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What Expenses Can Freelancers Claim in the UK? (2025 Guide)

If you’re self-employed, you’re entitled to claim business expenses. Doing so correctly can significantly reduce your tax bill. Here’s what you need to know for 2025.

✅ What Counts as a Business Expense?

An expense is claimable if it’s “wholly and exclusively” for business purposes — meaning you wouldn’t have bought it otherwise.

That includes:

  • Business insurance premiums
  • Tools you use for work (laptops, software, subscriptions)
  • Office or workspace costs
  • Travel and mileage for business purposes
  • Marketing and website costs

✏️ Tip: See our Accounting Tools for UK Freelancers for apps that track your expenses automatically.

🔹 Examples of Allowable Expenses

Here’s a breakdown of typical expenses self-employed operators in the UK can claim:

Home Office Expenses

If you work from home:

  • A flat rate (based on hours per month)
  • Or a proportion of your rent, bills, internet
Equipment & Tools
  • Laptops, printers, phones
  • Software (like Invoicing Tools, design tools, project management apps)
Travel & Mileage
  • Car mileage (45p/mile for the first 10,000 miles)
  • Train or bus fares to client meetings
  • Parking and congestion charges
Marketing
  • Website hosting and domain
  • Paid ads, email tools, business cards
Insurance & Professional Fees

✅ Not sure if you need an accountant? Read: Do Freelancers Need an Accountant?

❌ What You Can’t Claim

  • Everyday clothes (unless branded uniform)
  • Travel to and from a regular workplace
  • Personal expenses, even if used during work hours (e.g. Netflix, groceries)

🧾 How to Track Your Expenses

You’ll need to record every claimable expense and keep receipts in case HMRC asks for evidence. You can use:

  • Google Sheets or Excel
  • A simple app like QuickBooks Self-Employed

📅 When to Claim

You report expenses annually on your Self Assessment tax return.

For details on that, read: Self-Employed Tax Guide

✅ Final Thoughts

Claiming your freelancer expenses isn’t shady — it’s smart. The more accurately you track and report, the more you keep in your pocket.


Want More Guidance?

Visit the Self-Employed & Small Business Security Resources UK Homepage


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