{"id":25366,"date":"2025-11-17T13:56:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T13:56:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/?post_type=knowledge&#038;p=25366"},"modified":"2026-05-01T13:51:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T13:51:28","slug":"business-tax-guide","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/business-tax-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Key types of business tax in the UK (2026-27 update)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which business taxes you\u2019ll need to pay as a small business will depend on the structure you\u2019ve chosen \u2013 either a sole trader (self-employed), limited company, or partnership, plus how well it\u2019s performing and how you pay yourself as the owner.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this piece we\u2019ll cover the key details of the main types of business tax you might have to pay, plus when you need to pay them and how best to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main taxes small businesses might have to pay are:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex has-2-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#h-paying-corporation-tax-as-a-small-business\">Corporation tax<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#h-income-tax-for-the-self-employed\">Income tax<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#h-what-do-small-businesses-need-to-know-about-vat\">VAT<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#h-national-insurance-for-small-businesses\">National Insurance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#h-how-do-business-rates-work\">Business rates<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#capital-gains-tax\">Capital gains tax<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#company-benefits-tax\">Tax on company benefits<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#dividends-tax\">Dividends tax<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also look at:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#business-tax-relief\">Business tax relief<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#business-expenses\">Business expenses<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#business-tax-account\">Business tax accounts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-business-tax-who-pays-what\">Business tax <strong>\u2013<\/strong> who pays what?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex has-3-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-azure-800-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-a41243a916e8debe973558fc6f2618fb wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px\"><strong>Sole trader taxes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-azure-600-color has-azure-200-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-92c636ce9f6dca18b2c6774fbf0d1e5b wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px\"><strong>Income tax\u00a0<br><\/strong><br><strong>National Insurance contributions<\/strong> <br>(Class 4 and Class 2 voluntarily)<br><br><strong>Capital gains tax <br><\/strong>(if selling <br>business assets)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-azure-800-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-c30040ed84fd01606a64fa5895607a29 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px\"><strong>Limited company taxes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-azure-600-color has-azure-200-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-8d66f572df11f617cd47d6a1f0a85201 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--100);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--100)\"><strong>Corporation tax<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-azure-800-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-28fc6127435622a633a0e7929075e9e3 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px\"><strong>Company director taxes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-azure-600-color has-azure-200-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-94c26c405d2afca2906ed51890d1cfa1 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--100);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--100)\"><strong>Income tax&nbsp;<br><\/strong><br><strong>National Insurance contributions<\/strong> <br>(Class 1)<br><br><strong>Capital gains tax <br><\/strong>(if selling <br>business assets)<br><br><strong>Dividend tax <br><\/strong>(if paying yourself in dividends)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make sure you keep a note of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/tax-year-dates\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"33010\">key tax year dates<\/a> so you don&#8217;t miss important deadlines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to make sure your next tax bill doesn&#8217;t come with a shock? This quick video includes three tips on how you can properly prepare for your next tax bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@simplybusiness\/video\/7612705459920719126\" data-video-id=\"7612705459920719126\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\"> <section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@simplybusiness\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@simplybusiness?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@simplybusiness<\/a> <p>Tax bill panic is a rite of passage for small business owners\u2026 but it doesn\u2019t have to be an annual tradition!  Here\u2019s exactly how to prep so you aren\u2019t caught off guard next year.  <a title=\"taxbill\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/taxbill?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">#TaxBill<\/a> <a title=\"tax\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/tax?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">#Tax<\/a> <a title=\"incometax\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/incometax?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">#IncomeTax<\/a> <a title=\"businesstax\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/businesstax?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">#BusinessTax<\/a> <a title=\"fyp\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/fyp?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">#FYP<\/a> <\/p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c Strawberry Milk Tea - ANKOH\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/Strawberry-Milk-Tea-7408126501102569488?