The UK Tax and Accounting Podcast from I Hate Numbers:
For many business owners, sitting down to tackle the accounts or a tax return is right up there with watching paint dry. We understand—numbers can feel intimidating, confusing, and frankly, a distraction from why you started your business in the first place. However, if you are serious about your business, you need to get on friendly terms with your finances. I Hate Numbers is a dedicated UK accounting and tax podcast designed to help you navigate the complexities of business finance without the headache. Hosted by me, Mahmood Reza, accountant and tax advisor, business coach, tax advisor, and financial st...
Artists and Businesses Working Together: Partnerships That Create Value
Artists and businesses working together may not sound like a natural fit at first. Artists may worry that business is only about numbers, profit and deadlines, while businesses may not always understand the creative process. However, strong partnerships between artists and businesses can create fresh ideas, wider networks, better customer connection and new financial opportunities. In this episode, we look at how artists can approach business collaborations with an open mind, clear objectives and regular review, so both sides get real value from the relationship.
About this episode
This episode explores how artists, creatives and businesses can work...Creative Business Mindset: Value Your Work, Profit and Boundaries
Creative business mindset matters when your art, talent or creative practice starts moving beyond a passion project. You do not need to sacrifice your artistic soul, but you do need to value your work, understand profit, track your costs and set clear boundaries. In this episode, we look at why artists and creatives sometimes resist business thinking, why that resistance can lead to undercharging and overworking, and how a healthier business mindset can help you build a more sustainable creative career.
About this episode
Many creatives feel uncomfortable thinking like business owners. Business can sound like something for...Budgeting for Irregular Income: Three Simple Steps for Creatives
Budgeting for irregular income can feel difficult when your creative work changes from month to month. One month you may be fully booked, selling commissions, performing in busy venues or finishing a strong run of work. The next month may feel quiet. For artists, freelancers and creative business owners, that income rollercoaster can create stress, uncertainty and financial anxiety. In this episode, we share three simple steps to help you build a budget that fits a creative lifestyle: work out your baseline expenses, build a buffer for slower months, and use a simple flexible budgeting system.
About this episode<...
Financial Boundaries for Creatives: Separate Accounts, Track Income and Pay Yourself
Financial boundaries for creatives help protect your time, your energy and your income. When personal and business money blur together, it becomes harder to see whether your creative business is profitable, sustainable or heading in the right direction. In this episode, we look at three practical steps that can help freelancers, artists and creative business owners take more control: creating a dedicated account, tracking income and expenses, and paying yourself on a regular basis.
About this episode
Running a creative business means more than doing creative work. You also need a clear way to manage...
Creative Business Setbacks: Using the Grief Cycle to Adapt and Grow
Creative business setbacks can feel deeply personal. Losing a client, seeing a project fail, struggling with cash flow, facing lower bookings or watching your industry change can all create an emotional reaction. In this episode, we use the Kubler-Ross grief cycle as a practical business lens for freelancers, artists and creative business owners. The aim is not to treat business setbacks as medical grief, but to help you recognise emotional stages such as denial, anger, bargaining, self-doubt and acceptance, so you can adapt and keep moving forward.
About this episode
The Kubler-Ross grief cycle was...
Unpaid Creative Work: Exposure, Boundaries and Fair Pay
Unpaid creative work can feel tempting when the offer promises exposure, portfolio-building, collaboration or a chance to support a cause you care about. However, working for free as a creative can also damage your cash flow, weaken your boundaries, devalue your skills and make it harder to earn fair pay. This episode helps artists, writers, musicians, designers and creative business owners decide when free work may be a useful strategy, and when it is time to say no with confidence.
About this episode
Working for free is not always a simple yes or no decision...
Pension Tax Relief: Annual Allowance, Carry Forward and Employer Contributions
Pension tax relief is one of the most useful ways to reduce tax while building long-term financial security. It helps taxpayers, business owners, company directors and higher earners make pension contributions more tax-efficiently. The challenge is that pension rules can feel confusing, especially when annual allowance limits, tapered annual allowance, carry forward, relief at source, net pay arrangements and employer contributions all come into the conversation. This episode explains the key ideas in plain English so you can understand what pension tax relief does, why it matters and where planning can make a real difference.
