Top 10 Tax Deductions Every Tradesperson Should Claim

As a sole trader, every legitimate expense you claim reduces your tax bill. Yet many tradespeople miss out on thousands of pounds in deductions every year. Here are the top 10 you should never overlook.

1. Materials and Supplies

Every trip to Screwfix, Toolstation, or your local builders' merchant counts. Track every purchase - timber, cables, paint, fixings, the lot. With Bosh, these are automatically categorised when you connect your bank.

2. Tools and Equipment

New drill? Ladder? Van racking? All tax deductible. For items over £500, you can claim capital allowances. Bosh handles this automatically.

3. Vehicle Expenses

You can claim either:

• Actual costs (fuel, insurance, repairs, depreciation) proportionate to business use
• Simplified expenses: 45p per mile for first 10,000 miles, 25p thereafter

Most tradespeople find mileage claims simpler. Bosh can track this for you.

4. Workspace Costs

Work from home? You can claim a portion of:

• Rent or mortgage interest
• Council tax
• Utility bills
• Internet and phone

Or use the simplified rate: £6/week (2+ hours per week), £18/week (25+ hours), £26/week (50+ hours).

5. Professional Subscriptions

Gas Safe registration? NICEIC? CIPHE? All deductible. Any professional body membership required for your trade counts.

6. Insurance

Public liability, professional indemnity, tool insurance - all can be claimed as business expenses.

7. Training and Courses

Updating your skills? Courses, training materials, and exam fees related to your existing trade are deductible.

8. Advertising and Marketing

Website costs, business cards, van signwriting, online ads - if it's promoting your business, you can claim it.

9. Phone and Internet

If you use your phone for business, you can claim a proportion. Have a dedicated business phone? Claim 100%.

10. Accountancy and Software

Your accountant's fees and software like Bosh are fully deductible business expenses.

What you can't claim

Be aware: personal expenses, fines, entertaining clients, and travel from home to your usual place of work aren't allowable.

Keep good records

HMRC may ask for evidence. Keep receipts, invoices, and bank statements. Better yet, use Bosh to automatically track everything digitally.

On average, tradespeople using Bosh discover £2,400 in additional deductions they were missing. Don't leave money on the table.