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">\u266c Strawberry Milk Tea &#8211; ANKOH<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-paying-corporation-tax-as-a-small-business\">Paying corporation tax as a small business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Corporation tax is basically income tax for limited companies \u2013 the way you pay tax on your business\u2019s profits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re a sole trader (self-employed), you\u2019ll pay income tax instead \u2013 but we\u2019ll look at this later.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Limited companies need to pay corporation tax on any investments and other income that comes in from selling assets too (like property or company shares).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find out more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/when-is-corporation-tax-due\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1592\">corporation tax<\/a> in our full guide.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-is-the-corporation-tax-deadline\">When is the corporation tax deadline?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The corporation tax deadline can be a little fiddly, because it\u2019s nine months and one day after the end of the accounting period for your last financial year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You need to pay your corporation tax before filing your company tax return (also known as form CT600). You still have to do this if you\u2019re technically making a loss and don\u2019t owe any corporation tax \u2013 HMRC needs to know.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find out more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/company-tax-return\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1430\">filing a company tax return<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-30c80bf8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:10px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-corporation-tax-rates-what-do-you-need-to-know\">Corporation tax rates \u2013 what do you need to know?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The corporation tax rate for company profits is between 19% to 25%, depending on your profits.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-corporation-tax-payments-nbsp\">Corporation tax payments&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You must register for corporation tax within three months of starting to trade as a limited company. Trading means buying and selling, of course, but also advertising your services, renting a property or employing someone.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can do this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/limited-company-formation\/set-up-your-company-for-corporation-tax\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">via the government website<\/a> as part of <a data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1270\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-structure\/setting-up-a-limited-company\/\">setting up your limited company<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-income-tax-for-the-self-employed\">Income tax for the self-employed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re a sole trader (self-employed), you need to pay income tax instead of corporation tax.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To do this, you\u2019ll need to file an annual Self Assessment tax return and pay any tax owed. This is due by 31 January every year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find out more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/self-assessment\/how-to-do-a-self-assessment-tax-return\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"24133\">filing your Self Assessment tax return<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-300-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-75945e8f wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-making-tax-digital-a-new-way-to-report-your-income-to-hmrc\"><strong>Making Tax Digital \u2013 a new way to report your income to HMRC<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The government\u2019s new digital tax process is being rolled out for Self Assessment taxpayers from April 2026. When you\u2019re signed up to this new scheme, the tax you pay won\u2019t change \u2013 but the way you report your income will.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Making Tax Digital (MTD) means sending quarterly financial updates to HMRC along with a final declaration on 31 January.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/self-assessment\/making-tax-digital-for-income-tax\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"38240\">Check if Making Tax Digital will apply to you<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Related guides:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/self-assessment\/how-much-will-making-tax-digital-cost\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"43294\">How much could Making Tax Digital cost your business?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">Built-in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/banking\/monzos-built-in-mtd-tool\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"42909\">MTD tools<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/best-small-business-accounting-software-uk\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1262\">accounting software<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/making-tax-digital-exemptions\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"42469\">MTD exemptions \u2013 applications are open<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-paying-income-tax-when-you-have-a-side-hustle\">Paying income tax when you have a side hustle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s important to understand your tax liabilities when you have a side hustle and are also employed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ll need to start paying tax and reporting your income to HMRC as soon as you start earning \u00a31,000 each tax year. The way you do this is through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/self-assessment\/how-to-do-a-self-assessment-tax-return\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"24133\">Self Assessment<\/a> process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/self-assessment\/tax-on-second-job\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1546\">how does second job tax work?