About this...
Side Hustle Tax: Online Selling, HMRC and the Trading Allowance
Side hustle tax questions often start small. You sell clothes on Vinted, list items on eBay, rent a room through Airbnb, freelance online, create content, or take on local work. Money comes in, and the business problem becomes simple: do you need to tell HMRC, and does the £1,000 trading allowance apply? This episode helps side hustlers, online sellers, freelancers and people with occasional trading income understand the difference between tax, reporting, records and platform data before assumptions create stress.
About this episode
Extra income is easier to earn than ever. You might sell unwanted items o...
Cash Flow Management Tips to Keep Your Business on Track
Cash flow management tips matter because your business can survive without profit for a period of time, but it cannot survive without access to cash.
About this episode
Good cash flow management is vital, nay, critical, to the success of your business. Cash is what keeps the business moving. It pays bills, wages, suppliers, loans, tax, overheads, and the costs that keep everything running. In this episode, we share seven practical cash flow management tips to help your business stay on track. We look at cash reserves, cost control, inventory, leasing, equipment loans, borrowing at...
How Do You Define Your Business? Identity, Impact and Structure
How you define your business matters. The labels we use shape how we see ourselves, how others value our work, and how confidently we talk about the impact we make.
About this episode
Many people describe themselves by structure first. Freelancer. Self-employed. Charity. Voluntary organisation. Not-for-profit. Private company. Those labels may be technically useful, but they are not always the best place to start. In this episode, we look at how to define your business by the work you do, the value you create, the risk you take, and the impact you make. Size, structure...
Bookkeeping for Small Business: Your Numbers Tell a Story
Bookkeeping for small business is not just paperwork. It helps us understand cash flow, make better decisions, stay compliant, and see the real story behind the numbers.
About this episode
Bookkeeping is one of those jobs many people avoid, delay, or push to one side. But good bookkeeping is not about creating admin for the sake of it. It is about understanding what is happening inside the business. In this episode, we explain why bookkeeping for small business matters and why it applies to more than just limited companies. Freelancers, charities, community groups, not-for-profits, arts...
Making Tax Digital Quarterly Updates: What to Send and When
Making Tax Digital quarterly updates are about to become a regular part of tax reporting for many self-employed people and landlords. The key is understanding what HMRC expects, what your software sends, and why these updates are not the same as a tax return.
About this episode
Making Tax Digital, or MTD, has been talked about for years. Now, for many people, the first quarterly update deadline is becoming a practical reality. In this episode, we explain what Making Tax Digital quarterly updates are, what information is sent to HMRC, why the updates are not...
Winter Fuel Payment Tax Recovery: Who Has to Pay It Back?
Winter Fuel Payment tax recovery can catch people by surprise. If your income is over the threshold, HMRC may recover the payment through your tax code or Self Assessment, even though the payment itself is tax-free.
About this episode
The Winter Fuel Payment is designed to help older people with heating costs. However, the recovery rules mean that some people may receive the payment and then have it taken back through the tax system. In this episode, we explain what the Winter Fuel Payment is, who may be affected by the tax recovery rules, how...
High Income Child Benefit Charge: Who Pays and How to Reduce It
The High Income Child Benefit Charge can take families by surprise. If one parent or partner has adjusted net income over the threshold, some or all of the Child Benefit received may need to be paid back through tax.
About this episode
Child Benefit can provide valuable support for families, but the High Income Child Benefit Charge changes the picture when income rises above a certain level. In this episode, we explain what the charge is, who it affects, how adjusted net income works, and what families can legally do to reduce or avoid the...
Numeracy Skills Decline: Why It Hurts Business Profit
Numeracy skills decline is not just an education issue. For business owners, weak number confidence can damage pricing, cash flow, profit margins, budgeting, and decision-making.
About this episode
Many people laugh about being bad at maths. However, in business, poor numeracy can become a serious financial risk. If we do not understand the numbers behind pricing, costs, margins, budgets, and cash flow, we can lose money without realising it. In this episode, we look at the impact of numeracy skills decline on businesses, charities, creative organisations, and not-for-profits. We also talk about the role of...
