Self-Employed Resources
Useful official guidance for running your self-employed business.
Being self-employed comes with plenty of rules and deadlines. We’ve brought together some of the most useful official HMRC and GOV.UK resources in one place, with a short explanation of what each one can help you with.
For practical articles and updates, visit the Keepmore Blog.
Free Driver Starter Card
Download the double-sided A5 Driver Starter Card as a free PDF.
Getting started as self-employed
Register as a sole trader and understand what you need to do when you start working for yourself.
Self Assessment
Check whether you need to complete a tax return, how to register and how the process works.
Keeping business records
Understand what income, expense and supporting records HMRC expects you to keep.
Allowable business expenses
Understand the types of business costs that may be deductible when calculating taxable profit.
Vehicle, mileage and travel costs
Guidance on vehicle/travel expenses and simplified mileage expenses.
VAT
Check current VAT registration rules, thresholds and voluntary registration.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
Check whether MTD applies, when it starts and what digital records/software may be needed.
Tax deadlines and planning for your bill
Check the current filing and payment deadlines so you can plan ahead for your tax bill.
Common terms explained
UTR — Unique Taxpayer Reference
The 10-digit number HMRC uses to identify you for Self Assessment.
DSP — Delivery Service Partner
A business that contracts drivers to deliver parcels, commonly within delivery networks such as Amazon.
MTD — Making Tax Digital
HMRC’s system requiring qualifying businesses to keep digital records and submit information digitally.
HMRC — His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
The UK authority responsible for tax administration.
Self Assessment
The system used to report certain income and calculate/pay tax yourself.
Sole trader
Someone running a business personally rather than through a limited company.
Limited company / Ltd
A separate legal entity registered at Companies House.
VAT — Value Added Tax
A tax added to many goods and services by VAT-registered businesses.
FRS — Flat Rate Scheme
A VAT scheme under which eligible businesses calculate VAT using a fixed percentage of VAT-inclusive turnover, subject to HMRC rules.
Allowable expense
A business cost that may be deductible when calculating taxable profit, subject to HMRC rules.
Tax year
For individuals, normally 6 April to 5 April.
Turnover
Total business income before expenses are deducted.
Not sure what applies to you?
Generic guidance is useful, but everyone’s circumstances are different.
For delivery drivers, the free Keepmore Driver Finance Check can help highlight areas worth looking at. The Keepmore Financial Review goes further by looking at your actual circumstances, earnings and costs and giving you a clear action plan and signposting.
Explore our Financial Review or use the free Business Money Check for delivery drivers.
Keepmore provides these links as helpful signposting. External guidance can change and you should check the current information on GOV.UK or HMRC for your circumstances. General information on this page is not a substitute for advice based on your individual circumstances.
Official links checked: October 2026.