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/retail\/vinted-tax\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"38494\">everything you need to know about Vinted tax<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-income-tax-for-employers\">Income tax for employers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But if you\u2019re a limited company and employ others, you\u2019ll need to make sure every employee (and company director, if you have any) pays income tax on their salary.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To do this you\u2019ll need to register your company with PAYE (Pay As You Earn). This will let you HMRC to collect income tax (and National Insurance, which we\u2019ll touch on later) from your payroll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-001\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The PAYE tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year, which is when you\u2019ll need to complete your end-of-year PAYE return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find out more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/paying-paye-tax-guide-for-employers\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1493\">PAYE as an employer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e6cd1626 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:10px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-income-tax-rates-how-much-tax-do-you-have-to-pay\">Income tax rates \u2013 how much tax do you have to pay?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Self-employed business owners and employees get the same personal allowance. You\u2019ll need to pay 20% income tax on anything you earn over this amount, then 40% if you earn over the next threshold.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The overall rates are slightly different in Scotland to England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as income tax is a devolved responsibility. Take a look at the current rates in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/income-tax-rates\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1464\">income tax rates<\/a> guide.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-do-small-businesses-need-to-know-about-vat\">What do small businesses need to know about VAT?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VAT stands for Value Added Tax, which is a type of tax added to most goods and services that a business would sell, normally at 20%.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can only charge VAT if you\u2019re a VAT registered business, and you\u2019re legally required to do this if your taxable turnover is larger than \u00a390,000. You can choose to become a VAT-registered business if you bring in less, but it\u2019s not compulsory.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important to keep in mind that your VAT taxable turnover is calculated on a 12-month rolling basis, so every month you\u2019ll need to check if you\u2019ve crossed the \u00a390,000 threshold. You then have 30 days to register for VAT.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read our full guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/vat-registration-threshold-small-business-guide\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1556\">how to register for VAT<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-300-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-75945e8f wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-vat-deadlines-when-do-you-need-to-pay\">VAT deadlines \u2013 when do you need to pay?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Businesses must pass the VAT they receive from customers on to HMRC as part of their VAT return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your VAT return due date is based on your accounting period. Businesses usually submit the form every three months, but you can choose to do it monthly or once a year through the annual accounting scheme.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find out how and when to<a data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1429\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/how-to-do-a-vat-return\/\"> file your VAT return<\/a> with our full guide.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-current-vat-rates\">What are the current VAT rates?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rate of VAT depends on the product you\u2019re selling or service you\u2019re providing. There are three rates of VAT:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">standard rate (20%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">reduced rate (5%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">zero rate (0%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fuel and heating products are sold at the reduced rate, and things like good and children\u2019s clothes are zero rate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"661\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/vat-rates-scaled.webp?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44362\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/vat-rates-scaled.webp 1500w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/vat-rates-scaled.webp?resize=800,516 800w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/vat-rates-scaled.webp?resize=768,496 768w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/vat-rates-scaled.webp?resize=1024,661 1024w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/vat-rates-scaled.webp?resize=150,97 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/how-much-is-vat-online-vat-calculator\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1408\">work out how much VAT you owe<\/a> in our VAT guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-calculating-vat-on-your-products-and-services\">Calculating VAT on your products and services<\/h3>\n\n\n<link rel='stylesheet' id='formidable-css' href='https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php?action=frmpro_css&#038;ver=3131128' media='all' \/>\n<div class=\"frm_forms  with_frm_style frm_style_simply-business\" id=\"frm_form_8_container\" >\n<form enctype=\"multipart\/form-data\" method=\"post\" class=\"frm-show-form  frm_ajax_submit  frm_pro_form \" id=\"form_vat-calc22\" >\n<div class=\"frm_form_fields \">\n<fieldset>\n<legend class=\"frm_screen_reader\">VAT calculator (Latest)<\/legend>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"frm_fields_container\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"frm_action\" value=\"create\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"form_id\" value=\"8\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"frm_hide_fields_8\" id=\"frm_hide_fields_8\" value=\"\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"form_key\" value=\"vat-calc22\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"item_meta[0]\" value=\"\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" id=\"frm_submit_entry_8\" name=\"frm_submit_entry_8\" value=\"e6c25e3ecc\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge\/25366\" \/><div id=\"frm_field_67_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_top_container frm12 frm_first vertical_radio\">\r\n\t<div  id=\"field_ahrqo32_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">I want to&#8230;\r\n\t\t<span class=\"frm_required\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t<div class=\"frm_opt_container\" aria-labelledby=\"field_ahrqo32_label\" role=\"radiogroup\">\t\t<div class=\"frm_radio\" id=\"frm_radio_67-0\">\t\t\t<label  for=\"field_ahrqo32-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"radio\" name=\"item_meta[67]\" id=\"field_ahrqo32-0\" value=\"add\"\n\t\t data-frmval=\"add\" data-invmsg=\"I want to... is invalid\"  checked=\"checked\" \/> Add 20% VAT<\/label><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"frm_radio\" id=\"frm_radio_67-1\">\t\t\t<label  for=\"field_ahrqo32-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"radio\" name=\"item_meta[67]\" id=\"field_ahrqo32-1\" value=\"remove\"\n\t\t data-frmval=\"add\" data-invmsg=\"I want to... is invalid\"   \/> Remove 20% VAT<\/label><\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_68_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_top_container frm6 frm_first\">\r\n\t<label for=\"field_v9daj32\" id=\"field_v9daj32_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">Enter amount \r\n\t\t<span class=\"frm_required\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n\t<\/label>\r\n\t<div class=\"frm_with_box\"><input type=\"text\" id=\"field_v9daj32\" name=\"item_meta[68]\" value=\"\" inputmode=\"decimal\" data-invmsg=\"Enter amount  is invalid\" class=\"frm_field_number frm-has-number-format\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   min=\"0\" max=\"9999999\" step=\"any\" \/><\/div>\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_69_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_top_container frm6\">\r\n\t<label for=\"field_m7ga432\" id=\"field_m7ga432_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">Enter amount \r\n\t\t<span class=\"frm_required\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n\t<\/label>\r\n\t<div class=\"frm_with_box\"><input type=\"text\" id=\"field_m7ga432\" name=\"item_meta[69]\" value=\"\" inputmode=\"decimal\" data-invmsg=\"Enter amount  is invalid\" class=\"frm_field_number frm-has-number-format\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   min=\"0\" max=\"9999999\" step=\"any\" \/><\/div>\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_70_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_top_container frm12 frm_first\">\r\n\t<label for=\"field_mugy82\" id=\"field_mugy82_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">VAT amount\r\n\t\t<span class=\"frm_required\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n\t<\/label>\r\n\t<p class=\"frm_total_formatted\" data-prepend=\"\" data-append=\"\"><\/p><div class=\"frm_with_box frm_hidden\"><input type=\"number\" id=\"field_mugy82\" name=\"item_meta[70]\" value=\"\" readonly=\"readonly\"  data-invmsg=\"VAT amount is invalid\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   min=\"0\" max=\"9999999\" step=\"any\" \/><\/div>\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_71_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_top_container frm12 frm_first\">\r\n\t<label for=\"field_gs6xc32\" id=\"field_gs6xc32_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">VAT amount\r\n\t\t<span class=\"frm_required\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n\t<\/label>\r\n\t<p class=\"frm_total_formatted\" data-prepend=\"\" data-append=\"\"><\/p><div class=\"frm_with_box frm_hidden\"><input type=\"number\" id=\"field_gs6xc32\" name=\"item_meta[71]\" value=\"\" readonly=\"readonly\"  data-invmsg=\"VAT amount is invalid\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   min=\"0\" max=\"9999999\" step=\"any\" \/><\/div>\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_72_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_top_container frm12 frm_first\">\r\n\t<label for=\"field_6mdlq2\" id=\"field_6mdlq2_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">Total (including VAT)\r\n\t\t<span class=\"frm_required\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n\t<\/label>\r\n\t<p class=\"frm_total_formatted\" data-prepend=\"\" data-append=\"\"><\/p><div class=\"frm_with_box frm_hidden\"><input type=\"number\" id=\"field_6mdlq2\" name=\"item_meta[72]\" value=\"\" readonly=\"readonly\"  data-invmsg=\"Total (including VAT) is invalid\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   min=\"0\" max=\"9999999\" step=\"any\" \/><\/div>\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_73_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_top_container frm12 frm_first\">\r\n\t<label for=\"field_xs1u92\" id=\"field_xs1u92_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">Total (excluding VAT)\r\n\t\t<span class=\"frm_required\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\r\n\t<\/label>\r\n\t<p class=\"frm_total_formatted\" data-prepend=\"\" data-append=\"\"><\/p><div class=\"frm_with_box frm_hidden\"><input type=\"number\" id=\"field_xs1u92\" name=\"item_meta[73]\" value=\"\" readonly=\"readonly\"  data-invmsg=\"Total (excluding VAT) is invalid\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   min=\"0\" max=\"9999999\" step=\"any\" \/><\/div>\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_75_container\" class=\"frm_form_field  frm6 frm_html_container form-field\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-37264 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/new-staging.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/Asset-1.png?w=800\" alt=\"\" width=\"164\" height=\"18\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<input  type=\"hidden\" name=\"item_meta[77]\" id=\"field_lih1h\" value=\"65\"  data-frmval=\"65\"   \/>\n\t\t<div id=\"frm_field_74_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_first\">\r\n\t<div class=\"frm_submit frm_flex\">\r\n<button class=\"frm_button_submit frm_final_submit\" type=\"submit\"  >Calculate<\/button>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"item_key\" value=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"frm_field_423_container\">\n\t\t\t<label for=\"field_oo87w\" >\n\t\t\t\tIf you are human, leave this field blank.