Profile picture for user Helen Christopher

Helen Christopher

Chartered accountant Helen Christopher is a former head of finance & accounting and a former chief operating officer, who has worked for 28 years in corporate roles. Helen qualified as an accountant in 1995 with Price Waterhouse (now PwC) – the year she became a member of the ICAEW, and seven years prior to her becoming an FCA. Also a local magistrate for the Department of Justice, Helen specialises in tax, accounting and HMRC advice for small companies and their owners. 

Author Content

With new requirements now in force, directors must tread carefully to avoid tripping in the addresses minefield.

14th March, 2024 | Limited Companies

Help for a stuck and seemingly early stage tech entrepreneur with three businesses, who’s already not naming names for fear of HMRC.

8th February, 2024 | VAT

What limited company contractors need to do to reduce a HMRC liability of £14,476 to not even £9k.

A director’s new smartphone (but not his old Samsung) gets the green light as a claimable company expense.

30th January, 2024 | Limited Companies

Totted up: the amount of NICs you owe HMRC whether you’re Limited, Self-Employed, Agency or Umbrella.

11th January, 2024 | Money

Despite them being more taxing since April, dividends still deliver higher take-home than paying salary alone.

19th May, 2022 | Limited Companies

A breakdown of the NICs floor going up in July, by which time rates will have gone in the same direction.

24th March, 2022 | Successful Contracting

1.25%, or 10%? Either way, the April hike in National Insurance has the potential to be painful.

Explainer for limited company shareholders on foregoing their right to part of the next dividend.

30th September, 2021 | Limited Companies

The age-old perk of putting a vehicle on your company is more fiction than fact.

24th September, 2021 | Limited Companies

To unlock start-up reimbursements, remember the key cuts-offs: four years, seven years, six months.

14th September, 2021 | Expenses

The key steps to take to demonstrate you’re not a disguised employee.

13th May, 2021 | Private Sector IR35 Reform

A steep learning curve with turbulence, challenge and worry has defined the last four weeks.

An overview of the tax most misunderstood by umbrella and limited company contractors.

27th April, 2021 | Successful Contracting

Being inside IR35 from April will be a whole lot more taxing with the five per cent deduction disallowed by HMRC.

A permanent job will be on the Christmas list of many a contractor, this year much more than most.

18th December, 2020 | Successful Contracting

Getting back to work is the goal of most (even the government’s). This scheme looks like a punt that misses.

Flow chart on the furlough scheme, for both umbrella and limited company contractors hoping for 80% coverage.

21st April, 2020 | Coronavirus

Ten good reasons why you can’t afford to ditch your limited company as soon as a client deems you IR35-caught.

4th April, 2020 | Private Sector IR35 Reform

It’s too long a way back for many engagers so, perversely, it’s the unprepared who are now unburdened.

Sign up to our newsletter

Receive weekly contractor news, advice and updates.

Every sign up will be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon Vouchers.

* indicates required