Sole traders and freelancers
Understand your likely bill, review allowable business costs and plan for payments on account. We can also discuss whether your current business structure still suits your plans.
Self Assessment support →Our Tax Planning Services help you understand what you may owe, make informed decisions and keep more room in your finances for the things that matter.
Growing a business, taking money from your company or managing several sources of income? Let’s work through it together, while there is still time to plan.
Tell us what is on your mind. Your first chat is completely free.
You can be busy, profitable and still feel unsure about tax. Perhaps money is coming in, but you do not know how much is safe to take out. Perhaps your income has changed and last year’s figures no longer tell the whole story.
That is where a conversation helps. We bring your income, business plans and upcoming payments into one picture, explain the options and help you decide what to do next.
Our Tax Planning Services are built around your circumstances. The starting point is understanding what you want your money to do for you.
You do not need to know which tax question to ask. Tell us what is changing, and we will help identify the areas that need attention.
Understand your likely bill, review allowable business costs and plan for payments on account. We can also discuss whether your current business structure still suits your plans.
Self Assessment support →Look at company profits and your personal income together. We help you consider salary, dividends, pension contributions and the cash your business needs to keep.
Limited company accounting →Bring employment, rental income, savings and other income into a clearer plan. A new property, a sale or a change in circumstances can be a good reason to review your position.
Personal tax support →A forecast gives you a practical starting point for budgeting. We explain the assumptions and revisit them when your figures change.
We review relevant allowances, reliefs and timing decisions, including the conditions and records needed to support a claim.
Agree the actions, responsibilities and review dates, so a useful discussion becomes something you can follow through.
A healthy bank balance does not automatically tell you how much you can take home. Company tax, upcoming costs and the rules for paying dividends all need a place in the conversation.
We help directors compare their options using current figures, their other income and what the business needs over the coming months.
When you have a question about your money, you want someone who listens, explains and follows through. Here are a few words from people who have worked with Swift.
“Fantastic service from all the team.”Explore our Google reviews ↗
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Selected excerpts from client feedback published on our website. These relate to clients’ experiences of Swift’s accountancy services.
Your tax position becomes less straightforward when you have more than one source of income. A salary, rental profit, dividends and savings interest can interact in ways that are easy to overlook.
We help you bring the details together before a purchase, sale or change in ownership. For residential landlords owning property personally, mortgage finance costs are generally dealt with through a basic-rate tax reduction, subject to restrictions.
Moving property into a company also needs a separate review of the transaction, financing and ongoing costs. It is worth understanding the whole arrangement before making a commitment.
Planning a sale? Explore our Capital Gains Tax advice. Thinking about passing on wealth? See our Inheritance Tax planning.
Talk to us before your next big decision →These headline rules help frame a discussion. Your income, company structure, residence and eligibility for reliefs can change the result.
| Area | Headline position | What to review |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | The standard allowance is £12,570. It reduces by £1 for every £2 of adjusted net income above £100,000. | Your total income and relevant deductions. Scottish rates and bands differ for non-savings, non-dividend income. |
| Dividend tax | The dividend allowance is £500. Above applicable allowances, 2026/27 dividend rates are 10.75%, 35.75% and 39.35%. | Which bands your dividends fall into after taking account of your other income. |
| Corporation Tax | The small profits rate is 19% and the main rate is 25%, with marginal relief potentially available between the usual £50,000 and £250,000 profit limits. | Associated companies and short accounting periods can reduce these limits. Special rules and exclusions can apply. |
| VAT registration | For most UK businesses, registration is required when taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 over a rolling 12 months, or is expected to exceed £90,000 in the next 30 days alone. | Monitor taxable turnover throughout the year and consider what registration means for pricing and cashflow. |
| Pension annual allowance | The standard annual allowance is £60,000, including employer contributions, but a lower allowance can apply. | Previous contributions, relevant earnings, high-income tapering, pension access and any available carry-forward. |
Personal figures relate to 6 April 2026–5 April 2027. Corporation Tax follows the company’s accounting period and the applicable financial-year rates. Official guidance is linked at the end of this page.
Sole traders and landlords with qualifying gross self-employment and property income above £50,000 in 2024/25 generally needed to start from 6 April 2026. The threshold falls to over £30,000 from April 2027, based on 2025/26 income, and over £20,000 from April 2028, based on 2026/27 income. Exemptions can apply. We can help check your start date and the records and software you need.
A family break. A quieter month. A new member of staff. A gradual move towards retirement. A tax plan is more useful when it understands what you are working towards.
Tax efficiency is only part of the decision. Your plan should also consider household spending, business reserves and when you will need access to funds.
We can explain the tax implications of contributions and the limits that may apply. Personal contribution relief also depends on relevant UK earnings and other conditions.
Where your plans involve investment choices, pension products or legal documents, the tax discussion can sit alongside advice from an appropriately qualified financial adviser or solicitor.
You bring the questions. We help turn them into a practical plan.
Tell us about your income, what is changing and what you would like to feel clearer about.
We agree the scope and fee, then review the relevant figures, records and upcoming decisions.
