Plain-English UK tax guidance you can trust
A Simple Assessment can arrive without any Self Assessment return having been filed, but it is still a formal tax bill. This guide explains what the letter means, what to check before paying, and how to correct it if the figure is wrong or the tax has already been settled.
A transfer between spouses or civil partners who live together can move an investment — and its latent capital gain — without triggering tax at the point of transfer. Used properly before a sale in 2026/27, it can change whose annual exempt amount and rate band apply. The practical risks lie in timing, permanence and paperwork.
A Gift Aid donation does two things at once: it helps the charity reclaim basic-rate tax, and it can reduce the tax bill of a higher or additional rate donor. This guide explains the declaration, the Self Assessment claim, the records to keep, and the mistakes that quietly forfeit the relief.
Selling a second home or buy-to-let property does not end the tax work at completion. This guide explains how the 60-day Capital Gains Tax return works in 2026/27, how to calculate the gain, when Private Residence Relief applies and what HMRC expects in the file.
The capital gains tax annual exempt amount is £3,000 for 2026/27. This checklist explains how to realise gains before 5 April 2027, use a Bed-and-ISA safely, and avoid the matching rules that can quietly waste the allowance.
Unused pension annual allowance can be carried forward for up to three tax years, but the rules reward careful record-keeping. This practical checklist explains how the 2026/27 carry forward process works, how tapered allowances affect the calculation, and what to confirm before making a top-up by 5 April 2027.
Paying a husband, wife or civil partner for genuine work can be a sensible tax planning step, but HMRC expects more than a bank transfer. This guide explains reasonable pay, PAYE and National Insurance, the Employment Allowance and the records that support a family payroll in 2026/27.
If your self-assessment bill is larger than you can clear in one go, HMRC can usually spread it over instalments. This guide explains who qualifies for a Time to Pay arrangement, what to have ready when you contact HMRC, and how interest and penalties behave once a plan is in place.
The £1,000 dividend allowance is a zero rate, not a reporting exemption. For 2026/27, a modest share portfolio or a company dividend can still require a Self Assessment return, even where the tax itself is small.
The starting rate for savings can shelter up to £5,000 of interest from income tax in 2026/27, but it is not available to everyone and it is not always applied automatically. This guide explains who qualifies, how the band interacts with the Personal Savings Allowance, and the mistakes that can cause taxpayers to miss out.
Payments on account are one of the most common reasons a self assessment bill lands larger than expected. This guide explains how HMRC calculates them, why a one-off bumper year can leave you paying tax in advance, and how to use form SA303 sensibly before the 31 January 2027 deadline.
Marriage Allowance lets one spouse or civil partner transfer £1,260 of their Personal Allowance to the other in 2026/27, reducing the recipient's tax bill by up to £252. This guide explains who qualifies, how HMRC administers the claim, and the changes that can unwind it.
Ad revenue, sponsorship fees and virtual gifts can look like pocket money until HMRC asks for a return. This creator-focused map explains when YouTube and TikTok earnings become taxable, how the £1,000 trading allowance fits, and what records to keep for 2026/27.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge can arrive as an unwelcome self-assessment bill even when the lower-paid partner claims the benefit. This guide explains the £60,000 starting point, the £80,000 taper, who is liable, and the checks that keep a 2026/27 claim manageable.
Renting a driveway or parking space can be a simple way to earn extra income, but HMRC usually treats it as property income. This guide explains the £1,000 property allowance, the expenses alternative, record-keeping and reporting in 2026/27.
If you paid too much tax in 2022/23, HMRC generally allows four years to put things right. With the window closing on 5 April 2027, this checklist explains the common triggers and the practical steps for claiming a refund.
The 31 January 2027 deadline is the next self assessment checkpoint for many crypto investors. This guide explains how HMRC treats disposals, how pooling works, and what to record for 2026/27 so the return does not become a January scramble.
The £1,000 property allowance can simplify a small rental business or shave tax off a larger one, but it is not a free-standing exemption. This guide explains when to claim it, when actual expenses beat it, and how to avoid overlapping it with rent-a-room relief.
Rent-a-room relief can take up to £7,500 of lodger income out of tax in 2026/27, or £3,750 where the limit is shared. This guide explains who qualifies, what furnished means, and when claiming actual expenses produces a lower tax bill.
The personal allowance taper can turn a modest pay rise into a surprisingly large tax bill. This guide explains how adjusted net income works, why the effective rate can reach 60%, and how pension contributions or Gift Aid may soften the impact before the 2026/27 return is filed.