\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t<input  id=\"field_oo87w\" type=\"text\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field frm_verify\" name=\"item_meta[423]\" value=\"\"  \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<input name=\"frm_state\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"kAOSLYD2ckLE\/1ffX+Sl3fni0V0RcRky6qDyGZTqZBrqq5udv6r2bTusMx8ktMLE\" \/><\/div>\n<\/fieldset>\n<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"display: none !important;\" class=\"akismet-fields-container\" data-prefix=\"ak_\"><label>&#916;<textarea name=\"ak_hp_textarea\" cols=\"45\" rows=\"8\" maxlength=\"100\"><\/textarea><\/label><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"ak_js_1\" name=\"ak_js\" value=\"17\"\/><script>document.getElementById( \"ak_js_1\" ).setAttribute( \"value\", ( new Date() ).getTime() );<\/script><\/p><\/form>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-national-insurance-for-small-businesses\">National Insurance for small businesses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">National Insurance contributions (NICs) are another tax on individual earnings. Unlike income tax, National Insurance contributions qualify you for benefits like your state pension.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">National Insurance is broken down into different \u2018classes\u2019. The class you pay depends on your employment status.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-paying-national-insurance-details-for-sole-traders\">Paying National Insurance: details for sole traders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most self-employed people <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/self-assessment\/how-to-pay-national-insurance-when-self-employed\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1440\">pay National Insurance<\/a> through their annual Self Assessment tax return.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-pay-national-insurance-if-you-have-a-limited-company\">How to pay National Insurance if you have a limited company<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you run a limited company as a company director, you\u2019ll need to pay Class 1 contributions just like an employee. However contributions are assessed on your annual income rather than on what they earn each pay period (i.e weekly or monthly like an employee).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can make payments on account based on standard salary payment intervals (weekly or monthly) like other employees.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employers also need to pay secondary Class 1 NICs on their employee wages and director salaries. Employers\u2019 National Insurance is classed as a tax-deductible expense for businesses, so could reduce your corporation tax bill.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find out more about what you\u2019ll need to pay <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/self-assessment\/how-to-pay-national-insurance-when-self-employed\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1440\">as an employer,<\/a> or if you\u2019re both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/self-assessment\/tax-on-second-job\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1546\">self-employed and employed<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-business-rates-work\">How do business rates work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Business rates are a tax on properties used to run a business. This usually applies to things like office buildings, shops, pubs, and warehouses, but you may have to pay them if you work from home.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Home-based businesses might need to pay business rates if:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">your property is split into domestic and business parts, for example in the case of a flat above a shop<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">you sell things to people who visit the property<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">you employ anyone at your property<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">you\u2019ve made changes to your home so you can run your business (like converting your garage)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can contact the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/organisations\/valuation-office-agency\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Valuation Office Agency<\/a> (VOA) \u2013 the organisation that calculates business rates and valuations \u2013 if you\u2019re not sure whether you should be paying business rates.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-are-the-business-rates-deadlines\">When are the business rates deadlines?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In England, Wales, and Scotland, you\u2019ll receive a business rates bill from your local authority each year in February or March. The bill will be for the following year with the option to pay over 10 months or 12 months, or in one lump sum.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Northern Ireland, business rates bills are sent out in April, with an option to pay monthly or in one lump sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-30c80bf8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:10px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-calculating-business-rates-as-a-small-business\">Calculating business rates as a small business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Business rates are calculated using a property\u2019s \u2018rateable value\u2019. The rateable value is a property\u2019s estimated value on the open market.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New property valuations were introduced in April 2026. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/correct-your-business-rates\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">check the VOA\u2019s rateable value for your property<\/a> at any time \u2013 if you think it could be wrong you might be paying the wrong business rates.