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Self-employed taxation

Expert commentary and practical guidance from ICAEW related to the taxation of those that are self-employed within the UK business tax regime, including cash basis.

In this section

Practical guidance

ICAEW's Tax Faculty produces TAXguides to provide practical support on technical areas of tax.

TAXguide 06/13 (TECH 13/13 TAX)

National Insurance contributions: Agreed note of cross-border and home national insurance contribution issues raised in 2012 and 2013 with HM Revenue & Customs by the Tax Faculty of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, with HMRC’s responses published in October 2013.

COVID-19 and the future of tax

How will the Exchequer cover the costs of the economic support and stimulus packages caused by the pandemic? A reduction in defence spend, changes to business rates, corporation, capital gains and inheritance taxes; a wealth tax?

Webinars and recordings

Bloomsbury Accounting and Tax Service

Eligible firms have free access to Bloomsbury Professional's comprehensive online library, comprising more than 60 titles from some of the country's leading tax and accounting subject matter experts. Find out who is eligible and how you can access the Accounting and Tax Service.

Cash basis for unincorporated businesses

A full chapter covering the cash basis system of accounting, including eligibility, rules for specific trades and professions and the way cash basis works. 

Property rental businesses

A full chapter covering the tax principles and framework for deductions by unincorporated property businesses.

Value added tax 2022-23

An accessible guide to current VAT law, written for both professional advisers and non-professionals.

Self-employment

A full chapter providing a practical overview of the taxation of self-employment income in the UK, including the temporary Covid-19 Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

Self-employment

A chapter on the UK tax treatment of self-employment, containing worked examples throughout.

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ICAEW REP 77/21: Basis Period Reform

Pushing through proposals to change basis periods ahead of the expansion of Making Tax Digital will cause as many problems as it solves and would be a backwards step for affected businesses, warns ICAEW in its response to HMRC's consultation on aligning basis periods with the tax year. ICAEW has urged the government not to implement to proposals.

ICAEW REP 66/21 Timely payment

In responding to HMRC's call for evidence on timely payment, ICAEW argues that earlier payment of income and corporation tax should not be considered until the economy has recovered and that earlier payment should not be based on in-year estimates without HMRC first demonstrating that they can be a reliable basis for earlier payment.

Further support

Useful links

Some resources that we link to may pre-date the latest amendments to the relevant tax regulations. While these links contain useful information, please treat them with appropriate caution.

Employment status manual: entertainment industry

Employment status guidance for the entertainment industry. The guidance covers film and video workers, TV and radio workers, theatrical workers and musicians.

National Insurance on GOV.UK

Comprehensive hub linking to government guidance on National Insurance including rates and categories, National Insurance for the self-employed, and UK National Insurance for those working outside the UK.

Expenses if you're self-employed

Guidance on the treatment of company expenses for self-employed taxation explaining different categories of allowable business expenses.

Cash basis on GOV.UK

Official guidance for small businesses on who can use cash basis, how to record income and expenses, and information for VAT registered businesses.

Business Income Manual: Cash basis

HMRC internal manual providing guidance on eligibility, receipts, expenses, and transitional adjustments when entering or leaving the cash basis.

Disguised remuneration further update

Policy paper describing further measures to be implemented in Finance Bill 2017-18 to prevent the future use of disguised remuneration schemes and introduce new charges on disguised remuneration loans regarding self-employment taxation.

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