03/09/2026
💷 SELF-EMPLOYED? SMALL BUSINESS OWNER? — ARE YOU CLAIMING ALL YOUR ALLOWABLE EXPENSES?
When it comes to completing your Self Assessment tax return, knowing what you can legitimately claim as a business expense can make a big difference to your taxable profit.
Here are some common expenses that may be allowable 👇
📌 OFFICE & BUSINESS COSTS
• Stationery & postage
• Printing & printer ink
• Business software & subscriptions
• Business phone & internet costs
• Office equipment
• Rent and business premises costs
🚗 MOTOR & TRAVEL
• Business mileage
• Fuel and vehicle costs (depending on the method you use)
• Parking
• Train, bus, taxi and other business travel
• Hotel costs for qualifying business trips
• Meals when travelling overnight for business
For 2026/27, the simplified mileage rate for cars and vans is 55p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles, then 25p per mile. Motorcycles are 24p per mile. (GOV.UK)
🏠 WORKING FROM HOME
If you work from home, you may be able to claim a proportion of your household costs or use HMRC’s simplified expenses method.
The simplified home-working rates are currently:
• 25–50 hours/month = £10
• 51–100 hours/month = £18
• 101+ hours/month = £26
Phone and internet can also potentially be claimed based on the business proportion. (GOV.UK)
📣 MARKETING
• Advertising
• Website costs
• Business-related promotional costs
• Trade/professional subscriptions
👷 STAFF & SUBCONTRACTORS
• Staff wages
• Employer’s National Insurance
• Staff pensions/benefits
• Agency fees
• Subcontractors
• Relevant staff training (GOV.UK)
💼 PROFESSIONAL & FINANCIAL COSTS
• Accountant’s fees
• Solicitor/professional fees for business matters
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Business bank charges
• Interest on qualifying business loans/finance
• Business insurance (GOV.UK)
📦 STOCK & MATERIALS
If you’re selling products or making goods, you may be able to claim the cost of stock, raw materials and other direct production costs. (GOV.UK)
⚠️ BUT BE CAREFUL!
Not everything you spend money on is automatically an allowable business expense.
For example, you generally cannot claim:
❌ Personal expenses
❌ Fines and penalties
❌ Client entertaining
❌ Your own drawings/salary as a sole trader
❌ Private travel
❌ The personal element of mixed business/private costs
Some larger purchases, such as equipment or vehicles, may need to be dealt with through capital allowances rather than simply being entered as an ordinary expense. (GOV.UK)
📑 KEEP YOUR RECORDS!
You don’t normally send receipts with your tax return, but HMRC says you should keep accurate records and evidence of your expenses in case you’re asked to provide them. (GOV.UK)
👉 The golden rule: if an expense is genuinely for your business, don’t assume you can’t claim it — check the rules.
And don’t claim something just because you’ve heard someone else does! Tax rules can differ depending on your circumstances and whether you’re a sole trader, partnership or limited company.
💬 SELF-EMPLOYED OR A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER?
What expense surprised you when you first started doing your tax return?
Drop your questions below 👇
This post is for general information and isn’t personal tax advice. Always check the current HMRC rules
