Filing your self assessment tax return yourself

[dancingstars]

This will be my first year filing it as a full time freelancer. I spoke to an accountant who said he'd only be able to save me a few hundred pounds (as I've not earned a whole lot) so I think I'm going to try do it myself. I've filed it myself before as a part-time freelancer but never claimed for expenses etc. What things should I claim for as a freelancer working from home?

I was advised to claim for anything that was needed to do the job so (for example) phone, laptop, additional screens, cables, books, pens, wifi, car costs, home phone line and so on.

You can also claim a portion of your utility bills.

Have a look on the government website for details of what you can claim as expenses. I was advised that things like a mobile phone or broadband etc that you’d still have if you weren’t using them for work should not be included. The work from home allowance is pretty shit. - think I claim £10 a month or thereabouts. Big purchases should be split over several years rather than offset against one years profits - not sure how big is big though!

You can claim for banking fees, professional subscriptions, mileage for any work travel including visits to the post office to dispatch orders if that’s relevant.

Thanks for the tips, everyone!

I am a freelancer and always do my own tax return. In my case, the simplest thing do to is to claim the £1000 trading allowance.

I don't buy stock, I don't have "costs" associated with running my business really, I'm just selling my time and "expertise". So the trading allowance just knocks £1000 off your liability to tax without you having to go through the process of adding up receipts, calculating percentages of bills and so on.

www.gov.uk/guidance/tax-free-allowances-on-property-and-trading-income

you can claim any work related driving at 45p per mile, upto 10,000 miles.