Master Your Money: Tax, Self Assessment & MTD (BSL/ISL CPD)

Master Your Money: Tax Return Refresher and Making Tax Digital Update for Self-Employed Interpreters

Thursday 7 January 2027 | 18:30–20:30 (UK time)
Online via Zoom | 2 Structured CPD Points

Tax talk might not sound thrilling… but when it means more money in your pocket, it’s worth getting excited about!

Is your tax return done — or is it still sitting on your to-do list as the 31 January deadline gets closer?

Andy is back for a practical, accessible refresher designed to help self-employed interpreters and communication professionals get their finances in order, complete their 2025–26 Self Assessment return with greater confidence, and prepare for the next stage of Making Tax Digital.

With Making Tax Digital for Income Tax being introduced in stages, understanding what is changing — and when it applies to you — is becoming an important part of managing a self-employed practice. This session will look at what you need to know now, including digital record keeping, quarterly updates and how to start preparing for the changes ahead.

Alongside the Making Tax Digital update, Andy will take you through the Self Assessment process step by step, revisit allowable expenses relevant to interpreters and communication professionals, explain payments on account, and help you think ahead rather than simply getting through January.

There will also be time for a live Q&A, so bring along those tax and self-employment questions you have been meaning to ask.

This session will cover:

• Completing your Self Assessment return, an overview

• Allowable expenses for interpreters and communication professionals — including what you can and cannot claim

• Making Tax Digital for Income Tax — who it applies to, when the changes take effect and how to prepare

• Digital record keeping and quarterly updates

• Understanding payments on account

• Planning ahead and developing better financial habits for your freelance practice

• Live Q&A with Andy

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify the key information needed to complete a Self Assessment tax return and recognise common allowable expenses relevant to freelance practice

• Explain the key requirements of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax and identify when these requirements may apply to their own self-employment

• Apply practical approaches to record keeping, payments on account and financial planning throughout the tax year

Who is this session for?

This session is suitable for self-employed sign language interpreters, translators, lipspeakers, notetakers, STTRs, CSWs and other communication professionals. It may be particularly useful if you are new to self-employment, completing your own tax return, or want a refresher before the January deadline.

Please note: This session provides general information and guidance for professional development purposes. It does not provide individual tax, financial or accounting advice.

About the Trainer

Andy Smith runs Interpreting Tax, part of The Tax Hive, after realising interpreters needed specialist tax advice.

With first-hand insight into the profession, he focuses solely on helping interpreters understand and manage tax with no-nonsense clarity.

Whether you’re new to the game or looking to sharpen your financial skills, Andy’s guidance will help you make confident, informed decisions.

Key Information

• CPD Points: 2 x Structured

• Trainer: Andy Smith - The Tax Hive

• Language of Instruction: English

• Notetaker present: TBD

• Cameras on or off? On preferrably

• Active/Passive Participation? Either

• Recorded? No