Explainer videos
Each video is made from one of our answer pages, says only what that page says, and links back to it with every source.
Trade by trade
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Making Tax Digital for bricklayers: what changes in April 20271 min 25 s -
Making Tax Digital for builders: what changes in April 20271 min 24 s -
Making Tax Digital for CIS subcontractors: what changes in April 20271 min 28 s -
Making Tax Digital for electricians: what changes in April 20271 min 25 s -
Making Tax Digital for heating engineers: what changes in April 20271 min 26 s -
Making Tax Digital for joiners: what changes in April 20271 min 25 s -
Making Tax Digital for kitchen fitters: what changes in April 20271 min 26 s -
Making Tax Digital for landscapers: what changes in April 20271 min 25 s -
Making Tax Digital for painters and decorators: what changes in April 20271 min 28 s -
Making Tax Digital for plasterers: what changes in April 20271 min 25 s -
Making Tax Digital for plumbers: what changes in April 20271 min 24 s -
Making Tax Digital for roofers: what changes in April 20271 min 24 s -
Making Tax Digital for tilers: what changes in April 20271 min 25 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed bricklayers1 min 2 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed builders1 min 11 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed carpenters and joiners1 min 5 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed dryliners1 min 12 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed electricians1 min 4 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed flooring fitters1 min 14 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed glaziers and window fitters1 min 10 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed groundworkers1 min 12 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed HVAC engineers1 min 12 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed kitchen and bathroom fitters1 min 14 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed labourers1 min 21 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed landscapers and gardeners1 min 7 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed painters and decorators1 min 9 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed plant operators1 min 12 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed plasterers1 min 7 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed plumbers and gas engineers1 min 13 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed roofers1 min 6 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed scaffolders1 min 9 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed steel fixers1 min 13 s -
Tax, CIS and Making Tax Digital for self-employed tilers1 min 3 s
Answers for tradespeople
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Am I a contractor or a subcontractor under CIS?56 seconds -
Are double cab pickups cars or vans for tax?1 min 32 s -
Can a limited company claim back CIS deductions?1 min 4 s -
Can I be employed and a CIS subcontractor at the same time?1 min 10 s -
Can I claim a CIS refund without an accountant?1 min 8 s -
Can I claim a laptop, tablet or computer as a sole trader?1 min 15 s -
Can I claim a lock-up, storage unit or tool hire as a business expense?1 min 3 s -
Can I claim accommodation and hotels when working away as a tradesperson?1 min 8 s -
Can I claim accountancy and bookkeeping fees as a business expense?1 min 23 s -
Can I claim advertising and marketing costs as a sole trader?1 min 16 s -
Can I claim an electric van as a business expense?1 min 15 s -
Can I claim back CIS deductions from previous years?1 min 13 s -
Can I claim bank charges and card machine fees as a sole trader?1 min 7 s -
Can I claim business insurance as a tax expense as a sole trader?1 min 17 s -
Can I claim charity donations as a sole trader?1 min 10 s -
Can I claim childcare as a self-employed tradesperson?1 min 21 s -
Can I claim expenses from before I started trading?57 seconds -
