Sole trader planning ― payments on account

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by a Tolley Owner-Managed Businesses expert
Owner-Managed Businesses
Guidance

Sole trader planning ― payments on account

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by a Tolley Owner-Managed Businesses expert
Owner-Managed Businesses
Guidance
imgtext

This guidance note discusses some of the planning points that can arise around payments on account.

Payments on account are essentially a part of the compliance process. However, it can be a very good time to put forward certain simple planning points. It is a natural time to communicate with clients, and they will be particularly focused on tax issues given that they have an impending payment.

Aside from talking to clients about payments on account, it is a good time to conduct a review of future profits of the trade. Other points can also be considered, such as pension contributions, business expenditure, deferring income and so on.

Often the challenge is persuading clients to think further ahead and payments on account are useful for this because the amounts due can be calculated quite far ahead.

Calculating payments on account

Cash flow can be a key consideration for sole traders. How sole traders account for their tax liabilities varies from client to client. Some sole traders will set aside money well in advance,

Continue reading the full document
To gain access to additional expert tax guidance, workflow tools, generative tax AI, and tax research, register for a free trial of Tolley+™
TAKE A FREE TRIAL NOW
Powered by Tolley+™
  • 12 Nov 2025 13:40

Home/ Tolley Tax Guidance/ Owner-Managed Businesses / Advising sole traders

Popular Articles

Personal Tax

Losses on shares set against income

Losses on shares set against incomeUsually, allowable capital losses can only be set against chargeable gains. If the losses are not fully utilised against gains in the year in which they arise, the excess is carried forward to use against future gains. See the Use of capital losses guidance note

14 Jul 2020 12:12 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more
Value Added Tax

Reverse charge ― buying in services from outside the UK

Reverse charge ― buying in services from outside the UKThis guidance note covers the reverse charge that applies to services that have been bought in from outside the UK. For an overview of VAT and international services more broadly, see the International services ― overview guidance note. For

15 Dec 2020 14:02 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more
Corporation Tax

Terminal trading loss relief

Terminal trading loss reliefTerminal loss relief for trade losses in the final 12 monthsTrading losses incurred by a company in the final 12 months leading up to the discontinuance of trade may be carried back for up to three years from the period beginning immediately before that 12-month period.

14 Jul 2020 13:49 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more