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UK Self-Employment Hub 2026/27

Tax calculators, VAT tools and in-depth guides for sole traders, freelancers and contractors — all updated for the current tax year.

3 Calculators
2 Guides
Updated 2026/27
Free — no sign-up

Self-Employment Calculators

Work out your tax bill, VAT position and take-home profit as a sole trader or freelancer.

Most popular 🧮
Self-Employed Tax Calculator
Income tax and Class 4 NI on your sole trader profits — with full band breakdown and effective rate. Updated for 2026/27.
Calculate tax bill → 🧾
VAT Calculator
Add or remove 20%, 5% or custom VAT rates instantly. Essential for invoicing above the £90,000 VAT registration threshold.
Calculate VAT → 💷
Salary Calculator (Employed)
Compare your self-employed take-home against equivalent employed salary — useful when evaluating inside-IR35 contracts.
Compare take-home → New 🏗️
Contractor Take-Home Calculator
Ltd Co vs Umbrella vs PAYE — three-way comparison from day rate. See exactly which structure puts more in your pocket.
Compare structures → New 📅
Day Rate Calculator
Convert a salary to a contractor day rate — or a day rate back to equivalent salary — including contractor premium.
Calculate day rate → New 💼
Dividend Tax Calculator
Tax on salary + dividends for limited company directors — dividend allowance, band breakdown and total take-home.
Calculate dividend tax → New 🔨
CIS Tax Calculator
Calculate CIS deductions on construction payments — net received, running annual total, and SA balance to pay or reclaim.
Calculate CIS →

Self-Employment Guides

Plain-English explainers on tax, business structure and contractor decisions — with worked examples and 2026/27 figures.

Tax
Sole Trader Tax Explained — Income Tax & Class 4 NI
How HMRC taxes your trading profits, what you can deduct, payments on account and worked examples.
Business Structure
Sole Trader vs Limited Company — Which Is Better?
The tax, liability and admin comparison — with a worked example showing which structure saves more at different profit levels.
Career
Contractor vs Employee: Tax Explained
IR35, limited company vs umbrella vs PAYE — with real take-home comparison at the same day rate.
Tax
How UK Income Tax Works
Personal allowance, tax bands, the 60% trap and how the PAYE and Self Assessment systems relate to each other.
Tax · New
Allowable Expenses for Sole Traders — Full 2026/27 List
Every deduction you can claim — mileage rates, home working, capital allowances and what HMRC won't accept.
Tax · New
Self Assessment Tax Return — Deadlines & How to File
Who needs to file, key dates, payments on account, penalties and how to reduce your bill before 5 April.
VAT · New
VAT for Small Businesses — Registration, Flat Rate & MTD
The £90,000 threshold, flat rate scheme savings, invoicing rules and Making Tax Digital explained simply.
Tax Optimisation · New
How to Reduce Your Self-Employed Tax Bill
10 legitimate strategies — pension contributions, timing, Marriage Allowance and when to consider a limited company.

Also useful for self-employed people

Income Tax Calculator Pension / SIPP Calculator Budget Planner Pension Tax Relief Guide How Bonuses Are Taxed Pension Tax Relief Explained