Due to the nature of the tax system, we cannot provide information covering each eventuality within the tax guide. With tax matters, everyone is different, and not all questions listed below may appear on your return. Where your circumstances are more complex than just standard employment and self employment, seek professional assistance to complete your return.
This page covers the initial setup questions for your self-employment section. You’ll be asked about your business structure, registration status, and basic business details.
VAT Registration
Did you have an annual turnover of £90,000 or more?
This question relates to VAT registration. From 1 April 2024, if your turnover (total income before expenses) is £90,000 or more, you must register for VAT.
If this applies to you, press YES and continue with the VAT-registered questions.
If you are NOT VAT registered, click NO, and you’ll be prompted to provide details about any special circumstances that may apply to your business.
Special Circumstances
After confirming you’re not VAT registered, you’ll see a list of special circumstances. Most Slimming World consultants will choose “None apply” at the bottom of the list.
However, here are the main options in case any apply to you:
- I am a foster carer or adult placement carer: If you provide foster care or adult placement care services, tick this box
- I wish to make an adjustment to my profits chargeable to Class 4 NICs: Only select this if you need to make a manual adjustment – this is usually when a charge has been made to your return (such as change of accounting periods) or where you have several employments and self-employments which need manually calculating
- I am a farmer, market gardener or a creator of literary or artistic works and I wish to claim averaging adjustment: Self-explanatory – if this applies, tick the box
- I am a practising barrister: Self-explanatory
- I have changed my accounting date: You can change your accounting date as a self-employed individual, for example if you wish to align your accounts to the HMRC tax year
- The results of my accounts have been declared on a previous return: If you provided details of your profits on an earlier return, you can tick this box. This could apply if you ended self-employment a few days into the new tax year and submitted these figures previously
- My ‘basis period’ is not the same as my accounting period: This only applies in certain circumstances – click the ‘Help’ button for examples
- I provide my services under contracts for professional or other services and these contracts span my accounting date: This only applies in certain circumstances – click the ‘Help’ button for examples
- My business is carried on abroad: If this applies, tick the box
- I wish to claim ‘overlap relief’: This is a complex term – click ‘Help’ if you think this applies
- My total turnover is £1,000 or less from all self-employments but I wish to voluntarily pay Class 2 NICs: If you had a low turnover in your first year of self-employment but wish to pay National Insurance Class 2 contributions (e.g. to protect state benefits), you can tick this
- My total turnover is £1,000 or less and I have made a loss: If this is the case, tick the box
- I want to declare disguised remuneration income: It’s unlikely this applies to you
For most Slimming World consultants: Select “None apply” and continue to the next section.
Business Details
Now you’ll be asked to provide details about your business.
Business Name
Choose a name for your business, such as:
- “Anna’s Slimming World”
- “Slimming World Newtown”
- “Claire Smith Slimming World Consultant”
This doesn’t need to be a registered business name – it’s simply for HMRC’s records.
Description of Business, Trade or Profession
A brief description is sufficient. For example:
- “Slimming World Consultant”
- “Weight management consultant”
- “Health and wellbeing consultant”
Postcode of Your Business Address
You can enter your home postcode here. Most consultants operate from home, so using your home address is appropriate.
Has Your Business Name, Description, Address or Postcode Changed in the Last 12 Months?
If you have changed any of the previous fields since your last tax return, select YES and provide information about what changed.
If this is your first return or nothing has changed, select NO.
Business Start and End Dates
If Your Business Started After 5 April 2024, Enter the Start Date
This should only be completed if you started your consultancy business after 5 April 2024 (the start of the 2024/25 tax year).
If this doesn’t apply, leave this blank.
Did Your Business Cease Trading After 5 April 2024 but Before 6 April 2025?
If you closed your self-employment during the tax year, choose YES and provide the date you stopped trading.
Otherwise, choose NO.
Accounting Information
Date Your Books or Accounts Are Made Up To
Enter the end date of your accounting period here.
If you’re using MalgraBooks spreadsheets or following the HMRC tax year calendar, this would be 05/04/2025 (5 April 2025) for the 2024/25 tax year.
Some businesses use different accounting dates (such as 31 March or 30 April), but most consultants align with the HMRC tax year for simplicity.
Did You Use the Cash Basis to Calculate Your Income and Expenses?
Cash basis means that you declare income and expenses as they occur – when money is actually received or paid out.
For Slimming World consultants, the answer is YES – you:
- Declare income when members pay you (not when you invoice them)
- Declare expenses when you pay for them (not when you receive a bill)
The alternative is traditional business accounting (accruals basis), where companies might invoice clients and give them 30 days to pay. This doesn’t apply to most consultants.
Important: If you use cash basis accounting (which is recommended for consultants), you cannot claim certain tax reliefs such as carrying losses forward. This is covered in more detail on Page 3.
Next Steps
Once you’ve completed the business setup and details, you’ll move on to entering your income and expense figures.