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Setting up a business involves complying with a range of legal requirements. Find out which ones apply to you and your new enterprise.

What particular regulations do specific types of business (such as a hotel, or a printer, or a taxi firm) need to follow? We explain some of the key legal issues to consider for 200 types of business.

While poor governance can bring serious legal consequences, the law can also protect business owners and managers and help to prevent conflict.

Whether you want to raise finance, join forces with someone else, buy or sell a business, it pays to be aware of the legal implications.

From pay, hours and time off to discipline, grievance and hiring and firing employees, find out about your legal responsibilities as an employer.

Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy.

Commercial disputes can prove time-consuming, stressful and expensive, but having robust legal agreements can help to prevent them from occurring.

Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.

With information and sound advice, living up to your legal responsibilities to safeguard your employees, customers and visitors need not be difficult or costly.

As information technology continues to evolve, legislation must also change. It affects everything from data protection and online selling to internet policies for employees.

Intellectual property (IP) isn't solely relevant to larger businesses or those involved in developing innovative new products: all products have IP.

Knowing how and when you plan to sell or relinquish control of your business can help you to make better decisions and achieve the best possible outcome.

From bereavement, wills, inheritance, separation and divorce to selling a house, personal injury and traffic offences, learn more about your personal legal rights.

Deadline looms for registering as self-employed

2 October 2023

Anyone who has earned income as a self-employed worker in the 2022/23 tax year must register for Self Assessment by 5 October if they haven't done so already.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding anyone who is new to Self Assessment for the 2022/23 tax year that they must register online by 5 October 2023.

How to register as self-employed

You can register for Self Assessment on the GOV.UK website. Taxpayers that need to do this include anyone who has:

  • Worked on a freelance basis in the past tax year;
  • Set up a side hustle to earn money in addition to their PAYE job;
  • Starting renting out a property as a landlord.

In fact, if a taxpayer has any income that they have not already paid UK tax on, they need to register for Self Assessment on GOV.UK. They will then receive a Unique Taxpayer Reference, which they will need when completing their tax return. The deadline for taxpayers to file their tax return online and pay any tax owed for the 2022/23 tax year is 31 January 2024.

How to stop Self Assessment

If a worker thinks they no longer need to complete a Self Assessment tax return for the 2022/23 tax year, they should tell HMRC before the deadline on 31 January 2024 to avoid any penalties.

HMRC has a wide range of resources to help customers file a tax return, including a series of video tutorials on YouTube.

Written by Rachel Miller.

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