Blog
Practical advice for tradespeople.
Plain-English writing on Making Tax Digital, statutory interest, CIS, VAT, and getting paid faster.
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Can you opt out of Making Tax Digital? The honest answer.
Yes, MTD ITSA has a digital exclusion exemption. No, you probably don't qualify. Plain-English guide for UK tradespeople — the grounds HMRC accepts, the four it rejects, the agent trap that catches most people, and how to apply if you genuinely do qualify.
We chase your late invoices for you. You just tap send.
Late Payment Intelligence is live in Honest Invoices. Overdue invoices detected automatically, AI-drafted chase emails that escalate through four legally-aware stages with UK statutory rights baked in. You approve every send. £15/month, no AI surcharge.
The MTD threshold isn't what most tradespeople think it is
Dave invoices £62k, takes home £34k, thinks he's safe. He isn't. The MTD ITSA threshold is gross turnover before expenses — and the gap between what tradespeople think and what HMRC measures is going to catch a lot of people from April 2026.
CIS deductions explained — what every subcontractor needs to know
Plain-English guide to the Construction Industry Scheme for UK sole-trader subcontractors. How deductions work, why your contractor takes 20% (or 30%) at source, and what to do about it.
How to reclaim CIS deductions as a sole trader
If you're a sole-trader subcontractor with CIS deductions taken at source, you can reclaim them — or have them offset against your tax bill. Here's exactly how, in plain English.
CIS Gross Payment Status — is it worth applying for?
Gross Payment Status means contractors pay you in full with no CIS deductions taken. It's a major cash-flow win but comes with strict eligibility and ongoing compliance. Plain-English guide for sole-trader subcontractors.
You have until 7 August — what MTD ITSA actually requires of tradespeople
Plain-English guide to the first MTD ITSA quarterly deadline for sole trader tradespeople earning over £50,000.
You're legally owed 8% interest on every late invoice — what tradespeople aren't claiming
Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, sole trader tradespeople can charge statutory interest plus a fixed compensation fee on every overdue invoice. Almost none do.
Why I spent 6 months getting HMRC to approve my invoicing app
A solo developer's honest account of building MTD ITSA integration end-to-end — what works, what doesn't, and why "HMRC-recognised" should mean something.
Free Invoice Template UK (Fully Compliant Guide)
What must be on a UK invoice + the fastest way to create one without templates.
UK E-Invoicing Laws: What’s Changing (and What to Do Before 2029)
A plain-English guide to the upcoming push for structured e-invoices — plus how tradespeople can stay compliant with less admin.
How to Invoice On-Site in 30 Seconds (No Templates, No Typing)
The fastest invoicing workflow for tradespeople: record the job details while they’re fresh and send a professional invoice instantly.