Tax-Safe Summer: 8 Things to Do Before You Leave for Holiday
Whether you’re a limited company director, sole trader, or freelancer, taking time off shouldn’t put your finances at risk. But missed tax deadlines, lost receipts, or poor planning can cause real headaches post-holiday — and sometimes penalties.
At Adroit Accountax, we help clients across the UK avoid exactly that. Here are 8 real, no-nonsense actions to take before your summer holiday begins:
1. Check for Upcoming Deadlines (and File Early if Possible)
Before you go, log into your HMRC Business Tax Account (or speak to your accountant) to confirm:
VAT return deadlines
PAYE or payroll filings
CIS submissions (for contractors)
31 July Payment on Account (for those under Self-Assessment)
2. Digitally Capture Receipts While Travelling
While abroad, use apps like Xero Files, Google Drive, or Dropbox to photograph and store receipts. Faded receipts = rejected deductions. Real-time uploads keep your records HMRC-compliant.
3. Use a Separate Business Card While Travelling
To cleanly separate claimable business travel costs from personal spending, use a business-only card or account. Makes expense reconciliation easier and improves audit-readiness.
📍 Adroit tip: If using your personal card, highlight and document which costs are business-related as you go.
4. Submit a ‘No Payment’ FPS If You’re Not Running Payroll
If you won’t be processing payroll while away, log into your HMRC PAYE account and submit an FPS (Full Payment Submission) marked “No Payment for Period.”
Avoids PAYE late filing penalties, which can be issued even when no payment is due.
5. Nominate a Trusted Contact to Communicate with HMRC or Your Accountant
HMRC won’t speak to just anyone. If something urgent arises — like a compliance check or missed filing — someone must be authorised to respond on your behalf.
Send written authorisation to your accountant (or via your HMRC account) giving a colleague, partner, or assistant permission to handle tax communications while you’re away.
This avoids delays and keeps you covered in your absence.
6. Set a Financial Out-of-Office Auto-Reply
If clients, suppliers, or HMRC try to reach you while you’re away, they need to know who to contact for financial matters.
This ensures business continuity — and protects you from missed correspondence that could trigger penalties or delays.
7. Pre-schedule Your July Self-Assessment Payment (if applicable)
31 July is a major payment date for Self-Assessment taxpayers. If you’re abroad, you might not have access to your HMRC login, banking app, or OTP security device.
Log in and pay early via bank transfer
orSet up a scheduled payment using your business banking portal
Late payment = daily interest + automatic surcharge. Avoid it.
8. Book a Post-Travel Financial Review
After travel, it’s easy to forget what was business vs personal, misplace receipts, or delay reconciliation.
Before you leave, pre-book a 30-min review with your accountant for 1–2 weeks after your return.
Use it to:
Clarify expenses
Upload documents
Plan cash flow for Q3
Keeps your records clean and your next filings accurate.
Travel Smart, File Smarter
Whether you’re jetting off on a summer holiday, taking a well-earned vacation, or simply working remotely while travelling, your financial responsibilities don’t press pause. By taking a few proactive steps — like scheduling filings, managing receipts, and nominating backup contacts — you can fully enjoy your time away without worrying about tax deadlines or accounting admin. At Adroit Accountax, we help business owners, freelancers, and contractors stay compliant and stress-free, no matter where their summer travels take them.
📩 Planning a trip? Let us help you get your finances summer-ready before you go.
