There are many benefits to being self-employed: being your own boss, deciding on your own work load, working in your pyjamas if you want to! There are unfortunately a few downsides too: no holiday or sick pay, dry periods when the work’s just not coming in and, of course, the dreaded tax returns.

Because the amount you earn from month to month probably varies, sorting out your tax can be a real pain, and it can often feel like you’re losing out big time. However, there are many ways in which you can pay less tax, so it is important to take your time and do it all right. If you can afford it, it could be worth employing the services of an accountant in order to help you.

If you work from home, you are able to claim for the cost of energy bills created by the extra light and heating you have to use, as well as other electric or gas (for example when cooking meals at home). You are also able to claim for things that you have to use in order to do your job effectively, such as laptops or whatever your particular tools of the trade may be.

There are also a few things you should check to make sure you’re not paying above the odds when it comes to your tax. Make sure you are on the correct tax code and investigate whether you are due any tax rebates. You can also take advantage of things like ISAs, in which you are able to invest a certain amount per year, tax free.

Save money in general by purchasing on credit if necessary. For example, you can find a whole range of beds on credit from http://bensonsforbeds.co.uk, allowing you to spread out the cost of large items that you simply can’t manage without.