Buzz Accounting on LinkedIn: Plain English guide to cashflow

HMRC will look at any excessive expenditure as a possible indication of tax avoidance. Once this is complete, HMRC will assign a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) that must be included in all communications with them. Keep your receipts organized, either digitally or in a physical folder, and ensure you can easily match them to your expense records. So, starting now will give you plenty of time to get used to the process before it becomes mandatory. You can create also quotes and invoices, customised with your branding and full contact details, which can be emailed to customers in PDF format.

It’s also much easier to keep all of your records organised when they’re on an accounting software. A sole trader is a self-employed individual who collects all their income. A self-employed person who shares their income with a business partner is not a sole trader. Typically, the term ‘sole trader’ refers to a particular business structure and self-employed refers to how you pay tax.

Better chance of getting paid on time

You must keep accurate records of sole trader income and expenditure when running a business. This will help you monitor your performance more accurately and aid with forecasting cash flow. Alternatively, you may use bookkeeping software or an online accounting package to record your business expenses and income.

As a sole trader, you will be required to set aside money for your taxations each year, which will have been self-assessed. It, therefore, becomes necessary to be aware of income tax thresholds and the National Insurance Contributions (NICs) you will be required to pay. If you decide to be self-employed and begin a sole trader business, you will need to set up your sole trader account to record your expenses and income. A typical financial planning process starts with ensuring they have the relevant insurance in place, he says. Depending on their circumstances, this might include income protection, critical illness and life insurance.

Easy and Intuitive Bookkeeping Software for Sole Traders

For example, if you registered before the 5th April in a given tax year, your first tax return will cover the period from when you started trading until the following 5th April. By maintaining these detailed records throughout the year in an organized manner, you will be well-prepared for tax season and better able to claim deductions accurately. Remember that keeping good financial records not only benefits your business but also provides peace of mind knowing that everything is accounted for properly. Anyone can become a sole trader in the UK as long as they are at least 16 years old and not bankrupt.

This needs to be made by the self-assessment tax return deadline (31 January following the end of the tax year). As well as your income and expenses, it’s crucial as a sole trader to understand your tax obligations and set aside the necessary funds each year. This is essential for completing your Self Assessment, which determines the amount of tax you owe. This includes purchases, bills, and any other costs incurred for your business operations. Keep receipts and invoices organised, categorise expenses appropriately, and note down the purpose of each expense. With Making Tax Digital (MTD) rolling out, it’s advisable to get used to a digital system.

PAYE

Smart accounting software automates data entry and even follows up with customers regarding payments on your behalf. Instead of organizing and manually typing data into your accounts, the numbers can flow in automatically from your bank and with the help of data capture tools. Automation solves the major problems with accounting data entry by saving time, reducing costs and eliminating human error. Sole proprietor accounting software is designed to grow as you do. It will help you with tasks like payroll, direct payments and automating your bookkeeping.

Your accountant (if you have one) will need a full set of your accounts showing your sole trader income and expenditure, from which they can work out your tax liability. While accounting covers the more general process of managing your accounts and can involve strategic planning, sole trader bookkeeping goes into the details. It can be a daunting task as every receipt, sole trader bookkeeping invoice, and bill must be logged, however it’s essential for creating the likes of accurate tax returns and business plans. Keeping accounts of a business is incredibly important and it must be done right. Here is our guide on sole trader accounts and bookkeeping, to help you get a good understanding of what it’s like to run your business as a sole trader.

As a UK sole trader, invoicing is just as important a part of running your business as the products and services you provide. In this guide, we’ll run through all the essentials you need to know about invoicing as a sole trader. This includes how to create an invoice, what to include and some info on invoicing international clients from the UK. We’ve already explained that you need to register as a sole trader when your profits exceed £1000 over the course of a year or within any given tax period. But, we haven’t yet mentioned what happens if you don’t register in time. A sole proprietorship is best suited to small businesses with low risk and low profits.