How Tradebooks works

Tradebooks keeps a running picture of your income, expenses and estimated tax throughout the year - so there are no nasty surprises in January. It takes about 30 seconds to log a transaction.

💰

Step 1

Log income when a customer pays you

Tap the green button and enter who paid you, how much, and the date. Do this every time a customer pays - by BACS, cash, or cheque. Your income total updates instantly.

Tip: log it the moment the money lands, not at the end of the month.

🧾

Step 2

Log expenses as they happen

Every time you buy materials, fuel, tools or anything for the job - tap '+ Add expense', type what you bought and how much. AI automatically sorts it into the right category in the background.

Tip: even small purchases add up. A £12 drill bit is still an allowable expense.

📷

Step 3

Scan receipts with your camera

Tap 'Scan receipt', point your camera at the receipt, and Tradebooks reads the vendor and amount automatically. Confirm and it's added. No more lost receipts stuffed in a pocket.

Tip: scan it on the spot — it takes 5 seconds and saves a lot of January headaches.

📊

Step 4

Watch your three numbers

At the top of the screen you always see Income, Expenses and Estimated Tax. These update live every time you log something. No surprises at year end.

Tip: check these monthly so you're putting the right amount aside for tax.

✅

Step 5

Check flagged expenses

AI marks some expenses as 'Check' (amber) when it's not sure if they're business or personal. Tap Business, Check or Personal on each one to confirm. Things like Amazon orders or coffee shops often need your judgement.

Tip: if in doubt, ask your accountant — but anything purely for the job is usually allowable.

📥

Step 6

Export for your accountant

When you need to file your Self Assessment or share records with an accountant, tap 'Export CSV' to download a spreadsheet of all your income and expenses for the tax year.

Tip: export quarterly so your accountant isn't surprised at year end.

Understanding the tax estimate

The estimated tax figure is calculated from your profit (income minus allowable expenses) using the current HMRC rates for income tax and Class 4 National Insurance. It is an estimate — your actual bill may differ based on payments on account, pension contributions, and other factors. Always verify with HMRC or a qualified accountant before filing your Self Assessment.

Tradebooks is not a tax advisor. The figures shown are for guidance only.

Frequently asked questions

Is my data safe?

Yes. Your data is stored securely in a UK-region database and is only accessible to you. We never sell your data or share it with third parties.

What tax year does Tradebooks use?

The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. Tradebooks automatically detects which tax year you're in and keeps your records separate year to year.

Can I use it without an account?

Yes — you can add income and expenses and see the tax estimate without signing in. But your data won't be saved when you close the page. Sign in to save everything permanently.

What if I need to fix a mistake?

Tap the × on any transaction to delete it and re-enter it correctly. You can also tap Business, Check or Personal on any expense to change its type.

Can I give this to my accountant?

Yes — tap 'Export CSV' in the Transactions section to download a spreadsheet of all your income and expenses. Most accountants can work with this.

Open Tradebooks