How do I claim tax relief for phone and internet costs?

At Towerstone Accountants we provide specialist personal tax services, for self employed, and individuals across the UK. This article has been written to explain How do I claim tax relief for phone and internet costs, in clear practical terms, so you understand how personal tax and Self Assessment rules apply in real situations. Our aim is to help you stay compliant, avoid costly mistakes, and make confident tax decisions.

This is a question I hear a lot, often from people who feel their income is too small to justify professional help. From my experience, earning part time does not automatically mean your tax affairs are simple, and it certainly does not mean there is no value in getting advice. What matters is not just how much you earn but how you earn it and how it fits alongside the rest of your financial position.

The honest answer is that not everyone who earns part time needs an accountant, but many people who earn part time benefit from one more than they expect. In this article I want to explain when you can safely manage things yourself, when an accountant is strongly worth considering, and how part time income can create tax issues that often catch people out.

What HMRC means by part time income

HMRC does not actually have a special category for part time work. From a tax point of view, part time income is treated in exactly the same way as full time income. What changes is how it is taxed depending on the source.

Part time income commonly comes from:

• A second job alongside main employment

• Self employed or freelance work

• Casual or zero hours contracts

• Online selling or side hustles

• Rental income alongside employment

Each of these is taxed differently, and this is where confusion often starts.

When you probably do not need an accountant

There are situations where managing your own tax affairs is genuinely straightforward.

From my experience, you may not need an accountant if:

• You have one PAYE job, even if it is part time

• All tax is deducted correctly through payroll

• You have no other income sources

• You are not required to submit a Self Assessment tax return

In these cases, HMRC usually collects the right amount of tax automatically, and there is very little ongoing admin. Many people in part time PAYE roles never need to interact with HMRC beyond checking their payslip and P60.

If this is your situation, an accountant is usually unnecessary.

When part time income becomes more complicated

Where I see people struggle is when part time income sits alongside something else. This is where an accountant often adds real value.

Common examples include earning part time while also being:

• Self employed or freelancing

• Employed and running a small side business

• Employed and earning rental income

• Receiving dividends from a company

• Claiming benefits or tax credits

• Paying student loans

• Receiving Child Benefit at higher income levels

At this point, tax is no longer automatic. You may need to register for Self Assessment, calculate your own tax, and understand how different income types interact.

From my experience, this is where mistakes start happening.

Self Assessment and part time work

A very common misconception is that Self Assessment is only for people earning large amounts. That is not true.

You may need to complete a tax return even if your part time income is relatively modest, particularly if:

• You are self employed and earn over £1,000

• You have untaxed income

• You have more than one job and tax codes are wrong

• You receive income HMRC does not automatically tax

Once you are in Self Assessment, you are responsible for getting the figures right, meeting deadlines, and paying the correct tax on time. This is often the point where people start feeling out of their depth.

Why part time self employment causes problems

Part time self employment is one of the biggest risk areas I see.

People often assume that because it is only a few hours a week it does not really count. Unfortunately HMRC does not see it that way.

Even part time self employment can involve:

• Registering with HMRC

• Keeping proper records

• Claiming allowable expenses correctly

• Paying income tax and National Insurance

• Understanding payments on account

From my experience, people regularly underpay tax simply because they did not realise what they were supposed to do. Others overpay because they miss expenses they are entitled to claim.

This is one of the clearest situations where an accountant often pays for themselves.

How an accountant can help even with small income

One concern I hear a lot is cost. People worry that an accountant will cost more than the tax involved. In reality, that is often not the case.

An accountant can help by:

• Confirming whether you actually need to file a tax return

• Making sure you are registered correctly with HMRC

• Claiming all allowable expenses

• Preventing penalties and late filing fines

• Explaining how much to set aside for tax

• Avoiding surprises at the end of the year

From my experience, peace of mind is a big part of the value. Knowing that your tax is correct lets you focus on earning rather than worrying.

Part time income and tax codes

Another issue that catches people out is tax codes. When you have more than one source of income, HMRC does not always allocate allowances correctly.

I regularly see part time workers overpaying tax because:

• Personal allowances are applied to the wrong job

• Emergency tax codes are left in place

• Side income is not coded properly

An accountant can quickly spot this and help get it corrected, sometimes resulting in refunds that people did not realise they were owed.

Benefits and part time income

If you receive benefits, tax credits, or Universal Credit, part time income can have knock on effects that are easy to miss.

From my experience, people often focus only on tax and forget how extra income affects entitlements. An accountant can help you understand the full picture so you are not caught off guard later.

Do I need an accountant every year?

Not necessarily.

Some people only use an accountant:

• In their first year of part time self employment

• When their income changes

• When they start earning from a new source

• To check that they are doing things correctly

Once everything is set up properly, some clients manage on their own and return for occasional check ins. Others prefer ongoing support. Both approaches are perfectly valid.

Key points to takeaway

From my experience, the question is not really whether you earn part time, but whether your tax situation is simple.

If all your income is taxed correctly through PAYE and nothing else applies, you probably do not need an accountant. If you have multiple income sources, untaxed earnings, or any uncertainty at all, getting advice can save you money and stress even if the amounts involved feel small.

Part time income often grows over time, and putting the right foundations in place early makes everything easier later on. Sometimes a short conversation with an accountant is all it takes to know you are on the right track.

You may also find our guidance on Can I claim expenses for working from home, and How do I record mileage and travel expenses, helpful when reviewing related personal tax questions. For a broader overview of Self Assessment deadlines, reporting, and obligations, you can visit our self assessment guidance hub.