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/what-are-business-rates\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1560\">full guide on business rates<\/a> to find out how to work out how much tax you owe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"capital-gains-tax\"><strong>Capital gains tax \u2013 selling business assets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve sold any business assets like shares or machinery, or sold the business itself, then you need to declare this to HMRC and pay tax on your profit. And for sole traders and partnerships, this means paying capital gains tax.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Limited companies pay corporation tax instead, and profits from a sale of business assets are collected this way too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For rates and more information on how this business taxation works, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/capital-gains-tax\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1361\">guide to capital gains tax for businesses<\/a> explains more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"company-benefits-tax\"><strong>Business taxes for company directors<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tax on company benefits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a company director, you may have to declare other income and pay tax on it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have a company car or any other taxable benefits, then you\u2019ll need to complete a P11D form and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/what-is-a-p11d-and-whats-changing\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1137\">declare it as a benefit in kind<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dividends-tax\">Dividends tax <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you pay yourself a dividend as the owner of a business, you\u2019ll need to pay tax on it. How much you pay and how will depend on your overall tax band and the total of your dividends.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-30c80bf8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:10px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-dividends-tax-rates-2026-27\">What are the dividends tax rates 2026-27?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How much you have to pay depends on your income:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>basic rate income tax (\u00a312,571 to \u00a350,270) \u2013<\/strong> any dividends over your allowance will be charged at a rate of 10.75%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>higher rate income tax (\u00a350,271 to \u00a3125,140)\u00a0\u2013<\/strong> dividends over the allowance charged at a rate of 35.75%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>additional rate (over \u00a3125,140) \u2013 <\/strong>post-allowance dividends are taxed at a rate of 39.35%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"457\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/dividend-tax-rates-scaled.webp?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44363\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/dividend-tax-rates-scaled.webp 1500w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/dividend-tax-rates-scaled.webp?resize=800,357 800w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/dividend-tax-rates-scaled.webp?resize=768,343 768w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/dividend-tax-rates-scaled.webp?resize=1024,457 1024w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/dividend-tax-rates-scaled.webp?resize=150,67 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-are-the-dividends-tax-deadlines\">When are the dividends tax deadlines?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your dividends are under \u00a310,000, you can ask HMRC to change your tax code. If they\u2019re over \u00a310,000, you\u2019ll have to do a Self Assessment tax return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find out more with our <a href=\"\/knowledge\/business-tax\/dividend-tax-simplified-a-guide-for-small-business-owners\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1377\">full guide to dividends tax<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-reduce-business-taxes-nbsp\">How to reduce business taxes&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are a number of ways you can reduce your tax bill \u2013 mainly tax relief schemes and deductible expenses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"business-tax-relief\">Small business tax relief<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-300-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-69910985 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/small-business-tax-relief\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1527\">Tax relief<\/a> schemes do what they say on the tin \u2013 reducing the amount you or your business needs to pay in tax. These schemes relate to most business taxes, including business rates, VAT, and National Insurance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>Employment Allowance <\/strong>\u2013 a National Insurance relief option of up to \u00a310,500<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>Annual Investment Allowance <\/strong>\u2013 a capital allowance that lets you deduct the costs of plant and machinery from your profit&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>business rates relief <\/strong>\u2013 discount on business rates from local councils&nbsp;in England<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>research and development tax relief <\/strong>\u2013 limited companies can claim this if they work on innovative science and technology projects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>creative industries tax relief<\/strong> \u2013 a type of corporation tax relief for businesses in the creative industries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See more options, eligibility criteria, and how to apply in our <a data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1527\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/small-business-tax-relief\/\">tax relief guide<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"business-expenses\">Tax deductible expenses \u2013 what do you need to know?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both sole traders and registered businesses can subtract allowable expenses from their overall tax bills.