Can I claim food and lunch as a self-employed tradesperson?1 min 0 s -
Can I claim fuel as a self-employed tradesperson?1 min 15 s -
Can I claim gifts and entertaining clients as a sole trader?1 min 3 s -
Can I claim gym, medical and health costs as a sole trader?1 min 13 s -
Can I claim interest on a business loan or van finance?1 min 23 s -
Can I claim legal fees and debt collection costs as a sole trader?1 min 10 s -
Can I claim materials I buy for jobs as a sole trader?1 min 16 s -
Can I claim my car as a sole trader?1 min 4 s -
Can I claim my phone bill as self-employed?59 seconds -
Can I claim my van as a business expense?1 min 1 s -
Can I claim parking, the congestion charge and ULEZ as a business expense?1 min 3 s -
Can I claim skip hire, waste disposal and tip fees as a business expense?1 min 12 s -
Can I claim software, apps and subscriptions as a sole trader?1 min 4 s -
Can I claim stolen tools as a business expense?1 min 7 s -
Can I claim the cost of paying a labourer or subcontractor?1 min 11 s -
Can I claim tools and workwear as a business expense?1 min 6 s -
Can I claim trade scheme and registration fees as an expense?1 min 8 s -
Can I claim training courses as a self-employed tradesperson?57 seconds -
Can I claim travel from home to site as a subcontractor?1 min 4 s -
Can I claim work clothes and PPE as a tradesperson?57 seconds -
Can I claim working from home costs as self-employed?59 seconds -
Can I claim workshop or yard rent and business rates as a sole trader?1 min 14 s -
Can I get tax relief on pension contributions as a sole trader?1 min 27 s -
Can I opt out of CIS or cancel my registration?1 min 1 s -
Can I pay my partner a wage from my sole trader business?59 seconds -
Can I still claim an expense if I have lost the receipt?1 min 1 s -
How does ANNA's Auto Accountant compare with our service for tradespeople?1 min 17 s -
How much do CIS tax refund companies charge?1 min 13 s -
How does Countingup compare with our service for tradespeople?1 min 31 s -
How does Ember, now Starling Accounting, compare with our service for tradespeople?1 min 26 s -
How does FreeAgent compare with our service for tradespeople?1 min 22 s -
How does Hnry compare with our service for tradespeople?1 min 16 s -
Is RIFT worth it for a CIS tax refund?1 min 7 s -
Do CIS subcontractors have to file monthly returns?1 min 8 s -
Do CIS subcontractors pay National Insurance?1 min 11 s -
Do I need a business bank account for Making Tax Digital?58 seconds -
Do I need Making Tax Digital if I have a job and self-employed income?1 min 2 s -
Do I need to declare cash jobs to HMRC?1 min 7 s -
Do I need to register as a CIS contractor if I pay subcontractors?1 min 2 s -
Do I need to register for CIS as a subcontractor?1 min 1 s -
Do I need to register for VAT as a sole trader?56 seconds -
Does CIS apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland?1 min 6 s -
Does CIS apply to electricians?1 min 2 s -
Does CIS apply to flooring and carpet fitting?59 seconds -
Does CIS apply to landscaping and gardening?1 min 2 s -
Does CIS apply to materials?57 seconds -
Does CIS apply to plant hire?56 seconds -
Does CIS apply to plumbers and heating engineers?1 min 7 s -
Does CIS apply to repairs and maintenance work?1 min 3 s -
Does CIS apply to scaffolding?57 seconds -
Does CIS apply to travel expenses and mileage?1 min 15 s -
Does CIS apply to work for homeowners?1 min 8 s -
Does HMRC pay interest on a late CIS refund?1 min 11 s -
Does IR35 apply to CIS subcontractors?1 min 18 s -
Does Making Tax Digital apply to CIS subcontractors?1 min 4 s -
Does Making Tax Digital apply to limited companies?1 min 0 s -
Does Making Tax Digital apply to partnerships?1 min 1 s -
How do I check my CIS deductions with HMRC?1 min 12 s -
How do I check the status of my CIS refund?1 min 8 s -
How do I claim a CIS refund as a self-employed subcontractor?1 min 10 s -
How do I claim a CIS refund if I have lost my CIS statements?1 min 10 s -
