book keeping

Tax Return Tips for Freelancers & Self-Employed in Kent (2025 Update)

If you’re self-employed or freelancing in Kent, understanding your tax return is essential to keeping your business running smoothly. Whether you’re based in Gravesend, Medway, Dartford or anywhere else in Kent, staying organised with your finances can save you stress — and potentially money. As the 2025 tax season approaches, here are some practical tax

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Sole Trader to Limited Company Mid-Year | Key Tax Tips & Traps

For many UK entrepreneurs, starting out as a sole trader makes perfect sense — it’s quick, simple, and keeps your paperwork to a minimum. But as your business grows, switching to a limited company can bring real benefits, from improved tax efficiency to added credibility with clients and suppliers. However, making the switch partway through

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machine equipment tax

Should You Buy Equipment or Lease It? Tax Implications Explained

When your business needs new equipment—whether it’s IT hardware, machinery, or office furniture—one of the biggest questions is: should you buy it outright or lease it? At Clayton Stirling, we regularly help business owners across the UK weigh up this decision from both a financial and tax perspective. In this guide, we’ll break down the

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What is the Super-Deduction? Can You Still Claim in 2025?

The Super-Deduction was one of the UK government’s most generous capital allowance schemes, introduced in 2021 to boost business investment. It allowed companies to deduct 130% of qualifying capital expenditure from their profits, significantly reducing their corporation tax bill. But with the original scheme ending in March 2023, many business owners are wondering: Can you

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inheritance tax

Should I Set Up a Family Trust to Reduce Inheritance Tax?

Inheritance Tax (IHT) can significantly reduce the wealth passed on to your loved ones. With rising property values and relatively low tax thresholds, more families than ever are being caught by the 40% tax on estates above the nil-rate band. If you’re looking to reduce your inheritance tax bill, one strategy worth considering is setting

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tax accountant kent

Do I Need an Accountant if I Use Accounting Software?

In today’s digital world, accounting software like Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent have made bookkeeping much more accessible for business owners. These tools can automatically pull in bank transactions, create invoices, track expenses, and even submit VAT returns. So it’s fair to ask: do you still need an accountant if you’re using accounting software? The short

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