You get a plain-English explanation of the choices, assumptions, practical costs and next steps.
A review timetable can reflect your needs, whether that is before a transaction, ahead of year end or as your income changes.
These simplified illustrations show the questions a review can uncover. They are not client results or promises of a particular saving.
Assume a first bill of £6,000, all of it falling within the payments-on-account calculation, with no earlier payments and no exemption. The first January payment would be £9,000: the £6,000 bill plus £3,000 towards the following year. A further £3,000 would normally fall due in July.
The planning point: understand the payment schedule early, so an advance payment does not come as a surprise.
Assume £10,000 of dividends, an unused £500 dividend allowance, no unused Personal Allowance and enough basic-rate band for the entire dividend. The tax would be £9,500 × 10.75% = £1,021.25. This excludes any Corporation Tax already payable by the company.
The planning point: check current rates and your other income before deciding how much to withdraw. Dividends must also be supported by available profits.
At £110,000 of adjusted net income, the standard Personal Allowance would reduce by £5,000 to £7,570, assuming no other adjustments. This is because the allowance reduces by £1 for each £2 above £100,000.
The planning point: a bonus or additional income can affect allowances as well as the tax band. Review the complete position and any eligible deductions before the tax year ends.
Taking on a new contract, buying equipment or changing how you work can all be reasons to pause and review the numbers.
We help you consider the business purpose, likely tax treatment and effect on available cash. Spending money simply to reduce a tax bill still leaves you with a cost. The decision needs to make sense for the business.
With your agreed support in place, you have a dedicated contact, a secure client portal and a clearer route to getting your questions answered.
Your latest accounts or tax return, a rough income forecast, details of upcoming purchases or sales, and the questions you have been putting off. If something is missing, tell us; we can explain what is needed.
See our corporate accounting services →There is no need to arrive knowing the terminology. Here are some of the questions we can talk through.
They help you understand your tax position and consider relevant decisions before you make them. A review can cover income, business structure, allowances, reliefs, payment dates and the records needed to support your position.
A tax return reports the relevant income, gains and other information for a period. Planning looks ahead at decisions and likely liabilities. The two work best together, using reliable records and up-to-date figures.
Sometimes. The review may identify eligible reliefs, missed allowable costs or a more suitable approach. The result depends on your circumstances. We explain realistic options without promising a particular saving.
Ideally before a significant transaction or commitment, and with time before the relevant year end. Contact us if your income changes, you plan to sell an asset or you are unsure what to reserve for tax.
Yes. We can discuss income and expenses, payment dates, record keeping and how your business plans affect your tax position. You do not need to run a limited company to benefit from a review.
Yes. We can review your company’s figures alongside your personal income and circumstances. There is no single salary-and-dividend combination that is right for every director.
Bank cash and distributable profit are different things. A company needs sufficient available profits to pay dividends, and the appropriate decisions and records must be in place. We can help you check the position.
Yes. We can review rental income alongside your other income and discuss the tax questions raised by purchases, disposals and changes to ownership. Let us know before committing to a transaction where possible.
Yes. We can review your qualifying self-employment and property income, the relevant start date and possible exemptions. We can also discuss the digital records and compatible software you will need.
They are advance payments towards a Self Assessment bill, generally due on 31 January and 31 July where the rules apply. We can explain your statement and how these payments fit into your cashflow.
You may be able to apply if you reasonably expect a lower relevant tax liability. The estimate needs care: reducing the payments too far can lead to interest. We can help you assess the figures.
Yes, where appropriate. We can consider the tax implications, contribution limits and available reliefs. Pension or investment product recommendations may also require a separately qualified and authorised financial adviser.
The answer depends on the business need, the asset, your accounting method and the relief available. Timing can matter, but a purchase should also be affordable and useful to the business.
Yes. We agree the fee and scope after understanding what you need. A focused review and ongoing planning support may involve different work, so we explain the inclusions before you decide.
That depends on your circumstances. A major change may call for a review straight away, while an agreed routine can help you stay prepared throughout the year. We can discuss a timetable that suits you.
Usually a summary of your income and plans, recent accounts or returns if available, and relevant supporting records. You can start the free chat with an outline; we will explain what is needed for any detailed work.
Yes. Tell us what you have and what is missing. We can identify any urgent filing issues and agree the work needed to establish reliable figures before preparing detailed forecasts.
Yes. We can explain the handover and, with your authority, request the relevant information from your existing accountant. We agree the scope and any approaching deadlines with you.
Yes. We can discuss how these areas connect with your wider circumstances. Visit our Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax pages for more detail.
No. We can arrange a conversation by phone or online and use our client portal for documents. If you prefer to meet, ask us about an appointment at our Tattenhall office near Chester.
You do not need a perfect spreadsheet or a list of technical questions. Tell us what is happening, and we will help you find a sensible next step.
Our Tax Planning Services start with understanding you: your work, your family, your plans and the questions you want answered.
Your first chat is completely free. Any further work and fees are agreed with you.
Listening,
Understanding,
Advising
Tell us what you need help with. We’ll call you to understand your situation, explain how we can help and agree the next steps.