How do I get gross payment status under CIS?1 min 8 s -
How do I pay myself as a sole trader?1 min 0 s -
How do I reduce my payments on account?1 min 4 s -
How do I register as a sole trader with HMRC?1 min 0 s -
How do I register for CIS as a subcontractor?1 min 13 s -
How do I register for VAT as a sole trader?1 min 8 s -
How do I repay my student loan when self-employed?1 min 13 s -
How do I tell HMRC I've stopped being self-employed?1 min 14 s -
How do I submit a VAT return under Making Tax Digital?1 min 8 s -
How do I verify a CIS subcontractor?1 min 12 s -
How do I work out a CIS deduction?1 min 2 s -
How do trading losses work for sole traders?1 min 6 s -
How does CIS work with VAT?59 seconds -
How does mileage work in Making Tax Digital?1 min 6 s -
How does the High Income Child Benefit Charge work if I'm self-employed?1 min 15 s -
How does Universal Credit work if I'm a self-employed tradesperson?1 min 4 s -
How long does a CIS refund take?1 min 8 s -
How much can I earn before paying tax when self-employed?1 min 5 s -
How much CIS refund can I expect?1 min 25 s -
How much do I take home on a CIS day rate?1 min 13 s -
How much does an accountant cost for sole traders?1 min 4 s -
How much does bookkeeping cost sole traders?54 seconds -
How much mileage can I claim for my van in 2026-27?1 min 11 s -
How much should I set aside for tax as a self-employed tradesperson?1 min 18 s -
How much tax does a CIS subcontractor pay?1 min 24 s -
How much tax does a self-employed labourer pay?1 min 8 s -
How much tax will I pay as a self-employed electrician?1 min 22 s -
Is a CIS subcontractor employed or self-employed?1 min 8 s -
Is CIS deducted from retentions?57 seconds -
Is my CIS number the same as my UTR?1 min 15 s -
Is my turnover before or after CIS deductions?1 min 6 s -
Should a tradesperson be a sole trader or a limited company?1 min 11 s -
Should I pay voluntary Class 2 National Insurance?1 min 12 s -
Should I use the VAT Flat Rate Scheme as a tradesperson?1 min 12 s -
What are simplified expenses for the self-employed?58 seconds -
What are the CIS deduction rates?1 min 0 s -
What are transition profits from basis period reform?1 min 17 s -
What changed in CIS in 2026?1 min 18 s -
What do sole traders earning over £30,000 need to do for Making Tax Digital?1 min 19 s -
What does unmatched mean when a contractor verifies me under CIS?1 min 11 s -
What expenses can a CIS subcontractor claim?1 min 13 s -
What expenses can a self-employed bricklayer claim?1 min 1 s -
What expenses can a self-employed builder claim?1 min 6 s -
What expenses can a self-employed carpenter or joiner claim?1 min 3 s -
What expenses can a self-employed electrician claim?1 min 9 s -
What expenses can a self-employed gardener or landscaper claim?1 min 7 s -
What expenses can a self-employed gas engineer claim?1 min 5 s -
What expenses can a self-employed painter and decorator claim?1 min 1 s -
What expenses can a self-employed plasterer claim?1 min 1 s -
What expenses can a self-employed plumber claim?1 min 4 s -
What expenses can a self-employed roofer claim?1 min 5 s -
What expenses can I claim as a self-employed tradesperson?1 min 6 s -
What happens if I register as self-employed late?1 min 36 s -
What happens in an HMRC compliance check?1 min 5 s -
What happens to my CIS deductions if I stop trading?1 min 3 s -
What happens to my tax if a customer does not pay me?1 min 10 s -
What happens to tax when I sell my work van?1 min 0 s -
What if my contractor has not paid my CIS deductions to HMRC?1 min 13 s -
What is a CIS payment and deduction statement?58 seconds -
What is a deemed contractor under CIS?59 seconds -
What is a UTR number and where do I find it?52 seconds -
What is the annual investment allowance?58 seconds -
What is the best MTD software for builders and other CIS subcontractors?1 min 15 s -
What is the best MTD software for sole traders?1 min 7 s -
What is the cash basis for sole traders?1 min 0 s -
What is the cheapest way to do a tax return as a sole trader?1 min 18 s -
