Our Blog
Bookkeeping tips for contractors
Bookkeeping is the cornerstone of accounting. Get it wrong and not only could you be in trouble with HMRC, but you could misjudge the financial position of your limited company. In this article, we discuss the integral role that bookkeeping [...]
Buying a company car as a contractor
The majority of contractors use their personal car to travel to and from their clients' offices. Those who do will use HMRC’s Mileage Approved Rates (MAPs) to claim for the cost of these journeys. However, they also have the option [...]
Protect yourself from HMRC scammers
Cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated methods to scam people into handing over their personal and bank details. According to the Citizens Advice Bureau around four million people are scammed each year in the UK. The scary thing is, this number [...]
What to consider when choosing a business bank account
When forming a limited company, we strongly advise you to open a bank account that will be solely used for the business. Whilst, this isn’t a legal requirement, it will make managing the company’s money that much easier. It is [...]
The difference between an Umbrella and a Limited Company
If you are thinking of becoming a contractor but are unsure how to go about it, this article discusses the different ways to operate and gives pointers to help you decide which route is best suited to you. What are [...]
Fuel efficient cars for contractors
As a contractor who operates through a limited company and who uses your own vehicle to travel to your clients’ office, you should be used to claiming for mileage expenses. With the fluctuating fuel costs, you may have noticed that [...]
Contracting abroad – what to consider
If you are a contractor whose skills are in high-demand, you may at some point in your contracting career find yourself with an offer to work abroad. Not only could this be fantastic for your career, it also offers you [...]
5 surprising expenses that you can claim for
The life of a contractor is very different to that of an ‘employee’. One of the biggest differences is the structure of work. There will be periods where you are working flat out and there may be times when things [...]
Don’t get caught out by IR35 in 2018
Upon deciding to become an independent contractor, one of the first things you should acquaint yourself with is the Intermediaries Legislation or IR35 as it is commonly referred to. IR35 is a complex piece of legislation. To help you from [...]
Productivity apps for contractors
It seems like the term ‘productivity’ is the buzzword of the moment. Everyone wants to be more productive with their time. This led us to ask, what is productivity and why is it so important? The technical definition of productivity [...]
Understanding your contract – what to look out for
So, you’ve decided that you want to become a contractor. Your next step will be to decide how you are going to operate as a contractor. Two of the options available is through a limited company or via an umbrella [...]
The importance of a work life balance for contractors
The reason why some choose to become a self-employed contractor is that they want to achieve a better work-life balance. They are tired of being told when and where they must work. The idea behind becoming a contractor is that [...]
Is there a perfect time to become an IT contractor?
There are several reasons why you may choose to work as an IT contractor. It could be that you need greater flexibility and your current role can’t offer this, or it could be that you’ve taken a career break and [...]
What does an accountant do?
A lot of contractors we’ve talked to over the last 20 years have told us one of the things that has made their lives easier has been finding an experienced contractor accountant. We’ve even been described as a contractors’ ‘best [...]
How to get tax-free childcare for contractors
If you’re a contractor and have children, you can choose to pay for their childcare costs through your limited company. The benefit of this is that it may qualify for tax relief and National Insurance Contributions exemption. This is great [...]
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New enquiries:
newbusiness@sg-accounting.co.uk
01962 896968
Existing clients:
enquiries@sg-accounting.co.uk
01962 867550