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We're here with practical tax information for your business. Find out about business taxes, tax planning and more.

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We've scoured the web to get you the most up-to-date advice which includes the most useful tools on offer from the officials themselves.

Effective tax planning is essential if you are to minimise your tax bills. Simple tax planning can significantly reduce your tax liabilities.

The self-assessment tax return is an unavoidable burden if you are liable for self-employed tax or have complicated income tax affairs.

Corporation tax is charged on a company's profits. If you trade as a limited company, ensure that paying this tax is as painless as possible.

National Insurance Contributions (NICs) are payable whether you are self-employed or employed by your own company, although different rates apply.

As well as your legal obligations, you’ll want to ensure that payroll is painless and that you use any opportunities to improve your tax-efficiency.

VAT

Effective VAT planning aims to ensure that VAT is relatively painless, and that you are reclaiming as much as possible of the VAT you pay.

Capital gains are made when you sell something for more money than you paid for it. As a result, you can be subject to tax. Take professional advice.

Business property taxes apply to businesses with commercial premises.There are two commercial property taxes: business rates and stamp duty land tax.

If you have tax problems or face a tax investigation, it pays to seek professional advice and you must act rather than just hoping for the best.

Corporation tax

Corporation tax is charged on a company's profits. If you trade as a limited company, you'll want to ensure that paying corporation tax is as painless as possible - both in terms of paperwork and the total corporation tax payable.

In terms of corporation tax rates, the UK rate is relatively low - significantly lower than personal income tax. This can provide beneficial tax planning opportunities.

UK corporation tax basics

Corporation tax is charged on taxable profits. This includes trading profits and most investment profits. It also includes any capital gains (where you have sold an asset for more than you paid), usually referred to as chargeable gains.

Corporation tax is generally charged on your taxable profits for a 12-month accounting period that matches your company financial year. There can be exceptions, for example, when you start a new company or change your financial year-end.

UK corporation tax rules set out exactly which reliefs and capital allowances can be set against business income in calculating your taxable profits. Most legitimate business expenses can be.

Corporation tax rates (UK)

Your corporation tax liability is calculated by multiplying taxable profits by the corporation tax rate. The amount of corporation tax payable depends on your total profits.

From April 2017, the single rate of corporation tax is 19% on all taxable profits. This will be reduced to 17% by 2020. For the financial years April 2015 to 6 April 2017, there was a single rate of corporation tax set at 20% on all profits.

In earlier tax years, the lower "small profits rate" was paid at a rate of 20% on profits up to £300,000, while the main corporation tax rate of 21% was charged if your profits were more than £1.5m. There was a system of marginal relief for profits between these two limits.

Corporation tax rates in the UK can change from one financial year to the next. If your accounting period falls into two financial years with different corporation tax rates, the different rates will be charged on each part of your profits.

Corporation tax records, returns and payments

Keeping accurate corporation tax records of your income and expenses is essential - and a legal requirement.

You must pay your corporation tax within nine months of the end of your accounting period, or in instalments if your profits exceed £1.5m. You must also file your corporation tax return within 12 months. You are responsible for calculating the corporation tax due and making sure that you submit the return online in accordance with HM Revenue & Customs requirements.

Most companies find that using an accountant is the best way to ensure they meet their corporation tax obligations. In addition, your accountant can advise you on the best opportunities to reduce the total corporation tax (and other taxes) you pay.

HMRC have introduced online personal tax accounts. All small businesses and personal tax payers now have their own account. You can view your tax transactions across the range of business taxes including Self Assessment, Corporation Tax, VAT and PAYE for employers and to make payments at any time.