About Us
SoleTrader Tools is an independent UK education site for freelancers, contractors, and sole traders who want clear numbers without wading through dense government PDFs first.
Who runs this site
SoleTrader Tools is published by Baljeet Dogra as an independent editorial and calculator project. The site exists because many UK sole traders need a plain-English bridge between HMRC guidance and the practical questions they ask every month: how much tax to set aside, whether VAT registration is close, and how a day rate translates into real take-home pay.
What we publish
Our calculators apply HMRC rates and thresholds for the 2026/27 tax year to typical sole-trader scenarios. They are built for planning and learning — for example, checking how combined PAYE and self-employment income stacks into tax bands, or how much of each invoice to set aside for January.
Alongside the tools we publish long-form guides that explain the same concepts in plain English: National Insurance classes, VAT registration, payments on account, and how day rates compare to salaries after holidays and downtime.
Editorial approach
Where official rules matter, we link to GOV.UK sources. Where judgement matters — such as what counts as a reasonable expense — we describe common practice and tell you when to speak to an accountant or HMRC. We do not sell personalised tax advice on this site.
Calculator constants are kept in code, reviewed when UK tax thresholds change, and checked against common scenarios before publication. Guides are written to explain stable rules rather than chase daily tax news, and pages are updated when a rule change affects how a sole trader should interpret a result.
Why readers can trust the site
The calculators are transparent about their limitations, show the assumptions they rely on, and point back to official sources where possible. The site is not a regulated accountancy practice, so we separate educational estimates from personal tax advice and encourage readers to confirm decisions with HMRC or a qualified adviser.
Limitations
No web calculator can know your full circumstances: pension carry-forward, marriage allowance, property income, losses brought forward, or specialist VAT schemes. Treat every output as a structured estimate, then confirm figures on your Self Assessment or with a regulated adviser before you rely on them for legal or borrowing decisions.
Contact
For corrections, licensing, or press enquiries, use our contact page. We read messages regularly but cannot reply with individual tax advice.
Policies
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