital allowances for the costs. You can also claim capital allowances for second hand equipment and equipment you owned personally then brought into the business. If you use the equipment for personal purposes as well, then only the business percentage can be claimed. Software and consumables are classed as an expense, and only the business percentage of the these can be claimed if there is any personal use.
Costs of goods bought for resale
These are any cost recharged on to the client either directly or indirectly.
- The product itself
- Parts that make it up
- Packaging
- Work subcontracted to others who may have done the job in your stead
or goods used
– any costs incurred because you did work for the client but which are not recharged.
- Commission
- Purchase of samples or brochures
- Consumables, for tools etc
- Tendering costs
- Franchise fees
Depreciation
There is an economic apportionment to each year of the value of equipment held and used in the business. The tax inspector has his own rules, which replaces this for the purposes of calculating taxable income, called capital allowances.
Entertaining
- Entertaining clients – unfortunately you can’t claim any expense for entertaining clients.
- Entertaining employees – this is allowable for tax relief, but only in certain circumstances. To ensure it is a qualifying event and not a taxable benefit for your staff it must be an annual event (i.e. Christmas party), open to all staff, and cost less than £150 per guest present.
Food & drink
Food and drink have always been a tricky one, as HMRC argue you need food and drink to live, and, therefore, it is not an allowable expense. However, there are a few occasions when you can claim the costs as an expense.
- At your home or office – if you don’t have any staff then you can’t claim the cost of food and drink you buy for when you are working at home or in your usual office. If you do have employees, you can claim the cost of basic food and drink for them (and free meals at a canteen) – as long as they are available to all staff.
- While travelling – you are only able to claim for food and drink when making a journey outside of your normal working pattern, or for when you are staying away from home overnight for business purposes.
Furniture
Generally, furniture cannot be claimed as an expense, but will be classed as a capital asset and capital allowances can be claimed. Furniture includes your desk, chair, filing cabinet, etc, and must solely be used for business purposes (i.e if you work from your dining room table you can’t claim the cost of your table and chairs!).
Gifts
- Gifts to employees – you can make a gift of goods and services of less than £50 to employees but it cannot be readily convertible to cash (no premium bonds!).
- Gifts to anyone else – as long as the gift is prominently marked with your business’ name or logo and isn’t food, drink, tobacco or vouchers, and costs less than £50 per recipient then you can claim the cost as an expense.
Insurance
Policies that are solely for business purposes can be claimed. Medical Insurance is not classed as a business expense.
Interest on bank and other loans
Allowability of interest depends on purpose/use of money/loan. Security does not affect tax status. A business cannot get tax relief on loans in excess of the business capital, the money invested in the business.
Interest must also have been properly charged – you cannot include interest on money owed to yourself (you and the business are one and the same for tax purposes). e.g.
- Bank overdraft interest
- Loan interest
- HP interest
- Interest on overdue bills
- But not interest on credit card debt
Irrecoverable debts
If your customer will not be paying you, or they have ceased to trade you can include the amount of their invoice as an irrecoverable debt.
Laundry expense
Anyone who wears a uniform (including clothing with a logo), or protective clothing for work can claim a fixed rate laundry expense from £60 – £165 per year. This covers the cost of washing the clothing.
Mileage
If you use your own car or bicycle for business journeys then you can either claim the business proportion of the total costs or claim mileage. Mileage covers the cost of fuel, running costs, and wear and tear. Business journeys include any trips for solely business purposes – seeing a customer or supplier, deliveries, going to meetings, going to the bank etc. You must keep a mileage log, and the rates are 45p for the first 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter and 5p per passenger.
National Insurance – Class 2 & Class 4
Your national insurance payments are not included as an expense. Class 2 National Insurance is a flat weekly amount and Class 4 are paid as a % on your profits. Both are now paid as part of your tax return with effect from tax year 2015-16.
Office costs
If you work from an office you can claim all of the associated costs – electric, gas, water, rent, business rates, cleaning, etc.
Other business expenses
Any other expense you can think of that do not fall into the above categories.
- Training – but must be necessary, in the course of existing business
- Trade journals
Parking fines & speeding tickets
These are not allowable expenses, even if the fines were incurred during a business journey. Fines for unpaid Dart Charges or Congestion Charges are not allowable either. Any admin fees relating to these fines are not allowable either.
