What self-employed expenses can I include in my 2025 to 2026 tax return?, by HMRCgovuk on YouTube. 2 min 11 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 11 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Write down every cost you pay for the business during the tax year, and keep receipts, invoices and bank statements as proof.
Claim only costs you paid wholly and exclusively for your business, such as travel, office equipment, staff costs and general running costs.
Take out anything personal. A cost shared between home and business must be split, and only the business share goes on the return.
Consider simplified expenses for vehicles, working from home or living on business premises. These use flat rates instead of adding up every bill.
Check which income band applies to you. The guidance splits at £90,000, so follow the part that matches your turnover.
Enter your total allowable expenses in the self-employment section of your Self Assessment tax return and submit it by the 31 January deadline.
Keep your records for at least five years after the 31 January filing deadline, in case HMRC asks to check them.
Tips and common mistakes
Compare the flat rate with your actual costs before choosing simplified expenses, and remember that once you use it for a vehicle you must keep using it for that vehicle.
Client entertaining and ordinary personal spending are not allowable, so leave them off the return.
Claim only the business share of phone, internet and energy bills, not the full amount.
Questions
Can I claim a share of my home bills?
Yes. If you work from home you can claim a reasonable proportion of heating, electricity and similar costs, or use the flat rate based on your hours of work.
What if I have lost a receipt?
A bank or card statement can usually support the cost. You still need to show the expense was genuinely for the business.
Do I send receipts with my tax return?
No. You keep the records yourself and only send them if HMRC asks to see them.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
