Which insurance and professional costs can self-employed people claim?
HMRC allows a range of legal, financial and professional costs as self-employed business expenses where they relate to the trade.
This can include insurance policies for the business, professional advice, accountancy fees, certain legal costs, financial charges and qualifying professional subscriptions.
The key question is whether the cost was incurred for your business and whether HMRC specifically restricts that type of expenditure.
Can self-employed people claim business insurance?
Yes. HMRC says you can claim the cost of insurance policies for your business.
Depending on your trade, examples can include:
Public liability insurance
Cover against certain claims from members of the public in connection with your business activities.
Professional indemnity
HMRC specifically lists professional indemnity insurance premiums as a potentially allowable professional cost.
Business property insurance
Insurance relating to qualifying business premises, equipment or other trade risks may be relevant.
Other trade-specific cover
Policies required because of the nature of your business may potentially qualify where they protect against business risks.
A policy does not become an allowable business expense simply because you are self-employed. The insurance must relate to the business rather than being an ordinary personal cost.
Can you claim accountant fees?
HMRC explicitly includes the hiring of accountants for business reasons among potentially allowable professional costs.
Accountancy work might include bookkeeping support, preparation of business accounts or professional advice connected with the running of the trade.
Business accounts and your personal Self Assessment return are not always treated identically
HMRC's public guidance specifically says that the cost of preparing and submitting your Self Assessment tax return is not an allowable business expense.
Can you claim the cost of preparing your Self Assessment return?
The cost of preparing and submitting the individual's Self Assessment tax return is specifically listed by HMRC as a cost that cannot be claimed as an allowable professional expense.
This is different from qualifying accountancy work undertaken for the business itself.
Where an accountant's invoice covers several types of work, the nature of the services and any appropriate allocation may therefore matter.
Can self-employed people claim legal fees?
Legal and other professional fees can potentially qualify when they are incurred for business reasons.
HMRC gives examples including:
- Solicitors.
- Surveyors.
- Architects.
- Accountants.
- Other professional advisers engaged for business purposes.
The purpose of the legal work is important because not every legal expense is deductible as a day-to-day business expense.
What legal costs cannot be claimed as normal expenses?
HMRC specifically says you cannot deduct legal costs associated with buying property or machinery as ordinary legal and professional expenses.
Under traditional accounting, those costs may instead need to be considered as part of the relevant capital expenditure or capital-allowance treatment.
| Type of cost | General HMRC treatment |
|---|---|
| Business accountant | Can potentially be allowable where the work relates to the business. |
| Business solicitor | Can potentially be allowable depending on the nature and purpose of the work. |
| Property purchase legal fees | Not claimed as an ordinary legal expense; capital rules may be relevant. |
| Machinery purchase legal fees | Not claimed as an ordinary legal expense; capital treatment may be relevant. |
| Self Assessment preparation | Specifically excluded by HMRC as an allowable business expense. |
Can you claim professional subscriptions and memberships?
Some professional subscriptions can qualify where they are genuinely connected with the profession or trade.
HMRC's Business Income Manual says annual subscriptions to a professional institute or society may be deductible where the membership gives the right to use a qualification and the profits of the profession are taxable.
Annual subscriptions to relevant local professional societies may also qualify where their purpose is mainly professional.
HMRC's current manual says entrance or admission fees to a professional institute or society are not normally allowable in the ordinary course.
A general social club or membership with no genuine business purpose should not be treated as deductible merely because it might occasionally produce business contacts.
Can you claim business bank and credit-card charges?
Yes. HMRC lists a range of business financial charges that can potentially be allowable.
These include:
- Business bank charges.
- Overdraft charges.
- Credit-card charges related to the business.
- Certain leasing payments.
- Alternative-finance payments.
Personal banking costs should not simply be included in the business claim.
Can you claim interest on business loans?
HMRC lists interest on bank and business loans and hire-purchase interest among potentially allowable financial costs.
The loan repayment itself is not the same as the finance cost
HMRC specifically says repayments of loans, overdrafts or finance arrangements cannot be claimed as business expenses. The allowable question relates to qualifying interest and finance charges.
Can fines and penalties be claimed?
HMRC specifically excludes fines for breaking the law from allowable legal and professional costs.
A payment does not become deductible merely because it was paid from the business bank account or arose while carrying out business activity.
What if the cost is partly personal?
The normal self-employed expense principle still applies: private spending is not deductible.
If a charge contains clearly identifiable business and personal elements, only the qualifying business amount should generally be included.
Ask whether the professional service, insurance or financial charge was incurred for the trade. Paying it through a business account is evidence of payment, but it does not determine whether the expense is allowable.
What records should you keep?
Keep enough evidence to establish what the cost was, why it was incurred and how much has been claimed.
Keep invoices and policy documents
Retain professional invoices, insurance schedules, membership renewals and other supporting documents.
Record the business purpose
Make it clear how the professional service, insurance policy or subscription relates to the trade.
Separate private elements
Where a bill includes personal costs, retain a calculation showing the business amount claimed.
Keep finance statements
Maintain evidence distinguishing qualifying interest or charges from repayments of capital.
For the wider rules, see our Self-Employed Allowable Expenses Guide .
Reviewed & Updated
18 August 2026
2026/27
GO TAX REFUNDS
HM Revenue & Customs / GOV.UK
Allowability depends on the purpose and nature of each expense. Some professional or legal costs can be capital rather than revenue expenditure, and private costs remain non-deductible. This guide provides general information.
Insurance & Professional Cost FAQs
Can I claim business insurance if I'm self-employed?
Yes. HMRC allows insurance policies for the business, including examples such as public liability and professional indemnity insurance.
Can I claim accountant fees?
Business-related accountancy fees can potentially be allowable. HMRC separately excludes the cost of preparing and submitting the individual's Self Assessment return.
Can I claim solicitor fees?
Qualifying legal fees incurred for business reasons can potentially be allowable. Costs associated with buying property or machinery are treated differently.
Can I claim professional membership fees?
Certain annual professional subscriptions can qualify where the membership is genuinely connected with the profession or trade. Entrance and admission fees are not normally treated the same way.
Can I claim bank charges?
Qualifying business bank, overdraft and credit-card charges can potentially be claimed.
Can I claim loan repayments?
No. HMRC says repayments of loans, overdrafts and finance arrangements are not allowable business expenses. Qualifying interest and finance charges can be treated differently.
Can I claim fines paid by the business?
HMRC specifically excludes fines for breaking the law. Paying a fine through a business account does not make it deductible.
HMRC & GOV.UK Sources
This guide is reviewed against current HMRC guidance on legal, financial, insurance and professional business expenses.
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