SELF-EMPLOYED TAX RETURNS
Self-employed tax return accountants in the UK from £199 + VAT
For sole traders, freelancers and gig workers. We calculate your profit, claim every allowable expense and file with HMRC, all for a fixed fee.
- Fee set by your turnover, confirmed before we start
- Allowable expenses checked so you do not overpay
- Class 4 National Insurance worked out for you
- Filed with HMRC and confirmed in writing
Get your free quote
Tell us a little about your income and we confirm your fixed fee before any work starts.
WHO IT IS FOR
Built for people who work for themselves
Sole traders
Plumbers, tutors, hairdressers and shop owners trading in their own name, with records ranging from a shoebox to a spreadsheet.
Freelancers and creatives
Designers, developers, writers and consultants juggling invoices, software costs and a home office.
Gig and delivery workers
Drivers and couriers working through apps, where mileage, platform fees and tips all need reporting properly.
WHY CHOOSE US
What your fixed fee covers
No extras appear later. Here is what is included in the price you are quoted.
- Preparation of your full Self Assessment return
- Review of every allowable expense and relief
- Class 4 National Insurance calculation
- PAYE income from up to 3 jobs and UK dividends included
- Filing with HMRC and confirmation of submission
- Support afterwards for HMRC queries
FIXED FEES
Self-employed fees by turnover
Prices exclude VAT at 20%.
Up to £10,000 a year
£199
+ VAT
£11K to £30K a year
£249
+ VAT
£31K to £50K a year
£299
+ VAT
£51K to £85K a year
£599
+ VAT
£86K to £250K a year
£899
+ VAT
£251K to £500K a year
£1,499
+ VAT
£501K to £1 million a year
£2,099
+ VAT
£1.1 million to £3 million a year
£3,299
+ VAT
PART OF ACCOTAX
Reviewed by real Accotax clients
Cheap Tax Returns is part of Accotax, so these are the Google reviews left for the accountants who prepare your return.
Worked example
A worked example: self-employed profit and tax
These figures are illustrative, using 2025/26 England, Wales and Northern Ireland rates. Your own result depends on your income, expenses and other earnings.
The figures
- Turnover: £42,000
- Allowable expenses: £9,000
- Profit: £33,000
- Personal allowance: £12,570
The tax
- Taxable profit: £20,430
- Income Tax at 20%: £4,086
- Class 4 NIC at 6%: £1,225.80
- Total: £5,311.80
What this means
- Put aside about 16% of turnover
- Expenses reduce both taxes
- Payments on account may follow
- Tell us your figures for an exact number
In depth
Self-employed tax returns explained
If you work for yourself in the UK, HMRC expects a Self Assessment return each year showing your income, expenses and profit. These are the questions sole traders ask us most.
Do I need to file a tax return if I am self-employed?
You must file if your self-employed income is more than £1,000 in a tax year, or if you have other taxable income HMRC needs to see. Register for Self Assessment by 5 October after the end of the tax year in which you started trading.
How is tax on self-employed profit calculated?
Tax is charged on profit, not turnover: your income minus allowable business expenses, or the £1,000 trading allowance if that is better for you. After the £12,570 personal allowance, profit is taxed at 20%, 40% and 45%, plus Class 4 National Insurance at 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above that.
Which expenses can I claim?
You can claim costs incurred wholly and exclusively for the business: travel, tools and equipment, insurance, software, the business share of phone and internet, professional fees, marketing and some home-working costs. Simplified flat rates for vehicles and working from home are available where they save you tax. Keep records for at least five years after the filing deadline.
What is Making Tax Digital for sole traders?
From April 2026, self-employed people and landlords with qualifying income above £50,000 must keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC. The threshold falls to £30,000 from April 2027 and £20,000 from April 2028. We can set you up and handle the submissions.
Why use Cheap Tax Returns for your self-employed tax return?
Cheap Tax Returns is part of Accotax, a UK accountancy practice. Our fees are fixed and quoted in writing before we start, the work is prepared by an accountant and checked before filing, and we work online with clients anywhere in the UK. Our team holds ICAEW, ACCA and AAT credentials. For a free quote call 0203 4411 258 or email [email protected].
At a glance
Self-employed key dates, figures and penalties
Key dates
- 5 October: register for Self Assessment if this is your first year
- 31 October: paper return deadline
- 31 January: online return and balancing payment
- 31 July: second payment on account, if you pay on account
Key figures
- Personal allowance: £12,570
- Trading allowance: £1,000
- Class 4 National Insurance: 6% and 2%
- Scottish taxpayers have different income tax bands
Late filing penalties
- £100 if the return is filed up to 3 months late
- After 3 months, £10 a day for up to 90 days (maximum £900)
- At 6 and 12 months, the higher of £300 or 5% of the tax due
- Late payment penalties and interest are charged on top
Authorised and regulated
Is Cheap Tax Returns authorised and regulated? Yes.
Your return is prepared by qualified UK accountants holding qualifications from the leading accountancy bodies: ICAEW, ACCA and AAT. We are also on the ICAEW approved employers list, so you can file with confidence.
Regulated by the professional bodies. Reviewed by qualified accountants. Part of Accotax.
QUESTIONS
Self-employed tax return questions
Yes. If you are starting out, you must register with HMRC by 5 October after the end of the tax year in which you began trading, then file a Self Assessment return.
It is a £1,000 allowance for trading income. If your gross trading income is £1,000 or less you generally do not need to report it. Above that, you can deduct either the allowance or your actual expenses, whichever is better.
If your profits are above the lower profits limit, you pay Class 4 National Insurance through Self Assessment. We calculate it as part of your return so you see the full bill.
Yes, if you genuinely work from home you can claim either simplified flat-rate amounts or a share of your actual household costs. We choose the method that gives you the better result.
Your fee moves to the band that matches your yearly turnover, sales or expenses. The full list is above, and we confirm your fee before we start.
Our fees are fixed and shown on the pricing page, plus VAT. We quote in writing before we start so there are no surprises.
You report income from the date you started trading. We confirm your accounting period, whether you need to register and which expenses you can claim for the first year.
Keep sales invoices, bank statements, receipts and mileage logs for at least five years after the 31 January filing deadline. If you are missing records we can help you reconstruct them from your bank statements.
Local pages
Find self-employed tax return accountants near you
The service is fully online and the fixed fees are the same everywhere in the UK, but local details matter. See tax information for your area: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, or search all 600+ towns and cities we cover.
Get your self-employed fee today
Tell us roughly what you earn and we will confirm your fixed price before any work starts.
Reviewed and kept up to date by our expert team of ICAEW, ACCA and AAT qualified accountants. Last updated . This page is general guidance, not personal advice.