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The latest news, guides, and updates for UK contractors, freelancers, and sole traders.
Tech Contractor Day Rates UK 2026: What to Charge by Role and Experience
Junior devs start at £300–£400/day. Senior engineers command £550–£750/day. AI/ML specialists are hitting £900+/day. Full rate benchmarks with take-home comparisons.
Your First Year Contracting: A 2026/27 Financial Checklist
New to contracting? Set aside 25–30% for tax, pay yourself £12,570 salary, and watch out for January's payment on account. Month-by-month guide with real numbers.
Salary Sacrifice for Contractors 2026/27: How Much You'll Actually Save
Earning £100k–£125k? Salary sacrifice into a pension can save you over £15,000 by recovering your personal allowance. Full breakdown with worked examples.
Mortgages for Contractors in 2026: Why Your Day Rate Matters More Than Your Salary
Traditional lenders struggle with contractor income. But specialist brokers use day rate underwriting — multiplying your rate by 46–48 weeks — to qualify you for far more.
Child Benefit and the High Income Charge 2026/27: How Much You'll Actually Keep
Earn over £60k? Child benefit starts being clawed back. At £80k it's fully repaid. But you should still claim — and pension contributions can recover thousands.
Contractor Pensions 2026/27: SIPP vs Employer Contributions vs Salary Sacrifice
Employer pension contributions from your Ltd company save ~£509 per £1,000 contributed. Here's how three pension routes compare — with worked examples at £500/day.
How Dividend Tax Works for Contractors: A 2026/27 Guide
Most contractors don't realise their dividends are taxed at two different rates in the same year. Here's how band stacking works — with a worked example at £500/day.
What Day Rate Should I Charge in 2026? A Contractor's Guide to Pricing
Want £60k take-home? You need ~£360/day outside IR35 or ~£450/day inside IR35. Work backwards from your target with this step-by-step guide and day rate table.
Umbrella Company vs Limited Company 2026/27: The Full Financial Comparison
At £500/day, a limited company saves you roughly £5,700/year over umbrella after costs. But below £350/day, the gap narrows. Full breakdown at four day rates.
Does Making Tax Digital Affect Limited Company Contractors? Clearing Up the Confusion
MTD for Income Tax launched 6 April 2026. It doesn't apply to your Ltd company income — but it might catch you through rental or side income. Here's who's in scope.
The £100k–£125k Tax Trap: How to Escape the 60% Effective Rate in 2026/27
Earn between £100k and £125,140? You're losing 60p of every extra £1 to tax. Here's exactly how pension contributions can save you up to £15,000 a year.
How to Pay Yourself from a Limited Company in 2026/27: The Optimal Strategy
The optimal director salary is £12,570 in 2026/27. Here's exactly how to set it up — salary, dividends, pension — with worked examples and step-by-step process.
£500 Day Rate Take-Home Pay UK (2026/27) — Full Breakdown
A £500/day contractor outside IR35 takes home £72,765 in 2026/27. Step-by-step calculation, structure comparison, permanent-equivalent salary, and year-on-year change.
£400 Day Rate Take-Home Pay UK (2026/27) — The Most Common Contractor Rate
A £400/day contractor outside IR35 takes home £61,810 in 2026/27. Full breakdown across all structures, permanent-equivalent comparison, and tax planning tips.
Inside vs Outside IR35 Explained: What It Means for Your Take-Home Pay in 2026/27
IR35 determines whether you're taxed as an employee or a business. At £500/day, the difference is £6,251/year. Plain-English guide with worked examples at three day rates.
What the New JSL Rules Mean for Your Umbrella Company Take-Home Pay
Joint and Several Liability rules took effect 6 April 2026. Here's what they mean for umbrella contractors — will your pay change, and should you switch provider?
The Fair Work Agency Is Live — What Umbrella Contractors Need to Know
The Fair Work Agency launched 7 April 2026 with 550+ inspectors and new powers over umbrella companies. Here's what it means for your pay, your rights, and dodgy providers.
Dividend Tax Rises 2 Percentage Points: How Much More You'll Pay at Every Day Rate
Dividend tax rates jumped 2pp from April 2026. A £500/day contractor pays £1,569 more per year. Full breakdown at every common day rate, plus updated optimal salary/dividend split.
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