?? How We Helped Contractors and Property Investors Save Thousands on Their UK Tax Bills

With the 31 January 2025 tax return deadline fast approaching, I want to share a few real-world success stories from clients who have used some of the strategies from my eBook, "Tax Outside the Box".

These strategies aren’t complicated — they’re smart, practical tax-saving tips that are often overlooked. If you’re a contractor, property investor, or self-employed professional, you could be missing out on significant savings.

Here’s how some of our clients saved thousands by thinking outside the box ??

?? Case Study #1: IT Contractor Saves ￡8,200 by Restructuring Income and Claiming Overlooked Expenses

One of our clients, an IT contractor working through a limited company, came to us frustrated with their growing tax bill. They were paying themselves a salary and dividends but hadn’t reviewed their tax structure in years.

?? What We Found:

• They weren’t optimising their salary and dividend split, resulting in higher taxes.
• They were missing out on allowable expenses like home office costs, professional subscriptions, and equipment.

?? What We Did:

• We restructured their income, reducing their personal tax liability.
• We helped them claim overlooked expenses, including costs they didn’t realise were deductible.

?? Result: ￡8,200 in tax savings!

?? Case Study #2: Property Investor Saves ￡12,500 with Mortgage Interest Relief and Capital Allowances

A buy-to-let property investor with a portfolio of five properties was struggling with rising tax bills due to the Section 24 mortgage interest relief restrictions.

?? What We Found:

• They weren’t taking advantage of capital allowances on property-related expenses.
• They hadn’t explored limited company structures for future property purchases.

?? What We Did:

• We helped them utilise capital allowances for furniture and white goods in their properties.
• We advised them to set up a limited company for future property purchases to reduce long-term tax liability.

?? Result: ￡12,500 in tax savings for the year — plus a more tax-efficient strategy for future investments!

?? Case Study #3: Self-Employed Consultant Saves ￡5,400 by Claiming R&D Tax Relief and Mileage Allowance

A marketing consultant was overpaying tax because they weren’t claiming the allowances available to them. They also didn’t realise that their creative projects qualified for R&D tax relief.

?? What We Found:

• They weren’t claiming R&D tax relief for innovative projects.
• They weren’t claiming mileage allowance for business travel.

?? What We Did:

• We submitted an R&D tax relief claim, resulting in a refund.
• We helped them claim mileage and other business expenses, reducing their overall tax bill.

?? Result: ￡5,400 in tax savings, including a ￡3,200 R&D tax relief refund!

?? Want to Save on Your Tax Bill Too?

These case studies show how small, strategic changes can have a big impact on your tax liability. Many people miss out on savings simply because they’re not aware of what they can claim.

To help more people reduce their tax bills, I’ve created a step-by-step guide, “Tax Outside the Box”, packed with the same strategies we’ve used with our clients.

?? The book is usually ￡20, but you can download it for free with the code TAX2025: ?? Get the eBook here

If you’d like help with your 2024 tax return, feel free to reach out. There’s still time to get it done before the deadline, and our typical turnaround is just three days.

Let’s make sure you’re not paying more tax than you need to!

? Take Action Now: 3 Steps to Save on Your Tax Bill

1. Download the free eBook using code TAX2025.
2. Apply the strategies in the book to your return.
3. Reach out if you need professional help with your filing.

Time’s ticking — let’s get your tax return sorted before the deadline!

Best regards, Samuel Ajala ?? Tax Consultant & Author of “Tax Outside the Box”