- Derby House Chambers, Suite 7, Lytham Rd, Preston PR2 8JE.
- mani@platformfs.co.uk
- 01772 702000
100% Online · No office visits needed
Accountants for
Self-Employed
& Sole Traders
You work for yourself. Tax should not slow you down.
We calculate your self-assessment, prepare your SA100, and hand you everything ready to submit. Fixed fee. Fully online. No surprises.
Who We Help
We Work With Every Type of Small Businesses Including One Man Bands
We work with self-employed people who run their business alone. No employees, no complicated structure, just you and your work.
Taxi & Private Hire Drivers
Uber, Bolt, or your own plates. We claim every mile you are owed.
Builders & CIS Subcontractors
Working under CIS? You could be owed a tax refund.
Freelancers & IT Contractors
Multiple clients, multiple invoices. We make sense of it all.
Delivery Drivers
Deliveroo, Amazon Flex, DPD. Self-employed delivery drivers need a return every year.
Barbers & Hairdressers
Cash and card payments both count as income. We make sure every number is right.
Cleaners, Tutors & Market Traders
Whatever you do, if you earn over £1,000 we prepare your tax return.
Any One Man Band Running Their Own Business
If you work alone and earn over £1,000 a year, you need a tax return. We prepare it for you.
What We Do — Plain and Simple
We Calculate Your Income and Expenses
We review everything you earned and spent. We find every allowable expense you can legally claim.
We Prepare Your Self Assessment
We complete your SA100 form accurately. Every figure checked, every deduction applied.
We Prepare Your Profit and Loss Statement
You get a clear breakdown of your income, expenses, and net profit for the tax year.
We Prepare Your Balance Sheet
A full picture of your finances, prepared professionally and ready for your records.
We Give You a Complete Tax Summary
You receive a full HMRC Self Assessment report. It shows exactly what you owe and when to pay. You submit it yourself in minutes.
Simple 3-step process
How It Works — 3 Simple Steps
No complicated process. No back and forth. Just three simple steps.
1
Send Us Your Income and Expenses
Send us your bank statements, invoices, or receipts. WhatsApp, email, or upload online. Whatever works for you.
WhatsApp · Email · Upload online
2
We Prepare Your Complete Tax Summary
Our accountants review everything, calculate your tax, and prepare your SA100 with every expense claimed.
SA100 · P&L Statement · Balance Sheet
3
You Receive Your Report and Submit to HMRC
We send you your completed Self Assessment report. You check the numbers, then submit directly to HMRC yourself.
Done in minutes.
Filed in minutes · HMRC ready
Tax knowledge
Self-Employed Tax Returns —
What You Actually Need to Know
What You Actually Need to Know
Everything sole traders and self-employed people need to understand about Self Assessment — explained in plain English.
What Is a Self Assessment Tax Return?
Self Assessment is how HMRC collects tax from self-employed people.
Unlike employees, nobody deducts your tax automatically. You report your own income and expenses every year. HMRC calculates what you owe.
Unlike employees, nobody deducts your tax automatically. You report your own income and expenses every year. HMRC calculates what you owe.
Who Needs to File One?
You must file a Self Assessment if you:
- Earned over £1,000 from self-employment in a tax year
- Are a sole trader or one man band
- Drive for Uber, Bolt, or any private hire platform
- Sell goods online and earn over the trading allowance
- Work as a CIS subcontractor in construction
Key Dates and Deadlines You Cannot Miss
5th October
Register with HMRC as self-employed
31st January
Submit your tax return and pay tax owed
31st July
Second payment on account due
What Happens If You Miss the 31st January Deadline?
Day one late, £100 fine. Automatic. No exceptions.
After three months, daily £10 penalties begin. After six months, HMRC adds 5% of the tax owed on top.
Do not leave it. The fines stack up fast.
After three months, daily £10 penalties begin. After six months, HMRC adds 5% of the tax owed on top.
Do not leave it. The fines stack up fast.
What Expenses Can You Claim as Self-Employed?
