Niche freelancer expenses you didn’t know existed

Are your niche expenses outweighing the perks of being a freelancer? Then listen up.👂  

Too many of you freelancers are not making the most of your deductible expenses – don’t think we haven’t noticed! 

We get it, HMRC’s expense rules are pretty cryptic (shock!). But, you have us to decrypt it for you, and give you the inside scoop. 😉

First, what are expenses?

Expenses are costs incurred in relation to your business which can minimise the tax you pay. 

If you’re a freelancer (or anyone earning money) then all of the income you earn above the personal allowance, £12,570, is taxable. 

But, HMRC will not tax you on money you’ve spent to run your business. Woohoo! 

This means you can deduct expenses from your income when figuring out how much tax you might owe. 

So, if you’re a freelancer, your expenses could include: 

What exactly is a freelancer?

A freelancer is someone who is self-employed; typically earning an income on a per-job or per-task basis. 

Freelancers generally, but not always, work in creative, service, or skilled sectors. 🧑‍🌾

Still confused? Here are a few examples:

• 🎥Videographers
• 👩‍🏫Tutors
• 🪴 Landscapers

But, what if I have a ‘niche’ job? 

There are all sorts of jobs, and whilst you might think that yours is too ‘niche’, it truly is in the eye of the beholder. 

Here are some examples of ‘niche’ jobs that we’ve done tax returns for and some of the expenses they claimed: 

These are all people who have come to us to take away the stress that comes with being self-employed. 

(Side note, congratulations for being your own boss! We know it’s not always easy.👏)

If you’re still unsure, or just a bit nosey, you can check out our blog on self-employed trades you didn’t know existed. 👃

So, what’s the scoop? 

Now you know what a freelancer is, and you’ve maybe found some new job inspiration, we’re going to tell you the most ‘niche’ freelance expenses we’ve seen. 

We’ve come across some intriguing ‘niche’ expenses in our time, so let’s get exploring!

Gym memberships are pretty common these days, and as long as you can prove your membership is a business expense then it’s tax-deductible. 

We’ve got more on when you can deduct a gym membership if you’re curious. 

But, is it worth my time claiming expenses?

Yes! Claim the expenses you’re eligible for, and you’ll minimise your tax bill. 

A lot of people have started to work for themselves. But, many don’t know all the rules when it comes to tax, claiming expenses, allowances, and more. 

Trust us, bringing your tax bill down legally is possible when you know what you’re doing which is why we’re here to help!

If you want to figure out how much tax you’ll owe before claiming expenses, then you can use our handy Income Tax calculator below.

Now you know the scoop. 

Yes, Bob the Builder can expense a hard hat. No, he can’t expense false nails. 💅
But, sometimes it’s not as simple as that. So, if you’re looking for even more information on expenses, don’t worry, we’ve got you. Here are some extra tips and tricks to help you understand how to claim expenses.