Free Guides · No Jargon · UK Focused
Learn about UK finance
28 plain-English guides covering the questions people actually ask about money, tax, and investing in the UK.
Tax
8 guidesCapital Gains Tax UK: Rates, Allowances, 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: Rates, Allowance, and How to Pay Less
UK dividend tax rates for 2024-25, the £500 allowance, and salary vs dividend extraction for directors. Free guide from CoreFi.
Inheritance Tax UK: Thresholds, Rates, and How to Reduce Your Bill
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 When Early Repayment Actually Makes Sense
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.
Savings
4 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 2024-25, 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 ISA Allowance Before April 6
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.
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
2 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.
Crypto
3 guidesCrypto Tax UK: How HMRC Taxes Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency
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: The Rules That Actually Cost Landlords Money
Buy-to-let tax in the UK explained plainly: Section 24, income tax on rental profits, CGT at 18% or 24%, the 5% stamp duty surcharge, and the 60-day CGT deadline. Free guide from CoreFi.
Pensions
2 guidesPension Tax Relief Explained: What the Government Actually 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, Contributions, and What Your Employer Owes You
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.
Educational only. Not financial, tax, or legal advice. CoreFi is not regulated by the FCA.