Looking for tax advice for a sole trader

collierhunter

Hi there,

I have a small business that has been casually trading while I have UC and PIP (not really making any income, just as a hobby mainly).

I have finally opened my own studio and want to apply for Access to Work, but they require my rax return information and this is something as a person with AuDHD and Ehlers-Danlos, I struggled with as I have dyscalclia, and so it has been left for the last three years making it an even more overwhelming task.

Can anyone recommend someone who would be able to assist me to get everything up to date and file this coming self assessment?

I have used the same account for my business transactions since starting the business and just need some help to complete the process so I can actually take this one worry out of my life and get some help through Access to Work.

Thank you very much in advance for your consideration of my request.

Albus_Scope

Hi there @collierhunter and welcome to the community. 😁

It's great you've got your own business now, especially if it comes from a hobby you love. ❤️
I'd recommend speaking to Citizens advice to see if they can suggest someone local to help with your tax returns, as it's super important you get those done every year, as HMRC may end up charging you extra money for late self assessment. There's several apps and programs you can use on your phone or desktop that will help you keep track of all the comings and goings, so they could help for next years self assessment maybe?

collierhunter

Thank you so much for your response; the issue with desktop accounting software is dyscalclia for me, but also that it usually doesn't do three years worth at a time and requires manually entering things and making sure you haven't made any mistakes.

HMRC are already charging me, but this is something I can't do anything about until I file as they no longer take phone calls to ask for accommodations, so I'll just have to pay it when I can.

I'm also dealing with many other personal issues and disability that it's all time and spoons (which is why it's been left so long) and wondered if someone knew of someone that would be able to help me without putting me much more into overwhelm and debt

Albus_Scope

I totally understand the overwhelm. I'm also AuDHD amongst other things and I remember my first attempt at doing my self assessment. It was…not the best. 😆
I'd definitely try asking the local CAB if they could think of anyone who may be able to help you out, without charging you an arm and a leg and allowing you to save your spoons for the business. I'm hoping some of our supersmart community will be able to think of some other ways to help.

collierhunter

I hope so as in too of my Ehlers-Danlos flares and other things, this means I may not be able to continue to work, and that is the absolute one thing that keeps me feeling like I have purpose

Meg24

As long as you're not VAT registered then you can have your accounts done by a bookkeeper which is not expensive. The CAB will probably know of ones locally, depending on their method, you may only have to bag up all your receipts and leave it all up to them. I used to be a bookkeepers assistant and most of our clients used to rock up with unsorted carrier bags full, we would sort them, fill out all the books and calculate all the expenses and capital allowances etc. Nothing for you to do but sign the forms and pay 😁

collierhunter

Thank you so much Meg24! I have used Monzo business to meticulously keep photos of my receipts and all transactions, it just needs collating and that's where I get stumped.

HMRC are fining me already, and without proof of my business being viable, I can't receive Access to Work, so I am becoming very overwhelmed by the process as a disabled person.