Resources & Tools

Tools and information
at your fingertips

Philip Barnes & Co provides a range of online tools and reference resources to help clients and prospective clients manage their finances — from interactive calculators to HMRC guidance on the topics that matter most to Staffordshire businesses.

Online Calculators

Run the numbers yourself

Our calculator suite covers the areas most relevant to the businesses and individuals we work with — from VAT and payroll through to CIS deductions for construction clients, company car benefit-in-kind for directors, and property tax for landlords and investors.

Each tool opens in a new tab and is pre-branded for Philip Barnes & Co. No data is stored or transmitted — they run entirely in your browser.

HMRC Guidance

Factsheets & reference topics

The topics below link directly to HMRC's authoritative guidance pages — the most reliable source for current rates, thresholds and rules. Each summary gives you a quick orientation; follow the link for the full picture, or talk to us if you'd like to discuss how a topic applies to your specific situation.

Inheritance Tax

Tax on the estate of someone who has died. Most estates pay nothing, but planning can make a substantial difference at the higher end.

View HMRC guidance → Talk to us about this

Capital Allowances

Tax relief on plant, machinery, vehicles and integral building features. The Annual Investment Allowance covers £1m of qualifying spend per year.

View HMRC guidance → Talk to us about this

Capital Gains Tax

Tax on the profit you make when you sell or dispose of an asset that has gained value — shares, property, business assets and personal possessions over £6,000.

View HMRC guidance → Talk to us about this

Company Cars

The benefit-in-kind tax that applies when an employer provides a car for private use, and how the BIK percentage is set by CO2 emissions and fuel type.

View HMRC guidance → Talk to us about this

Farming Tax Reliefs

Reliefs specifically for farming: agricultural property relief for Inheritance Tax, herd basis for income, and the averaging rules for fluctuating profits.

View HMRC guidance → Talk to us about this

PAYE & Payroll

How employers report pay, deduct tax and NI, manage statutory payments, and meet Real Time Information obligations.

View HMRC guidance → Talk to us about this

Self Assessment

How HMRC collects Income Tax from self-employed people, company directors, landlords, and anyone with untaxed income above the thresholds.

View HMRC guidance → Talk to us about this

Starting Up in Business

Choosing a structure (sole trader, partnership, limited company), registering with HMRC, and the records you must keep from day one.

View HMRC guidance → Talk to us about this

Charity Accounts

What charities must prepare and file with the Charity Commission and HMRC, including the income thresholds that trigger audit and the SORP-compliant accounting framework.

View HMRC guidance → Talk to us about this

Dividend Planning

How dividends are taxed (8.75% basic, 33.75% higher, 39.35% additional) and how to combine salary and dividends efficiently as a company director.

View HMRC guidance → Talk to us about this

Corporation Tax

The tax limited companies pay on their profits — 25% main rate, 19% small-profits rate, marginal relief in between.

View HMRC guidance → Talk to us about this

Making Tax Digital

HMRC's programme to require digital record-keeping and quarterly submissions, in force for VAT and rolling out to Income Tax for self-employed people from April 2026.

View HMRC guidance → Talk to us about this

Further Reference

Tax rates, deadlines & official forms

Tax rates & allowances

HMRC publishes current Income Tax bands, National Insurance thresholds, Corporation Tax rates, Capital Gains Tax annual exemptions and VAT registration thresholds on GOV.UK. Rates change each April; the links below always reflect the current tax year.

Income Tax rates

Corporation Tax rates

Downloadable forms

HMRC and Companies House publish their official forms online. Common requests include SA100 (Self Assessment), CT600 (Corporation Tax return), P11D (benefits and expenses), and Companies House forms for confirmation statements and changes to company details.

HMRC forms

Companies House forms

A question the tools
can't quite answer?

Our team at The Old Council Chambers, Tamworth is happy to talk through any of the topics above — whether you're a long-standing client or considering working with us for the first time. Call us on 01827 60033 or use the form below.

Get in touch Our services
Free consultation