Blog
Money, tax and paperwork — in plain English
Practical reads for UK subcontractors, sole traders and landlords: CIS, MTD, expenses, pricing and getting paid.
Payments on account — why HMRC bills you in advance
What payments on account are, the 31 January and 31 July deadlines, how the £1,000 threshold works, why CIS subcontractors often escape them, and when to reduce them.
Read article VAT · 18 Aug 2026VAT in construction — the domestic reverse charge, explained
How the VAT domestic reverse charge works for CIS construction services: when it applies, end users, what your invoices must say, and the cash-flow effect on subcontractors.
Read article Landlords · 11 Aug 2026Landlord Self Assessment — rental income without the January panic
What UK landlords declare on Self Assessment: rental income, allowable property expenses, mortgage interest relief, the £1,000 allowance and how MTD changes the routine.
Read article Product · 4 Aug 2026Why WhatsApp bookkeeping works when apps don't
Bookkeeping apps fail trades because capture is too much effort. Sending a receipt photo to a WhatsApp chat removes the friction — here's how chat-based bookkeeping works.
Read article Business · 21 Jul 2026Chasing late payments without burning the relationship
A practical late-payment playbook for subcontractors: payment terms that prevent it, a polite escalation sequence, statutory interest, and when to stop working.
Read article Business · 7 Jul 2026Pricing jobs and day rates — stop guessing, start costing
How subcontractors can set day rates and price work properly: true cost of a working day, overheads, dead days, materials mark-up and quoting with confidence.
Read article Business · 23 Jun 2026Sole trader vs limited company — an honest comparison for trades
Admin, tax, CIS treatment, liability and when switching to a limited company makes sense for subcontractors — and when staying a sole trader is the smarter move.
Read article Expenses · 9 Jun 2026Mileage allowance explained: 55p a mile for 2026/27
HMRC's simplified mileage rates for the self-employed rose to 55p per mile (first 10,000 miles) from 6 April 2026, then 25p. What the rate covers, mileage vs actual vehicle costs, and the records you need.
Read article Expenses · 26 May 2026Allowable expenses — what self-employed people can actually claim
A practical tour of allowable expenses for sole traders and subcontractors: tools, materials, vehicle costs, phone, insurance, home office and the rules around mixed use.
Read article MTD · 12 May 2026Making Tax Digital for Income Tax — the plain-English guide
MTD for Income Tax is live from April 2026 for qualifying income over £50,000, extending to £30,000 in 2027 and £20,000 in 2028. What digital records and quarterly updates actually mean.
Read article CIS · 28 Apr 2026How to get a CIS refund
Why CIS subcontractors overpay tax during the year, what records you need, how the refund is claimed through your return, and how to make it bigger — legitimately.
Read article CIS · 14 Apr 2026CIS deductions explained — 20%, 30% and gross status
What the Construction Industry Scheme deducts from your pay, why materials are excluded, what your CIS statement must show, and how deductions become your year-end refund.
Read articleLooking for product help instead? See guides, the WhatsApp command guide or how SubReady works. Articles are educational and not tax, accounting or financial advice.
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