Difference between sole trader and limited company

by Vidit Agarwal Marketing Director

Each structure has preferences and disservices which are delineated underneath to enable you to pick the best alternative for your conditions.

Risk

A limited company is its own particular lawful personality, so as an investor your risk is limited (consequently the name 'limited by shares').

As a sole trader, there is little refinement amongst you and the business. Any business obligations turn into your obligations and your personal resources - including your house - are not secured.

Tax

In a limited company, tax is deducted from executives' compensations by means of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and paid at consistent interims to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). All chiefs are additionally obliged to finish a tax return unless they got positively no pay or advantages; regardless of whether any tax is owed. If the chiefs are likewise investors, they may get profits from the company.

Corporation tax is payable 9 months after the year end and a company tax return must be recorded a year after the year end.

Sole traders pay tax on their business benefits, by means of the self-assessment tax return framework. The due date for online tax returns is 31st January after the finish of the tax year.

National Insurance

Inside a limited company, both business' and worker's National Insurance (NI) is payable on chiefs' pay rates and rewards.

Accounts and tax returns

A limited company must plan annual accounts (otherwise called 'statutory accounts') from the company's records toward the finish of the budgetary year. These are recorded with HMRC as a feature of the company tax return and sent to all investors and Companies House. A limited company should likewise record a Confirmation Statement with Companies House, which incorporates information about the executives, investors and enrolled office.

Sole traders are not legitimately required to have or document annual accounts however despite everything they need to keep a record of business expenses and income to fill in their tax returns.