Guides, explainers and tips on UK tax, US paycheck deductions, Australian super, mortgages and more.
Starting out on your own? You need to register as self-employed with HMRC before your first Self Assessment. This step-by-step guide explains when to register, how to do it, the deadline that catches people out, and what happens next.
Negotiating salary means knowing the gross figure that delivers the take-home you actually need. This guide shows how to translate your target lifestyle into a gross salary ask, factor in tax bands, and avoid the traps that cost you money.
If you know the take-home pay you need, how do you work out the gross salary to ask for? This net to gross guide explains how to reverse the tax calculation, why it's not as simple as adding a percentage, and how to find the right number.
Payments on account can double your first Self Assessment bill and catch new freelancers off guard. This guide explains what payments on account are, how they're calculated, and how to plan for them so your January tax bill never surprises you.
Going self-employed in the UK means handling your own tax. This guide explains how much tax sole traders pay, how income tax and National Insurance work on your profits, and how to budget for your Self Assessment bill — with worked examples.
National Insurance is the second big deduction on your UK payslip after income tax — but few people understand it. This guide explains what National Insurance is, the 2025/26 rates and thresholds, and how to work out exactly how much you pay.
The UK income tax rates and bands for 2025/26 decide how much of your salary you keep. This guide explains the personal allowance, the 20%, 40% and 45% bands, the £100k trap and how it all fits together — with worked examples.
Your gross salary is never what lands in your bank account. Here's exactly how Income Tax, National Insurance and pension deductions turn your headline salary into real take-home pay — with a free calculator to do the maths for you.
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