Pension contributions
Any contributions to your own personal pension are not classed as an expense. However, you will gain tax relief in a separate part of your tax return. If you pay contributions into a workplace pension scheme for your employees then these are an allowable expense.
Phone, stationery and other office costs
Day to day administration costs for the business.
- Stationery – Paper and ink cartridges
- Mobile phone costs – business calls in excess of monthly costs where it is a personal contract
- Postage
- Business line telephone costs (extra/separate line)
- Proportion of calls on home line
- E-mail account/charges
Postage and courier costs
You can claim any postage or courier costs as part of your business as an expense. This includes posting paperwork to customers and suppliers, delivering goods, etc.
Professional subscriptions
You can claim subscriptions to professional bodies as an expense, if membership gives you the right to use a qualification and you use the qualification in your business. For example, a nurse can claim the costs of subscriptions to the Nursing & Midwifery Council, teachers can claim their NUT costs, etc. You can also claim subscriptions to trade associations like your local Chamber of Commerce.
Reimbursement
When an expense is incurred by an individual partner then this should be reimbursed from the partnership bank account (an expense claim) and the partnership then includes this in their tax return submission. This is the simplest way to deal with the expense.
Sole traders may have a separate business account to do this or they may not, but the criteria is not as strict as for partnerships.
Rent, rates, power and insurance costs
Any costs incurred due to the business working from a particular location.
- Rent
- Use of home charge – see Business Use of Home
- Storage facilities
- Business Rates
- Business Utility bills
- Business insurance (contents, PI etc)
Repairs & renewals of property & equipment
Repairs and maintenance costs, including small items of equipment, not large enough to be considered assets.
- Protective clothing
- Office furniture under £250 per item
- Computer accessories – mouse, printer
- Software updates
- Equipment repairs
- Ambience costs e. what makes the work environment
- Fixtures and fittings – shelves
- Maintenance contracts
- Health and safety equipment – virus software, alarm
Stationery
Any stationery you buy for your business can be claimed as an expense. This includes business cards, letter heads, pens, paper, printer ink, notebooks, files, folders etc. You can only include items purchased solely for business purposes. So, if there is any personal use then you can’t claim for the cost.
Subcontractors – construction industry
Amounts paid to subcontractors under CIS. e.g.
- Per their bill, labour plus materials before deduction of income tax
Telephone (landlines & mobiles)
If you have a separate contract for business only then the whole cost of the contract (line rental & calls) can be claimed as an expense. However, if you use your home phone or personal mobile for business use then only the business calls can be claimed for.
Training & personal development
You are only able to claim training costs for courses that update your existing skills or expertise. You are not able to claim costs for any new skills or knowledge.
Travel
If the main purpose of your travel is for business purposes, and you can separate any personal costs, then you can claim the cost of your travel, including flights, train tickets, tolls, parking costs and hotel/accommodation.
This is any business travel costs other than a business vehicle.
- Public transport
- Mileage – 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter
- Parking
- Tolls & Congestion charges
- Hotel Bills
- Meals whilst travelling away – see Food & Drink
Vehicles
If you purchase your car or van through your company then it will be classed as a capital asset and you can claim capital allowances, based on the CO2 emissions. If the vehicle is purchased through the company then you would claim the actual running costs rather than mileage. If the vehicle is used for personal journeys too, then only the business proportion of the running costs can be claimed and the capital allowances will also reflect the business use only.
Wages, salaries, other staff costs
Amounts paid to staff. Any costs for yourself are not allowed. Work must have been done, staff must have been paid.
- Salaries/wages
- Payroll taxes and National Insurance
- Staff benefits such as childcare vouchers
- Agency workers
Website costs
The build of your website, hosting fees, domain fees, email hosting etc are all allowable expenses.
Zebras
Likely to be tax deductible if you are a zoo!
As you can see the list could become endless as different businesses have much different costs.
Talk to Sole Trader Accounting Expert
If you have any questions or require further clarification on any of the expenses you can or can’t claim as a sole trader or partnership then please do not hesitate to contact us.
