Free Guides · No Jargon · UK Focused
Learn about UK finance
35 plain-English guides covering the questions people actually ask about money, tax, and investing in the UK.
Autumn Budget, 28 October 2026
What the Budget means for you, in pounds
Three tax rises are already law. Put in your own figures to see what they cost you, and what changes on the day.
Tax
9 guidesCapital Gains Tax UK 2026-27: Rates, Allowance and How to Calculate
The UK capital gains tax rates, the £3,000 annual exempt amount, and how to calculate what you owe. Plain-English guide from CoreFi.
Self Assessment Tax Return: A Step-by-Step UK Guide
How to complete your HMRC Self Assessment, who needs to file, key deadlines, and how to avoid penalties. Free guide from CoreFi.
How to Legally Reduce Your Tax Bill in the UK
Legal ways to reduce your UK tax bill: ISAs, pensions, Gift Aid, and allowances explained clearly. Free guide from CoreFi.
Dividend Tax UK 2026-27: Rates, Allowance and a Worked Example
Dividend tax for 2026-27: the £500 allowance, rates of 10.75%, 35.75% and 39.35%, how they stack on other income, and a director's example.
Inheritance Tax UK 2026-27: Thresholds, Rates and Reliefs
Inheritance tax in the UK is charged at 40% above the £325,000 nil-rate band. Here is how the thresholds work, what the 7-year rule actually means, and what to do first.
Student Loan Repayment UK: Thresholds, Plans and Paying Early
UK student loan repayment thresholds for Plan 1, 2, and 5, how the 9% charge works, and whether paying off early is worth it. Free guide from CoreFi.
VAT Registration UK: When to Register and How It Works
The UK VAT registration threshold is £90,000. Here is when you must register, how the flat rate scheme works, and the voluntary registration trap most small businesses miss.
IR35 Explained: The Rules Every UK Contractor Needs to Know
IR35 explained UK: what the rules mean, how inside vs outside is determined, and the factors HMRC actually uses. UK contractor guide from CoreFi.
Income Tax Thresholds Frozen to 2031: Fiscal Drag Explained
The personal allowance stays at £12,570 and the higher-rate threshold at £50,270 until April 2031. What fiscal drag costs on a pay rise, and the 60% trap.
Savings
5 guidesWhat Is an ISA? A Plain Guide to the UK Tax-Free Wrapper
An ISA lets you earn interest, dividends, and gains free of UK tax. Here is how the £20,000 allowance works for 2026-27, which type to pick, and the rule that trips people up.
ISA vs Pension: Which Is Better for You in the UK?
ISA vs pension: how each one taxes you, when you can access your money, and the order most UK savers should use them.
Lifetime ISA Explained: The 25% Bonus, the Rules, and the Penalty Trap
The Lifetime ISA gives you a 25% government bonus on up to £4,000 a year, but a penalty clause that catches many people out. Here is how the lifetime ISA UK rules actually work.
How to Use Your 2026-27 ISA Allowance Before 6 April
Your £20,000 ISA allowance disappears on April 5 every year with no rollover. Here is how to use it before the deadline, from CoreFi.
Tax on Savings Interest in 2026-27: Allowances, Rates and Examples
How UK savings interest is taxed in 2026-27: the personal savings allowance, the £5,000 starting rate, ISAs, and the 22% rate from April 2027.
Credit
4 guidesHow to Improve Your Credit Score in the UK
Registering to vote can add 50+ points to your UK credit score. Here is what actually moves the needle, and the traps most people miss. Free guide from CoreFi.
What Is APR? Annual Percentage Rate Explained
APR is the total yearly cost of borrowing, including fees, not just the interest rate. Here is what it actually means for credit cards and loans, and the one trap most people miss.
Balance Transfers Explained: How 0% Deals Actually Work
What a balance transfer is, what the fee costs you, and the one rule that voids your 0% deal. Plain UK guide from CoreFi.