Late Registration for Self Employment: HMRC Penalties and Next Steps
Late registration for self employment can quickly become a cash flow problem. Missing HMRC deadlines may lead to penalties, backdated returns, VAT issues, and unnecessary stress for sole traders and new business owners.
About this episode
When a business starts, it is easy to focus on websites, branding, customers, bank accounts, and sales. However, basic tax compliance matters from the very beginning. In this episode, we explain what can happen when self-employed businesses fail to register on time. We cover the registration threshold, the 5 October deadline, failure to notify penalties, voluntary disclosure, Making Tax Digital...
Gift Aid Tax Relief: How It Helps Charities and Donors
About this episode
The UK tax system can often feel like a one-way street. However, Gift Aid tax relief is one area where the system can help generosity work harder. In this episode, we explain how Gift Aid tax relief works, who can use it, what donors need to check, and why charities must keep accurate records. We also cover higher and additional rate taxpayer relief, donor benefit rules, corporate donations, and the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme. This episode is useful if you run a charity, support a community amateur sports club, donate to good causes...
Closing Your Business: Managing the Emotional Impact
About this episode
We often talk about growth, profit, VAT, tax, and better financial control. However, business owners also face difficult moments when the numbers, the market, or changing customer behaviour point in a painful direction. In this episode, we look at the emotional impact of closing your business, stopping a core product, or letting go of a professional dream that no longer feels sustainable. We talk about the early excitement of starting something, the weight of declining sales, the pressure of difficult decisions, and the importance of handling the process with honesty and dignity. This is...
Cash Flow Forecast: What, When and How Much
A cash flow forecast helps you see what money is coming into your business, what money is going out, when it happens, and whether your bank balance can cope.
About this episode
Cash keeps a business alive. Sales matter. Profit matters. But if there is not enough cash in the bank to pay bills, wages, loans, suppliers, tax, and day-to-day costs, the business can quickly run into trouble. In this episode, we look at how to build a cash flow forecast using three simple building blocks: what, when, and how much. These three questions help turn your business...Invoicing for Creatives: Get Paid with Confidence
About this episode
Many creatives feel awkward talking about money. We may worry that invoicing feels pushy, greedy, or too formal for a creative relationship. However, an invoice is not rude. It is a clear, professional request for payment. In this episode, we explain why customer invoicing matters, what every invoice should include, and how better invoicing habits help us get paid on time. We also look at payment terms, invoice numbers, client details, due dates, late payment follow-up, and simple systems that make invoicing easier. When we invoice quickly and clearly, we reduce confusion for the...
Paying School Fees Through Your Business: Tax Rules Explained
About this episode
In this episode, we explain how paying school fees through your business can create tax issues if it is not structured correctly. It may seem sensible for a company with available cash to help fund school or university fees, but HMRC may treat the payment very differently depending on how it is arranged. We look at the risks of reimbursement, the benefit in kind route, the wholly and exclusively rule, director loans, dividend planning for children, and why professional advice matters before any agreement is made. This is especially relevant for business owners thinking...
HMRC Reasonable Excuse: How to Appeal a Tax Penalty Successfully
A penalty notice is stressful. The instinct is to explain yourself and hope HMRC understands. But understanding and accepting are two very different things. This episode cuts through the confusion — what HMRC actually accepts as a reasonable excuse, what gets rejected outright, and the five steps that give your appeal the best chance of success.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
What "reasonable excuse" means in practice and how HMRC tests itThe circumstances HMRC will typically accept, backed by evidenceThe excuses that fail every time, however understandable they feelA clear five-step process for building a credible pe...Successful Partnerships: How to Get It Right and Avoid Costly Mistakes
Partnerships can be one of the most powerful ways to grow a business. However, they can also bring risk, stress, and financial challenges if not handled properly. In this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we explore what makes a partnership successful and how to avoid the common pitfalls. Whether you are a freelancer, creative, or small business owner, understanding how to structure and manage a partnership is essential for long-term success.
Why Partnerships Matter
When done right, partnerships can accelerate business growth, improve creativity, and reduce workload pressure. Working with the right person...
