BusinessLink runs courses and provides information for running, growing, and / or starting a business. You can reach them on 0845 7 17 16 15, or click on BusinessLink. Many of their courses are FREE for small businesses, although this is not always obvious in their marketing. Don't forget to ask when you book.

Pay Your Tax etc On Line or Telephone with a debit card, (but not a credit card). Click https://www.billpayment.co.uk/hmrc/scripts/index.asp, or dial 01726 209 025 (this is normally cheaper than dialing the 0845 number that HMRC publish).

Is Your Financial Adviser Regulated ? See www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/register to check if your financial adviser is regulated.

The Consumer Association (Which?) sells tax return completion software called TaxCalc for £24.99 (to non-members),and presumably cheaper for members. We have not tried it. www.taxcalc.com. They can be reached on 0800 920 140 and 0800 252 100. This software can be purchased online and downloaded by clicking here.

Got Your Own Company? What travel expenses can you pay yourself tax free? See the HMRC Inspectors' Manual.

Free Business Banking The Abbey Bank offers free business banking forever. So does The Alliance & Leicester. Most banks offer an initial period of free banking for businesses.

Tax Cheats Bad news for tax cheats ... very bad news. Some extraordinary steps that HMRC is taking to catch tax cheats.

Companies can submit a lot of stuff online to Companies House, https://ewf.companieshouse.gov.uk.

Free Courses In business? The Revenue run courses / workshops for businesses. These are free. See www.hmrc.gov.uk/bst/index.htm

Register for PAYE on line at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/employers/iwtregister-as-an-employer.shtml

The Inland Revenue Self Assessment Guide contains a wealth of detail. Or so we understand. We haven't looked at it. www.hmrc.gov.uk/pdfs/sabk8.htm

Newly Self Employed You can't register for Self-employment on line, this may no longer be correct (at 09.05.2008) but you can download the relevant form here. There is a £100 fine if you fail to notify the commencement of self-employment within three months of commencing. Or a helpline will take phone registrations. The helpline number is 0845 9 15 45 15. You can phone from 8.00am to 8.00pm, 7 days a week. You need to have your National Insurance number with you when you phone.

To register for VAT on-line, see On-line Vat Registration When we tried to register a client online using this link, we failed. More recent reports from clients suggest that it is now more straightforward.

Employee Site-Based Workers / Construction Workers / Agency Workers: What travel expenses can you claim - if you are an employee? http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM32132.htm

Instant Tax Refund Ltd sells software that allows you to calculate the value of any tax refund due to employees (only). It produces a proforma letter to the Revenue, on which you fill in detail relevant to you, asking for the refund. The software is posted to you. We have not tried it. The cost was about £40, when we last checked. Freefone 0800 064 0270, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or www.instanttaxrefund.co.uk

Should you pay tax on your company van? www.hmrc.gov.uk/vans/van-facts.htm

Companies what travel expenses can you pay your staff tax free? http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM32000.htm

Tax Credits Are you entitled to tax credits? Try the HMRC's Tax Credits Online.

100% Tax Relief: Certain items of new plant qualify for a 100% first year allowanace (FYA). This includes 'clean' motor cars - click for more. The list of qualifying plant is frequently updated. To view it, visit the government website www.eca.gov.uk.

The New Construction Industry Scheme - New Guidance from HMRC www.hmrc.gov.uk/new-cis/new_guidance.htm

Self employed? Working from home? What can you claim for the use of your home?

Stamp Office Addresses www.hmrc.gov.uk/so/addresses.htm

Bookeeping software by Simply Books for "... very small businesses, sole traders and the self employed." claims "No accounting knowledge needed". When we last looked it was available for about £79.99. www.simplybooks.net. We haven't tried it.

TaxAid provides free tax help for those who can't afford to use a tax adviser or accountant. TaxAid is based in London. www.taxaid.co.uk The TaxAid website is full of fascinating tax material - even if you can afford an accountant. (TaxAid also need suitably qualified volunteers.)

Free tax advice for low-income pensioners: TaxHelp for Older People (TOP). Cuurently at www.taxaid.co.uk
Source: http://www.taxaid.org.uk/news/news.cfm?id=561 November 2002

The Federation of Small Businesses offers a great deal of help to small businesses, including tax advice if you're a member. www.fsb.org.uk

Student Loans: Should you or should you not show your student loan repayments on your tax return form? The Student Loans Website should be of assistance if you have a query relating to student loans. www.slc.co.uk