Small Business Guide
2026–27 verified reference
Key UK business rates at a glance
Use this snapshot to find the right guide; confirm your exact position using the linked official source because thresholds and eligibility can change.
| Topic | Current reference | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Corporation Tax | 19% small-profits rate to £50,000; 25% main rate above £250,000 | Corporation Tax guide |
| VAT | Registration threshold £90,000; deregistration threshold £88,000 | VAT registration guide |
| Income and dividends | Personal Allowance £12,570; dividend allowance £500 | Income Tax rates and dividend guide |
| National Insurance | Employee 8% between £12,570 and £50,270; employer 15% above £5,000 | National Insurance guide |
| Making Tax Digital for Income Tax | From 6 April 2026 for qualifying income above £50,000 | MTD for Income Tax |
Primary sources checked 13 August 2026: HMRC Income Tax, HMRC VAT and HMRC National Insurance.
🏢 Corporation Tax
8 guides- 01
Corporation Tax: A Complete Guide for Limited Companies
Rates, deadlines, allowances, and how to calculate and pay your corporation tax bill.
- 02
Corporation Tax Rates 2026/27: What You'll Pay
The current main rate, small profits rate, and marginal relief — explained clearly.
- 03
How to File Your CT600 Corporation Tax Return
Step-by-step guide to completing and submitting your annual CT600 to HMRC.
- 04
Allowable Expenses for Limited Companies: The Complete List
Every expense you can legitimately deduct against corporation tax — with examples.
- 05
Director's Salary and Dividends: The Most Tax-Efficient Strategy
The optimal salary/dividend split for 2026/27 — how to pay yourself as a director.
- 06
Corporation Tax Payment Deadlines: When and How to Pay
The 9-month and 1-day rule, instalment payments, and how to avoid late payment penalties.
- 07
R&D Tax Credits: Can Your Business Claim?
How Research & Development tax relief works and whether your projects qualify.
- 08
Dividend Tax Guide for Company Directors 2026/27
Dividend allowance, tax rates on dividends, and how to report them on Self Assessment.
📋 VAT
7 guides- 01
VAT Registration: When You Must Register and How to Do It
The £90,000 threshold, voluntary registration, and the step-by-step registration process.
- 02
VAT Schemes Explained: Which One is Right for Your Business?
Standard, flat rate, cash accounting, and annual accounting VAT schemes compared.
- 03
The Flat Rate VAT Scheme: Is It Worth It for Your Business?
How the flat rate scheme works, the sector percentages, and when it saves you money.
- 04
Reclaiming VAT on Business Expenses: What You Can and Cannot Claim
Input VAT, blocked VAT, and the rules for reclaiming VAT on common business expenses.
- 05
Making Tax Digital for VAT: What You Need to Do
MTD for VAT requirements, compatible software, and how to submit returns digitally.
- 06
VAT on International Sales: Exports, Imports, and EU Rules
Zero-rating exports, import VAT, the OSS scheme, and selling to EU customers post-Brexit.
- 07
How to Deregister for VAT: When and How
When you can deregister, the process, and the implications of coming off the VAT register.
📝 Self Assessment & Income Tax
6 guides- 01
Self Assessment Tax Return: A Complete Guide for Business Owners
Who needs to file, what to include, key deadlines, and how to avoid common mistakes.
- 02
Self Assessment Deadlines 2026/27: Key Dates You Must Not Miss
Registration, paper return, online return, and payment deadlines — all in one place.
- 03
Payments on Account: What They Are and How to Reduce Them
How HMRC's advance payment system works and when you can apply to reduce them.
- 04
Income Tax Rates and Bands 2026/27
Personal allowance, basic rate, higher rate, and additional rate — with worked examples.
- 05
National Insurance for the Self-Employed and Company Directors
Class 2, Class 4, and Class 1 NI contributions — what you pay and when.
- 06
Tax-Free Allowances for Business Owners: The Full List 2026/27
Personal allowance, dividend allowance, capital gains allowance, and trading allowance.
🏦 Business Banking & Finance
7 guides- 01
Business Bank Accounts: Everything You Need to Know
Do you need one, what to look for, and how to choose the right account for your business.
- 02
Best Business Bank Accounts in the UK 2026
Tide, Starling, Monzo, Barclays, and HSBC compared — fees, features, and who they suit.
