Finance and accounting

An e-invoice is not a PDF sent by email. It is structured data that travels from your software straight into your customer's accounts. In the UK it is still optional for most businesses, but public bodies already have to accept it, and it becomes compulsory for VAT invoices from April 2029.

E-invoicing becomes mandatory for VAT invoices from April 2029, and Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is reaching more sole traders each year. Here is what changes, when, and how to get ready.

Universal Credit can provide valuable financial support for self-employed individuals in the UK. However, eligibility and payment levels are influenced by specific rules, including the Minimum Income Floor (MIF), which can significantly affect entitlement when business profits are low.

The self-employed don't receive Statutory Sick Pay when illness stops them working. Instead, the main safety net is New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Here is who qualifies, how much you can get and how to apply.