Introduction to the tax system

If you form a partnership to carry on a business, you must register it separately with HM Revenue & Customs even if the partners have previously been self employed. If the partners are new to business, they must also register individually. Partnerships are registered with a special HM Revenue & Customs partnership team, based at Longbenton near Newcastle.

Detailed guidance on understanding VAT.

For many years, people leaving jobs to become self-employed were advised to instead set up one man companies to provide their services. One reason for this might be the security offered by limited liability, but in many cases the use of a 'personal service company' was to create the opportunity for some quite substantial savings, particularly of national insurance contributions (NIC's).

The use of mileage rates is an optional alternative to keeping detailed records of actual expenditure. For either method, journeys must be made wholly and exclusively for business purposes.

Very few expenses are tax-deductible from earnings from employment, though two cases in 2010 could mean that the scope is a little wider than previously thought.

Planning to minimise the liability to IHT is a team effort involving you and your professional adviser. To enable long-term objectives to be set, it is necessary to make decisions about your finances and your family.

These tax credits replaced Working Families' Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit and Children's Tax Credit and the child-related elements of Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance.

Details of the rates and types of stamp taxes.