5 Ways to Stay Motivated When Working for Yourself
Working for yourself sounds ideal at first. However, the reality can feel very different once the novelty wears off. In this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we explore the real challenges of motivation, isolation, and staying consistent as a solopreneur. We also share five practical strategies to help you stay motivated, focused, and in control of your business journey.
Why Motivation Drops When You Work for Yourself
When you leave a structured job, you also leave behind routine, accountability, and social interaction. Over time, this can lead to isolation, lack of direction, and...
VAT Registration Explained: When You Must Register and When You Don’t
VAT is one of those areas of small business finance UK that can quickly become confusing. In this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we break down VAT registration, thresholds, and the key rules every business owner needs to understand. Understanding VAT is not just about compliance. It is about maintaining control over your cash flow management and making informed decisions about your business growth.
What Is VAT Registration?
VAT (Value Added Tax) is a tax applied to most goods and services. Once your taxable turnover crosses a certain threshold, you must register and...
Dividend Tax Increase 2026: How Much More Will You Pay and What Can You Do?
From April 2026, dividend tax rates are increasing, and for many business owners, that means one thing — higher tax bills. In this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we explain what the dividend tax increase actually means, how it impacts your income, and more importantly, what you can do about it. While the change may only be a 2% increase on paper, the real-world impact can quickly add up, especially if you rely on dividends as part of your income strategy.
What’s Changing from April 2026?
The UK government has increased dividend tax rates by 2 percentage poin...
Directors and Unpaid Corporation Tax: HMRC and You
One of the biggest advantages of running a business through a limited company is the protection it offers your personal assets. But that protection is not absolute. In this episode of I Hate Numbers, we look at the corporate veil, when it holds, when it does not, and what HMRC can do when directors cross the line on unpaid corporation tax.
What Is the Corporate Veil?
When you set up a limited company in the UK, you are effectively building a wall between your business and your personal life. On one side sits the company...
SSP Changes 2026: What Employers Must Know About the New Sick Pay Rules
From April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rules are changing significantly. In this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we break down what those changes mean, why they matter, and how employers can prepare. These updates are part of wider employment reforms and will impact businesses of all sizes, from private companies to social enterprises. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
What Is Changing with SSP?
The new rules introduce two major shifts. First, the removal of the lower earnings limit (LEL). Second, the abolition of waiting days. Previously, employees earning below a certain threshold were not eligible...
Companies House Identity Verification: What Directors Must Do
Companies House identity verification is now a mandatory requirement for directors and persons with significant control (PSCs). If you run a company in the UK, this is no longer something you can put off for later. It is now part of the compliance landscape for businesses, charities, and social enterprises.
In this episode, we explain why these rules were introduced, what the deadlines mean for existing companies, and most importantly how you can complete the process smoothly without unnecessary stress.
We also explain how our team at I Hate Numbers can help verify your identity...
Stop the Software Tax: The Hidden Cost of Making Tax Digital
In this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we discuss something that many small business owners have not fully realised yet — the hidden cost behind Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. For decades the system was straightforward. You earned money, logged onto the government website, submitted your tax return, and paid what you owed. It was a public service funded through taxes. However, from April 2026 that arrangement changes significantly. HMRC will close the free self-assessment filing portal for many taxpayers and require the use of third-party software instead. We call this the software tax.
What Is Making Tax Di...
Why Cloud Accounting Matters for Your Business
Cloud accounting is one of those topics that too many business owners, freelancers, and creatives ignore until it is too late. In this episode of I Hate Numbers, we make the case for why cloud accounting is not just a nice-to-have but a genuine game-changer for anyone running a small business. Whether you are currently relying on spreadsheets, paper receipts, or desktop software, this episode will show you what you are missing and what it is costing you.
What Is Cloud Accounting?
Cloud accounting means using software that lives online to manage your business finances...
The Power of Budgeting: Why Your Business Cannot Afford to Ignore It
Budgeting has a reputation problem. For many business owners, the word alone conjures images of restriction, cutbacks, and spreadsheets that drain the life from a room. In this episode of I Hate Numbers, we turn that thinking on its head. The power of budgeting lies not in what it stops you doing, but in everything it enables you to achieve.
