HMRC Resources Guide

A curated directory of the most useful HMRC tools, calculators, and online services. Bookmark the ones relevant to you.

Last updated: August 2026

Online Accounts & Services

HMRC provides several online portals depending on whether you're an individual, business, or agent:

Personal Tax Account — View your tax code, check your State Pension forecast, manage your Self Assessment, and update your details. Access via Government Gateway at gov.uk/personal-tax-account

Business Tax Account — Manage your company's Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE, and other business taxes in one place. Access at gov.uk/business-tax-account

HMRC App — Check your tax code, view your National Insurance record, claim a refund, and manage your Self Assessment. Available on iOS and Android.

Companies House WebFiling — File your annual accounts, confirmation statement, and report changes to directors or registered office. Access at beta.companieshouse.gov.uk

Calculators & Tools

These free HMRC tools can help you estimate liabilities and check your obligations:

Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) — Determines whether a worker should be classed as employed or self-employed for tax purposes. Essential for IR35 compliance.

Tax Calculator — Estimate your income tax and National Insurance for the current tax year based on your earnings.

VAT Registration Estimator — Helps you decide whether voluntary VAT registration would benefit your business.

Statutory Sick Pay Calculator — Work out how much SSP you need to pay an employee.

Mileage Allowance Calculator — Check the approved mileage rates for business travel in your own vehicle (currently 45p per mile for first 10,000 miles, 25p thereafter).

Capital Gains Tax Calculator — Estimate your CGT liability on property disposals, shares, or other assets.

Registration & Setup

Starting out or adding a new obligation? These are the key registration pages:

Register for Self Assessment — Required if you're self-employed, a landlord, or have untaxed income. Do this by 5 October following the tax year you need to report.

Register for VAT — Mandatory when turnover exceeds £90,000, or voluntary if it benefits you (e.g., you sell to VAT-registered businesses).

Register as an Employer (PAYE) — Required before your first payday if you're taking on employees or paying yourself a salary through your company.

Register for Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) — Required if you're a contractor or subcontractor in the construction industry.

Making Tax Digital (MTD)

MTD is HMRC's programme to digitise the tax system. Here's where things stand:

MTD for VAT — Already mandatory for all VAT-registered businesses. You must keep digital records and file via compatible software.

MTD for Income Tax — Mandatory from April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000. Those with income over £30,000 join from April 2027.

MTD-Compatible Software — HMRC maintains a list of approved software providers. Popular options include Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, and Sage.

Bridging Software — If you prefer spreadsheets, bridging software can submit your VAT return digitally while you continue using Excel. However, full digital records are required for MTD for Income Tax.

Guidance & Manuals

HMRC publishes extensive guidance. These are the most useful sections for small businesses:

Business Income Manual (BIM) — Detailed guidance on what counts as trading income, allowable expenses, and how to calculate profits.

Employment Income Manual (EIM) — Covers benefits in kind, expenses, and the tax treatment of employee rewards.

Capital Gains Manual (CGM) — Guidance on disposals, reliefs (including Business Asset Disposal Relief), and share valuations.

Company Taxation Manual (CTM) — Corporation Tax rules, group relief, losses, and distributions.

Stamp Duty Land Tax Manual — Guidance on SDLT (or LBTT in Scotland) for property purchases.

Getting Help from HMRC

If you need to contact HMRC directly, here are the key numbers and channels:

Self Assessment helpline: 0300 200 3310 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm)

Corporation Tax helpline: 0300 200 3410

VAT helpline: 0300 200 3700

Employer helpline (PAYE): 0300 200 3200

Online chat: Available through your Personal or Business Tax Account for many queries

Webchat wait times are typically shorter than phone queues — try this first

A Note on HMRC Guidance

While HMRC's online resources are extensive, they can be difficult to navigate and are written in technical language. If you're unsure how any of this applies to your specific situation, we're here to translate it into plain English and ensure you're meeting your obligations correctly.

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