What is the CIS monthly return deadline?1 min 7 s -
What is a CIS tax month?59 seconds -
What is the difference between CIS deducted and CIS suffered?1 min 9 s -
What is the difference between Making Tax Digital for VAT and for Income Tax?1 min 3 s -
What is the trading allowance?58 seconds -
What is the VAT domestic reverse charge for construction?1 min 14 s -
What National Insurance do self-employed tradespeople pay in 2026-27?1 min 22 s -
What records do I need to keep for Making Tax Digital?1 min 1 s -
What should a CIS subcontractor invoice include?1 min 4 s -
What should a sole trader invoice include?1 min 4 s -
What VAT rate do builders charge?1 min 5 s -
What work is covered by CIS?1 min 11 s -
When does Making Tax Digital start for builders?1 min 4 s -
Why has my contractor deducted 30% CIS?1 min 8 s -
Why is my CIS refund delayed?1 min 1 s
Answers for everyone
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Can an accountant submit the final declaration for sole traders and landlords?1 min 7 s -
Can an AI do my tax return in the UK?1 min 10 s -
Can I be exempt from Making Tax Digital?57 seconds -
Can I pay my Self Assessment tax bill in instalments?1 min 7 s -
Can I use a spreadsheet for Making Tax Digital?1 min 5 s -
Can I use calendar quarters for Making Tax Digital?58 seconds -
Can my accountant do MTD for me?58 seconds -
How does a local accountant compare with our Making Tax Digital service?1 min 7 s -
How does Taxfix compare with our Making Tax Digital service?1 min 11 s -
Do I need an accountant for Making Tax Digital?1 min 1 s -
Do I need Making Tax Digital if my income is under £20,000?1 min 6 s -
Do I need to upload receipts for Making Tax Digital?58 seconds -
Do I pay tax every quarter under Making Tax Digital?54 seconds -
Has HMRC signed me up for Making Tax Digital?1 min 18 s -
How do I amend my Self Assessment tax return?1 min 3 s -
How do I appeal a Self Assessment late filing penalty?1 min 3 s -
How do I authorise an agent for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?58 seconds -
How do I contact HMRC about Making Tax Digital?1 min 9 s -
How do I correct a mistake in a Making Tax Digital quarterly update?1 min 10 s -
How do I file a Self Assessment tax return for the first time?1 min 7 s -
How do I get an SA302 or tax year overview for a mortgage?1 min 1 s -
Can I leave Making Tax Digital if my income falls?1 min 9 s -
How do I pay my Self Assessment tax bill?56 seconds -
How do I register for Self Assessment?1 min 4 s -
How do I sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?59 seconds -
How do I submit a quarterly update to HMRC?52 seconds -
How long do I need to keep business records as a sole trader?1 min 2 s -
How much does an accountant charge for Making Tax Digital?57 seconds -
Is there an age exemption for Making Tax Digital?1 min 7 s -
Is there any free Making Tax Digital software?1 min 1 s -
Is there free MTD software with my business bank account?1 min 0 s -
What are payments on account?59 seconds -
What are the Making Tax Digital quarterly update deadlines?57 seconds -
What are the penalties for Making Tax Digital?1 min 5 s -
What are the penalties and interest for paying Self Assessment late?1 min 9 s -
What counts as qualifying income for Making Tax Digital?1 min 8 s -
What expense categories does Making Tax Digital use?1 min 3 s -
What happens at the end of the tax year in Making Tax Digital?1 min 3 s -
What happens if I file my Self Assessment tax return late?1 min 2 s -
What happens if I miss a Making Tax Digital quarterly update?1 min 1 s -
What is Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?58 seconds -
What is the Self Assessment deadline for 2025-26?1 min 7 s -
Who pays the penalty if AI software gets my tax return wrong?1 min 8 s
Voice and visuals made with automated software, including AI. This is general information to help you understand the rules. It isn't tailored to your circumstances, so check your own position before acting on it.