Nebula Insights

IR35, MTD & the future of
AI-powered accounting

Guides, updates, and insights from the Nebula Finance team — written for UK Ltd contractors and the accountants who serve them.

Partnership

Retained Profits vs Salary: How Your Tax Strategy Impacts Your Mortgage Options

The low-salary-plus-dividends strategy is great for tax — but it can shrink your mortgage. Here's how specialist lenders read retained profits, and why your IR35 status matters before you apply.

JM
Joanne Mitchell · Broadbench
5 min read
Partnership

Why Your IR35 Status Matters More Than You Think When Applying for a Mortgage

High street lenders routinely understate contractor income. Here's how contract-based underwriting — day-rate annualisation — unlocks your true borrowing potential, inside or outside IR35.

JM
Joanne Mitchell · Broadbench
5 min read
Tax Guide

Salary vs Dividends: The Optimal Split for Ltd Contractors (2025/26)

The 2025/26 thresholds, the employer-NI-versus-Corporation-Tax trade-off, dividend rates, and an illustrative worked example for splitting a director's pay.

HD
Hiep Do, FCCA
8 min read
Tax Guide

How Much Tax Should a Ltd Contractor Set Aside? (2025/26)

A simple rule of thumb and worked example for Corporation Tax, VAT and dividend tax — so the deadline is never a surprise.

HD
Hiep Do, FCCA
7 min read
Guide

Contractor Accounting Software vs a Traditional Accountant

A neutral comparison of cost, speed, IR35 depth, control and advice — and when each option wins for a UK Ltd contractor.

HD
Hiep Do, FCCA
7 min read
Partnership

Nebula Partners With Broadbench to Strengthen Protection for UK Contractors

We've partnered with Broadbench — an FCA-regulated specialist in business protection and director financial planning — to build a fuller financial ecosystem for UK contractors.

HD
Hiep Do, FCCA
4 min read
Partnership

The Hidden Financial Risk Every UK Freelancer Ignores (And It Isn't Tax)

Sole traders get no Statutory Sick Pay, and a director's SSP is just £118.75 a week. Here's how income protection, relevant life insurance, and critical illness cover safeguard your income, your family, and your business.

JM
Joanne Mitchell · Broadbench
6 min read
Founder Perspective

Building the Confidence Layer for UK Small Businesses

Automation reduces admin. But confidence in your numbers requires something more — an audit trail, risk-based escalation, and final owner approval. Here's how Nebula Finance is building that infrastructure.

HD
Hiep Do, FCCA
· May 2026 · 5 min read
MTD & Compliance

The Freelancer's Guide to Making Tax Digital 2026

From April 2026, all self-employed individuals earning over £50,000 must keep digital records and submit quarterly updates to HMRC. Here's everything you need to know — and how Nebula handles it automatically.

HD
Hiep Do
5 min read
AI & Technology

How AI Is Transforming Accounting for UK Freelancers

AI isn't replacing accountants — it's replacing the stress. From automated categorisation to real-time tax forecasts, here's how intelligent tools are reshaping financial management in 2026.

HD
Hiep Do
5 min read
Product

Nebula: The AI Accounting App Built for UK Freelancers & Small Businesses

UK freelancers lose 120+ hours a year to financial admin. Nebula was built to give that time back — with AI-powered bookkeeping, automated VAT, and MTD compliance in a single mobile-first platform.

HD
Hiep Do
4 min read

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