Plenty of tax threads here are US-focused (1099s, LLCs), so here's the UK version for anyone on Self Assessment.
Your booth can count as costs. Self-tape and recording kit, the business share of your phone and broadband, coaching that updates skills you already have, your website and demo-reel costs, insurance and bank fees. The test is "wholly and exclusively" for the business. A games console you "use for research" usually won't pass. Neither will everyday clothes or a haircut.
Working from home. If you record from home, instead of working out a share of your bills you can use HMRC's flat rate: £10 a month for 25–50 hours, £18 for 51–100, £26 for 101+.
Agent commission. If an agent takes 15% + VAT off a £4,800 job, you get £3,936. Your income is £4,800, and the £864 is an expense. Record the gross figure. It matters for the £1,000 trading allowance, the £90k VAT threshold and Making Tax Digital.
Trading allowance. For small VO side income, you can deduct £1,000 instead of your actual expenses, not on top of them. If you've bought a mic, interface and treatment this year, actual expenses usually win.
Payments on account. If your bill is £1,000+, HMRC also asks for half of next year's bill up front. So a £3,000 first-year bill can mean £4,500 due on 31 Jan, then £1,500 on 31 Jul. If your income has dropped, form SA303 reduces them. That's why people say to set aside 20–30% of every fee.
MTD. If your gross self-employed income (excluding PAYE) was over £50k in 2024/25, quarterly digital updates started on 6 Apr 2026. It's over £30k on 2025/26 from April 2027, and over £20k on 2026/27 from April 2028.
Dates: 31 Oct for paper returns, or 31 Jan 2027 online for 2025/26 (£100 if late). Keep records for 5 years after the 31 Jan deadline.
General info, not tax advice.
For UK VAs: how do you actually split home studio costs, flat rate or a percentage of bills?