A step-by-step guide to checking your 2026/27 tax code: what 1257L means, spotting emergency codes, why your code might be wrong, and how to reclaim overpaid tax.
The most common Self Assessment errors UK taxpayers make in 2026/27 — from forgetting pension relief and savings interest to missing payments on account — and exactly how to avoid each one.
How National Insurance works for the self-employed in 2026/27: Class 4 at 6%/2%, voluntary Class 2, the qualifying years that build your State Pension, and how to protect your record.
How overtime and bonuses are taxed in 2026/27: the myth of being penalised, marginal tax rates, why NI feels harsh on a bonus month, and how to keep more of it.
Filing your first Self Assessment as a sole trader in 2026: registering for a UTR, deadlines, allowable expenses, Class 4 NI, payments on account and the new MTD ITSA rules.
How UK residents are taxed on foreign dividends in 2026/27: the £500 dividend allowance, 10.75/35.75/39.35% rates, Foreign Tax Credit Relief for withholding tax, and how to report overseas dividend income to HMRC.
How rental income is taxed for UK landlords in 2026/27: the Section 24 mortgage interest restriction, allowable expenses, the 20% finance cost credit, and how to work out what you really owe.
How an inherited UK pension is taxed in 2026/27: income tax on drawdown depends on the age at death, the April 2027 IHT change bringing unused pots into estates, and how to take the money tax-efficiently.
HMRC investigations explained for 2026: aspect vs full enquiry, Connect data matching, disclosure windows, Code of Practice 9 and how to respond effectively.
Are gambling winnings taxable in the UK? HMRC's BIM22015 rules explained for 2026, including crypto gambling, professional gamblers and offshore platforms.
Is the VAT Flat Rate Scheme worth it in 2026/27? Sector rates, the 1% first-year discount, the 16.5% Limited Cost Trader rate, the £230k cap and a full consultant worked example versus standard VAT.
UK Inheritance Tax kicks in above £325,000 (£500k with home + family) at 40%. Here's how the bands work, the seven-year rule on gifts, business and agricultural reliefs, and the major April 2027 pension change