Debt Payoff Strategies UK: Avalanche vs Snowball Method
Compare the avalanche and snowball debt payoff methods, which saves more and which keeps you motivated. Free UK guide from CoreFi.
Investing
3 guidesHow to Start Investing in the UK: A Beginner's Guide
How to start investing in the UK: the right order of steps, why a global index fund beats stock-picking, and the ISA wrapper that makes your returns tax-free. Free guide from CoreFi.
Bonds vs Shares UK: What Is the Difference and Which Should You Hold?
Bonds vs shares UK explained: how each works, what returns to expect, and how to split your portfolio. Plain-English guide from CoreFi.
SEIS vs EIS vs VCT Explained: Tax Reliefs, Limits and Rules
SEIS gives 50% income tax relief, EIS 30% and VCTs 20% from April 2026. Investor limits, company rules, holding periods and CGT reliefs compared.
Crypto
3 guidesCrypto Tax UK 2026-27: How HMRC Taxes Bitcoin and Other Crypto
How HMRC taxes crypto in the UK: capital gains, income tax, DeFi, staking, and record-keeping requirements. Free guide from CoreFi.
DeFi Tax UK: How HMRC Taxes Lending, Staking, and Liquidity
How DeFi activities are taxed in the UK, lending, borrowing, staking, liquidity pools, and wrapped tokens. Free guide from CoreFi.
NFT Tax UK: How HMRC Taxes Non-Fungible Tokens
How NFT tax works in the UK. HMRC treats NFTs as cryptoassets, so CGT and income tax both apply depending on what you do with them.
Budgeting
2 guidesHow to Budget in the UK: A Plain Guide
Learn how to budget in the UK using the 50/30/20 rule, automatic transfers, and three months of bank statements. A plain, practical guide from CoreFi.
Emergency Fund UK: How Much You Need and Where to Keep It
The standard target is 3-6 months of essential expenses, not income. Here is what that means in practice, where to keep your emergency fund, and how to start when money is tight.
Property
3 guidesStamp Duty UK: Rates, Thresholds, and How to Calculate
Stamp duty land tax rates for 2025/26, first-time buyer relief, and the 5% additional property surcharge explained. Plain-English guide from CoreFi.
How Much Can I Borrow for a Mortgage in the UK?
Most UK lenders cap mortgage borrowing at 4 to 4.5 times gross income, but the stress test is what actually limits your offer. Plain guide from CoreFi.
Buy-to-Let Tax UK: Section 24, the 2027 Rise and CGT on Sale
How UK landlords are taxed: rental profit, Section 24 relief, the 22%, 42% and 47% property rates from April 2027, and CGT's 60-day deadline.
Pensions
2 guidesPension Tax Relief Explained: What the Government Adds to Your Pot
How pension tax relief UK works, what basic, higher, and additional-rate taxpayers each get back, the £60,000 annual allowance, carry forward, and the one trap high earners miss.
Workplace Pension UK: Auto-Enrolment and What Your Employer Pays
How UK workplace pensions work, what auto-enrolment means in practice, minimum contributions, and why opting out costs you more than you think. Free guide from CoreFi.
Running a business
4 guidesHow to Start a Business in the UK: Sole Trader or Limited Company
Sole trader or limited company? How to register with HMRC and Companies House, the tax each structure pays, when VAT applies, and the steps in order.
Bookkeeping for Small Businesses UK: Records, Rules and Year-End
Which records UK sole traders and companies must keep and for how long, plus the cash basis, the £1,000 trading allowance, simplified expenses and year-end.
What Is Franked Investment Income? The UK Tax Term Explained
Franked investment income explained: what it meant under the old ACT system, and why dividends a company receives can still change its corporation tax rate.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: Who Must Join and When
MTD for Income Tax explained: who must join and when, what counts as qualifying income, quarterly updates, the tax return, penalty points and exemptions.
Educational only. Not financial, tax, or legal advice. CoreFi is not regulated by the FCA.