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What expenses can you claim when self-employed?

As Self Assessment Deadline Approaches, Which Business Expenses can be Deducted as Tax Relief?

With a little over three weeks until the Self Assessment deadline, over 5 million taxpayers are yet to submit their tax return for tax year 2018/19. With many of those taxpayers classed as self-employed, there are a wide range of commonly-forgotten business expenses which can be claimed as tax relief but are often missed due to a lack of awareness on what can and cannot be claimed as a legitimate business expense. David Redfern, tax preparation specialist and Managing Director of DSR Tax Claims Ltd, explains the categories of business expenses which can be used to offset tax liabilities for self-employed taxpayers.

Bradfords Building Supplies Scoops National Award

Bradfords Building Supplies Winners with their award

Yeovil Headquartered Bradfords Building Supplies has won Independent Builders’ Merchant of the Year at the Builders’ Merchants Awards against stiff national competition.

The Builders’ Merchants Awards now in its 18th year is run in partnership with the Builders Merchants Federation and celebrates the best and the brightest in the merchant industry.

The awards were judged by a panel of key industry stakeholders from the Federation of Master Builders, Builders Merchants Association (BMA), Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants and the Construction Products Association (CPA) and presented by Dame Kelly Holmes MBE.

How digital transformation can benefit the plumbing industry

To be by-lined to Colin Yates, chief support officer at WorkMobile, an award-winning mobile data capture solution

Technological advances, such as cloud computing, 5G and improved mobile technology, are facilitating smarter, faster and more environmentally-friendly ways of working for businesses across virtually every sector.

However, despite the numerous benefits of digital transformation, the plumbing and heating industry lags behind in this regard. Indeed, our recent research revealed that more than two-thirds (67%) of those working in the trade and utilities sector still rely heavily upon paper for a variety of day-to-day business processes, such as sending mail and filling in forms.

Aqualisa launches AQ Collection exclusively for the trade

Aqualisa, the brand that pioneered thermostatic shower technology, has introduced a new mixer shower range exclusively for trade customers. The AQ Collection range offers installers consistent pricing at merchant counters with the promise of ‘the right product always available at the right price’. In an over-promoted market segment, the AQ Collection will become the benchmark of value for merchants, installers and end users.

Manchester Plumbing Business Takes On John Lewis With Its Own Christmas Ad

Lacey Plumbing and Heating’s ‘Most Wanted’ team is back with a Ghostbusters-inspired Christmas ad!

The environmental cost of putting off pesky plumbing problems

One in five Brits would wait in excess of four days to fix a leaky loo, wasting up to 400 litres of water per day. New research released reveals that Brits are putting off fixing simple plumbing problems like leaky toilets and dripping taps, which can lead to huge water wastage.

How to prevent frozen and burst pipes during the coldest months of the year

As the UK braces itself for the coldest winter in decades millions of households are at risk which can lead to frozen and burst pipes, costing homeowners hundreds in repairs.

Pipes freeze when they are exposed to extreme low temperatures and the water inside freezes, which means outdoor and garage pipes are most likely to freeze when the weather is cold.

Water expands inside the pipes when it freezes and this pressure causes the pipe to burst, which will result in serious leaks and could even lead to damp, mould, structural damage and possessions being ruined - creating a huge headache for homeowners during the run up to the festive period.

City Plumbing/PTS awarded DVSA Earned Recognition award

City Plumbing/PTS - the first merchanting organisation in the UK to be awarded the DVSA Earned Recognition award for vehicle operators

This week City Plumbing/PTS was awarded the DVSA Earned Recognition award for vehicle operators - the first in our industry and a first for the Travis Perkins Group. This follows the recent win of Fleet Van Operator of the Year at the Motor Transport Awards.

The Bursary is back!

Plumber smiling about the plumbing bursary being back

The Worshipful Company of Plumbers is yet again opening applications for its tools and equipment Bursary scheme. Bursaries are for student plumbers who would benefit from financial assistance as a direct result of progressing to S/NVQ Level 3 MES (Plumbing) or equivalent. In England this is following completion of a Level 2 qualification.

The Company offers Bursaries of up to £1000 to assist students to buy costly tools and equipment. This is awarded in vouchers for tools and equipment only, (it cannot be used to offset any course fees provided by an employer).

Holmes Media Annouce Record Year Of Business

A Market Harborough-based lead generation company has announced a record 12 months for the company following a 27% increase in revenue over the past year.

Holmes Media, which is based at The Point in the Leicestershire town, helps tradespeople across the UK to access a supply of customers who are looking to replace or repair their boiler through its website Boiler Guide. It also helps homeowners to access solar technology and energy-efficient windows through its sister sites Solar Guide and Windows Guide.

In addition to the increase in revenue, the company has also been able to maintain the size of its staff cohort, which company founder David Holmes puts down to improved efficiency across the business.

He said:

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