- 03
Business Credit Cards: How to Choose the Right One
Cashback, rewards, credit limits, and the best business credit cards for UK small businesses.
- 04
Invoice Financing: How to Unlock Cash Tied Up in Unpaid Invoices
Invoice factoring vs invoice discounting — how they work and when to use them.
- 05
Business Loans: Types, Eligibility, and How to Apply
Term loans, revolving credit, government-backed loans, and what lenders look for.
- 06
Cash Flow Management: How to Keep Your Business Solvent
Cash flow forecasting, managing late payments, and practical tips to improve cash flow.
- 07
Business Overdrafts: How They Work and When to Use One
Arranged vs unarranged overdrafts, costs, and alternatives for short-term cash flow gaps.
📚 Bookkeeping & Accounts
6 guides- 01
Bookkeeping Basics for Small Business Owners
What bookkeeping involves, what records you must keep, and how to set up a simple system.
- 02
How to Read a Profit and Loss Statement
Understanding your P&L — revenue, gross profit, operating costs, and net profit explained.
- 03
Balance Sheet Explained: A Plain-English Guide for Business Owners
Assets, liabilities, and equity — what your balance sheet tells you about your business.
- 04
Annual Accounts for Limited Companies: What You Must File
Statutory accounts, filing deadlines, abridged accounts, and what happens if you file late.
- 05
Cash vs Accrual Accounting: Which Should Your Business Use?
The difference between the two methods, which HMRC allows, and which suits your business.
- 06
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: What Self-Employed People Must Do
MTD for ITSA — who it applies to, the quarterly reporting requirements, and compatible software.
👥 Payroll & Pensions
5 guides- 01
PAYE: A Complete Guide for Small Business Employers
How to register as an employer, run payroll, and submit RTI returns to HMRC.
- 02
National Minimum Wage and Living Wage 2026: Rates and Rules
Current NMW and NLW rates, who qualifies, and the penalties for non-compliance.
- 03
Workplace Pension Auto-Enrolment: Your Employer Obligations
Who must be enrolled, contribution rates, staging dates, and how to choose a pension scheme.
- 04
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): What Employers Must Pay
SSP rates, eligibility, how long it lasts, and what to do when SSP ends.
- 05
Statutory Maternity and Paternity Pay: Employer's Guide
SMP, SPP, and ShPP rates, eligibility, and how to reclaim from HMRC.
🎯 Tax Planning & Savings
6 guides- 01
Tax Planning for Small Businesses: Legal Ways to Reduce Your Bill
Timing income and expenses, pension contributions, and other legitimate tax reduction strategies.
- 02
Annual Investment Allowance (AIA): Claim 100% Tax Relief on Assets
What qualifies for AIA, the current limit, and how to claim it on your tax return.
- 03
Capital Allowances: A Complete Guide for Business Owners
Writing down allowances, first-year allowances, and how to claim capital allowances correctly.
- 04
Pension Contributions and Tax Relief: Maximising Your Allowance
How pension contributions reduce your tax bill and the annual and lifetime allowances.
- 05
Business Asset Disposal Relief (Entrepreneurs' Relief) Explained
The 10% CGT rate on qualifying business disposals — conditions, limits, and how to claim.
- 06
HMRC Tax Investigations: What to Do If You're Selected
Types of HMRC enquiry, your rights, what to expect, and how to protect yourself.
💷 Grants & Funding
4 guides- 01
Small Business Grants in the UK: Where to Find Free Funding
Government grants, local enterprise partnership funding, and sector-specific grant schemes.
- 02
The Start Up Loans Scheme: How to Apply for Government-Backed Funding
Eligibility, loan amounts, interest rates, and what the application process involves.
- 03
R&D Grants for Small Businesses: Innovate UK and Beyond
Innovate UK Smart Grants, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, and other R&D funding sources.
- 04
SEIS and EIS: Raising Investment with Generous Tax Reliefs
How the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and EIS work for early-stage companies raising investment.
🛡️ Business Insurance
3 guides- 01
Business Insurance: The Types Every Small Business Should Know About
Employer's liability, public liability, professional indemnity, and more — what each covers.
- 02
Professional Indemnity Insurance: Do You Need It?
Who needs PI insurance, what it covers, typical costs, and how to choose a policy.
- 03
Key Person Insurance: Protecting Your Business Against the Unexpected
What key person insurance covers, how to value a key person, and tax treatment.