Budgeting Is About Possibility, Not Restriction
We open by addressing the most common misconception head-on. A budget is not a straitjacket. It is a torch in the dark, a tool that illuminates where your business...
Ignoring Your Numbers Is Killing Your Creative Business
SEO Description:Introduction
In this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we tackle a tough but necessary truth: ignoring your numbers is quietly damaging your creative business. We understand why creatives avoid spreadsheets, budgets, and financial reports. You started your journey to create, perform, design, and inspire — not to stare at figures. However, the longer you ignore your numbers, the louder the financial clock ticks.
Why Ignoring Your Numbers Feels Appealing
Let’s be honest. Avoidance feels easier in the short term. Staying reactive, making decisions on instinct, and hopi...
SMART Targets: Turn Creative Goals into Action
Do your creative goals feel distant, vague, or overwhelming? Do they sit on your to-do list without ever turning into real progress? In this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we explain how SMART targets act as a creative compass, helping you turn ambition into action without pressure or burnout. We share how breaking big goals into structured, realistic targets builds confidence, reduces anxiety, and keeps you moving forward, even when motivation dips.
Who This Episode Is For
Artists and creatives feeling overwhelmed by big goalsBusiness owners struggling with focus or follow-throughAnyone who wants progress...Claiming Tax Relief Online: What Every Employee Needs to Know
In this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we focus on a topic that affects millions of employees across the UK — claiming tax relief online. If you pay for work-related costs out of your own pocket and your employer does not reimburse you, you may be entitled to tax relief. However, if you do not claim it, that money simply stays with HMRC. And we would rather see it where it belongs — in your bank account.
Who This Episode Is For
Employees in studios, theatres, galleries, or officesWorkers paying for professional costs themselvesAnyone unsure whether they can clai...Community Interest Companies: Understanding Your Tax Position
Being a social enterprise or Community Interest Company does not mean tax obligations disappear. In this episode, we walk through the real tax position for CICs, clearing up misunderstandings that regularly catch directors out. We cover corporation tax, VAT, payroll, grants, and how structure affects your tax exposure.
What Is a Community Interest Company?
A Community Interest Company is a special type of limited company created to serve the community. It sits between a traditional profit-making business and a charity. While the purpose is social or environmental, CICs are still companies and remain firmly within the UK tax...Social Enterprise Structures in the UK: CICs, Co-operatives, Companies and CIOs
Choosing between the different social enterprise structures in the UK starts with understanding what you want the organisation to achieve.
A social enterprise combines business activity with a social, community or environmental purpose. However, social enterprise is not one single legal structure.
You could operate through a Community Interest Company, a co-operative or community benefit society, a conventional limited company, a charity structure or another suitable model.
In this episode, we look at the main options and the questions that should guide your choice.
About this episode
Social enterprises...
Community Interest Companies (CICs): When and Why This Model Makes Sense
Community Interest Companies, often shortened to CICs, are designed for businesses that want to make a positive social impact while still operating commercially. In this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we explain how CICs work, why they exist, and when they are the right structure for a business that wants purpose alongside profit.
What Is a Community Interest Company?
A Community Interest Company is a limited company created specifically for social enterprises. It allows a business to trade, earn income, and pay staff while ensuring that profits and assets are used primarily for...
Bad Business Habits That Hold You Back
We all have habits in business. Some help us move forward, while others quietly hold us back. In this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we explore four common bad business habits and, more importantly, what we can do to break them.
These habits may feel helpful in the short term, especially when cash is tight or pressure is high. However, over time they can damage profitability, confidence, and long-term growth.
Bad Habit One: The Pricing Trap
Underpricing is one of the most common traps business owners fall into, particularly in the...
The Power of Procrastination: When Delaying Can Actually Help You
Procrastination gets a bad reputation. However, in this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we take a different view. We explore why procrastination happens, when it holds us back, and how it can sometimes support better thinking, creativity, and decision-making. Rethinking Procrastination
We have all delayed important tasks, even when we know better. Procrastination is usually framed as a weakness or a lack of discipline. However, we challenge that assumption. Instead of guilt, we look at understanding what procrastination is really telling us and how it can sometimes work in our favour.
