Importance of budgeting for income / corporation tax for the self -employed

The importance of budgeting for income or corporation tax for self-employed people
 
A lot of of us dream of running our own business, and with hard work and careful planning, self-employment can be hugely rewarding and fun. But due to the fluctuating incomes many self-employed people face, running your own business requires careful money management. 

Whilst you may have a strong overall income, the flow of money may not always be regular and it can take weeks and even months between pay cheques. It is therefore very  important to manage your money carefully. Running out of cash before you get paid again could mean living on credit and interest payments may prove to be very costly.

Income tax is paid by sole traders and partnerships and corporation tax is paid by limited companies. Regardless of whether you are a sole trader, partnership or work via a limited company it is particularly important to budget for the tax due on 31 January each year.

Unlike employment income, your tax is not deducted at source and as you receive your income untaxed it is easy to assume that all of this is yours. However, some of this income will be paid in tax and should be budgeted for in order to avoid the shock of a high tax bill. It is worth noting at this point that if income or corporation tax has not been budgeted for and you delay payment, you may have to pay fines for late payment (as highlighted in more detail in the previous blog post).

A good accountant can help you with budgeting by calculating how much of your income will be paid to the taxman and can also advise on how to minimise this.

You can also use the 'Self-employed ready reckoner' tool on the HMRC website for an estimate of how much money to set aside. And this is usually around a 80:20 split between you and HMRC.

Furthermore, you can also set up a 'budget payment plan' which lets you make regular weekly or monthly payments in advance. These methods will save you a lot of stress and will help you better manage your money, especially during the Christmas period.

If you need any further help please do not hesitate to contact us and we'll be sure to offer you bespoke advice depending on what best suits you.

By Hamza Habib at Tax Affinity Accountants

Tax Affinity Accountants are experts in Tax and Accountancy. Based in Worcester Park and Surbiton in Kingston upon Thames they are considered in the industry to be experts accountants for small businesses. Helping and supporting business throughout the UK, they regularly help new and established businesses to succeed.

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