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sole traders (self-employed people) need to subtract <a href=\"\/knowledge\/self-assessment\/self-employed-expenses\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1511\">self-employed expenses <\/a>from their turnover when calculating their Self Assessment. These include the cost of travel, business premises, and staff costs related to a company\u2019s operations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Limited companies can reduce their corporation tax bill with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/limited-company-expenses\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1478\">allowable expenses<\/a>, similar to those used&nbsp; by the self-employed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"business-tax-account\">Business tax account: how to check your records&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you\u2019re a sole trader, limited company, or in a partnership, registering for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/what-is-a-business-tax-account\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"24805\">business tax account<\/a> will help you keep track of the taxes you owe and pay them more easily. It\u2019s not a legal requirement, but will certainly save you time and potentially prevent mistakes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can register for a business tax account by:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">going to HMRC\u2019s Business Tax Account registration page<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">registering for a new account&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">entering your personal and business details<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">verifying your identity&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">submitting your application&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">waiting for an activation code&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">activating your account and logging in<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-30c80bf8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:10px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-business-tax-news\">Business tax news <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/new-tax-laws-for-businesses\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"32064\">New tax laws for businesses<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-news\/autumn-budget-2025-for-small-business-3\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"40771\">Autumn Budget 2025<\/a>  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/self-assessment\/tax-on-second-job\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1546\">Second job tax \u2013 a guide to paying tax when you have a side hustle<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-useful-business-tax-articles-nbsp\">More useful business tax articles&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/when-is-corporation-tax-due\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1592\">Corporation tax: a guide for small businesses<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/what-is-ir35\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1579\">What is IR35? A guide for the self-employed<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-structure\/setting-up-a-limited-company\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1270\">How to set up a limited company<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/business-insurance\/faq\/what-type-of-business-insurance-do-i-need\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"372\">What type of business insurance do I need?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-upsell-001\" class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94e519ba wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Ready to set up your cover?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">As one of the UK&#8217;s biggest <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5152\">business insurance<\/a> providers, we specialise in <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/public-liability-insurance\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"734\">public liability insurance<\/a> and protect more trades than anybody else. Why not take a look now and build a quick, tailored quote?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/quote.simplybusiness.co.uk\/business\">Start your quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-end\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn about the main business taxes you might need to pay as a small business. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":50327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sb_hreflang":"","sb_hreflang_url":"","disable_breadcrumbs":false,"sb_breadcrumbs":[],"sb_reviewed_by":"rosanna-parrish","sb_review_date":"2026-05-01T14:51:24","sb_enable_content_gating":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[344],"hidden-category":[],"coauthors":[25],"class_list":["post-25366","knowledge","type-knowledge","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-tax"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Key types of business tax in the UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What business taxes do small businesses and the self-employed need to pay? Learn about income tax, corporation tax, VAT, and more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/business-tax-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What business taxes do you need to pay in the UK?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn about the different types of business tax in the UK and how small business tax works.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/business-tax-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Simply Business UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-01T13:51:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/BusinessTax-scaled.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"837\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Key types of business tax in the UK (2026-27 update)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Catriona Fuller\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/business-tax-guide\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/business-tax-guide\/\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Catriona Fuller\",\"description\":\"Catriona Fuller is a content and marketing professional with 12 years\u2019 experience across the financial services, higher education, and insurance sectors. 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