Claiming the right expenses reduces your tax bill legally. Common allowable expenses include:
-
Fuel and vehicle costs
-
Tools and equipment
-
Phone and internet bills
-
Work clothing and uniforms
-
Training and courses for your trade
-
Mileage at 45p per mile (first 10,000)
Most sole traders underclaim. We make sure you do not.
What Is Making Tax Digital and Does It Affect You?
April 2026
Over £50,000
Must submit quarterly updates to HMRC digitally
April 2027
Over £30,000
Threshold drops — more sole traders affected
April 2028
Over £20,000
Threshold drops again — most sole traders affected
If this affects you, get prepared now. We will guide you through exactly what you need to do.
Transparent pricing
Our Fixed Fees —
No Surprises, Ever
No Surprises, Ever
No hourly rates. No hidden charges. You know exactly what you pay before we start.
Self Assessment Package
Standard
£149 /year
We calculate your tax, prepare your SA100, and give you a complete tax summary ready to submit.
Bookkeeping Plus
Best Value
Annual Return Package
£299 /year
We maintain your records throughout the year. At year end, we prepare your full Self Assessment and hand you everything ready.
What is Include in Every Plan
Profit & Loss statement
Balance sheet
HMRC tax summary
Income & expense sheet
All expenses reviewed
Ready to submit to HMRC
24-48 hour turnaround
HMRC registered accountants
Why choose us
Why Sole Traders and
One Man Bands Choose Us
One Man Bands Choose Us
Fixed Fee — You Know the Cost Before You Start
No surprises. No hourly billing. One clear price, agreed upfront.
Fully Online — No Office Visit Needed
Everything works remotely. Send your documents by WhatsApp, email, or online upload. We do the rest.
Fast Turnaround — Ready Within 24-48 Hours
Once we have your information, we prepare your complete tax summary quickly. No waiting weeks.
We Find Every Allowable Expense
We review your income and expenses carefully. Most clients reduce their tax bill simply by claiming what they are already entitled to.
Direct Contact — WhatsApp, Phone, Email
You deal with a real person. Not a call centre. Not a chatbot.
Your Numbers Are Always Accurate
We check every figure before handing you your report. You submit with confidence knowing everything is correct.
Business structure
Sole Trader vs Limited Company
Sole Trader
Simple to set up. Keep all profits after tax. One Self Assessment return per year. Most taxi drivers, barbers and freelancers operate this way.
Limited Company
Separate legal entity. Pay yourself salary and dividends. Company pays Corporation Tax. Personal finances stay protected if things go wrong.
Under £30k
Sole trader fine
£30k — £50k
Review options
Over £50k
Ltd saves more tax
Every situation is different. Contact us and we will advise the right structure for you, free of charge.
Get Free Advice ›
Useful resources
Self-Employed Tax Guides &
Useful Resources
Useful Resources
Tax rules change every year. Staying informed saves you money and keeps you out of trouble with HMRC.
01
What Is Self Assessment? A Plain English Guide
Beginner
New to self-employment? We explain exactly what Self Assessment is, who needs to file, and how the process works from start to finish.
02
The Complete List of Expenses Sole Traders Can Claim
Save tax
Most sole traders miss expenses they are fully entitled to. Covers every allowable expense HMRC accepts, from mileage to mobile phones.
03
Making Tax Digital 2026 — What Every One Man Band Must Know
2026 update
From April 2026 the rules change for many self-employed people. Find out if MTD affects you and what you need to do before the deadline.
04
Self Assessment Deadlines 2026 — Key Dates and What to Do
Key dates
Miss a deadline and the fines start immediately. This guide covers every important date for the 2025/26 tax year.
05
Sole Trader vs Limited Company — Which Saves You More Tax?
Structure
Not sure which structure suits your business? This guide breaks down the key differences and helps you decide which saves more tax.
Get started today
Get Your Tax Return
Sorted Today
Sorted Today
You focus on your work. We handle your numbers. Send us your income and expenses — we prepare everything ready to submit.
What happens next
We review your situation for free
2
We tell you exactly what to send us
3
We calculate your tax and find every expense
4
We prepare your complete Self Assessment
5
You submit it yourself in minutes
HMRC Registered
Hundreds of sole traders trust us
Your numbers are in safe hands
Reply within 1 working day