Taxes: a guide for beginners

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Dealing with taxes can be, well, taxing… especially if you’re self-employed or need to file your own tax return. On this page you will find helpful resources covering all things tax, answering questions such as “how do we benefit from paying taxes?”, “how do taxes work?”, and “what happens if I don’t pay my taxes?”. From explaining income tax to how you can gift money to children, we’ve covered all bases.

The information provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult with a licensed financial adviser or professional before making any financial decisions. Your financial situation is unique, and the information provided may not be suitable for your specific circumstances. We are not liable for any financial decisions or actions you take based on this information.

Learn about the different types of tax

Get to grips with the different kinds of tax, including how taxes work, what taxes everyone must pay, the benefits of taxes, the purpose of taxation, and what might happen if you don’t pay your taxes. We also explore specific types of tax, such as inheritance tax, progressive vs regressive tax, indirect tax, and capital gains tax on UK property.

What is regressive tax?

Discover what regressive tax is, the different types of regressive taxes, and the impact regressive tax has.

Indirect tax

On this page, you’ll find out more about indirect tax, how it works, and how it might affect you.

Capital gains tax on UK property

Read this guide to find out more about capital gains tax in the UK.

Income tax explained

Learn about income tax rates for 2025/26, how personal allowance works, and the different tax thresholds.

Progressive tax explained

Read our guide to progressive tax.

Gifting money to children

How much you can gift to your children tax-free, and more.

What is stealth tax?

Learn all about stealth tax, including how it affects your savings.

Understanding the £100k tax trap

Discover how the £100k tax trap affects higher earners, pushing them into a 60% tax rate due to a reduced personal allowance.

What is the personal tax allowance?

Learn about the personal tax allowance and how much it is in 2025/26.

What you need to know about tax returns

Crucial for sub-contractors and the self-employed, we explain who exactly needs to file their own tax return, how to do it, and when the tax return deadline is in the UK.

Do I need to do a tax return?

This guide is for the more than 10 million Brits completing self-assessment tax returns for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

What is the tax return deadline?

Learn about the updated tax return deadline, and the key dates you need to know this tax year.

UK tax codes explained

We explain how UK tax codes are calculated, how to check your tax code, and what to do if you have the wrong tax code.

Self-assessment tax return form with financial details and calculations for individual tax reporting.

Guide to filing your HMRC Self Assessment tax return

A step-by-step guide to completing your HMRC tax assessment

How tax relief works

Can you get money back on taxes? The answer is yes, as you might be able to claim tax relief. Many people aren’t aware of the tax relief they are entitled to, so we’ve created guides to general tax relief, pension tax relief, and working from home tax relief.

Tax relief explained

Everything you need to know about tax relief, how it works, what you can claim tax relief on, and how you claim it.

Pension tax relief explained

Find out more about pension tax relief and how to claim it.

Working from home tax relief explained

If you work from home, you may be eligible for working from home tax relief.

What is the marriage allowance?

In this article, you’ll learn what the marriage allowance is, how it works, and whether you’re eligible to make a claim.

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