Recover, Reset and Get Ahead of Your Next Self Assessment in February
- Tori Lynn Crowther
- Jan 9
- 5 min read
Recover, Reset and Get Ahead of Your Next Self Assessment in February
A calm, sensible month for dog pros who never want another January panic again
January is finally over.
You survived the tax deadline, the cold, the “I’ll pay you next week” clients and possibly a mild emotional wobble somewhere around the 28th.
Now comes February — the most underrated month in the self-employed calendar.
February isn’t about filing tax returns.
It’s about making sure next January is easier, cheaper and far less stressful.
If you’re a self-employed dog walker, groomer or trainer, this is the month where good professionals quietly get ahead… while everyone else forgets about tax until it jumps out from behind the sofa next winter.
Let’s make February work for you.
1. First: Decompress (Yes, This Is Business Advice)
Before we talk spreadsheets, take a moment to acknowledge something important:
You’ve just:
Filed a Self Assessment
Paid a tax bill (possibly including payments on account)
Kept your business running while doing it
That deserves a biscuit. Possibly two.
February is not about beating yourself up for what you didn’t do last year — it’s about calmly setting things up so future-you doesn’t hate past-you.
2. Review This Year’s Tax Return (While It’s Still Fresh)
Most people file their return and never look at it again.
Professionals do something different.
In February, ask yourself:
What surprised me about my tax bill?
Were my records messy or fairly tidy?
Did I forget expenses and remember them after I’d filed?
Did I panic-file, or feel reasonably in control?
You don’t need an accountant to answer those questions — just honesty.
If you want to look back at your submitted return, you can log into your HMRC account here:
This reflection alone often saves people hundreds of pounds next year.
3. Set Up a “Tax-Ready” System (Simple Beats Fancy)
February is the perfect time to set up systems — because:
There’s no deadline pressure
You remember exactly what went wrong
You’re still motivated (January fear hasn’t worn off yet)
At an absolute minimum, you need:
One place where all business income lands
One place where all business expenses are recorded
A way to track mileage if you drive for work
This can be:
A basic spreadsheet
A notebook and a folder
Accounting software
A separate business bank account
HMRC doesn’t care how you track things — only that you can prove them.
4. Start a “Tax Pot” (Your Future Best Friend)
If you only take one piece of advice from this blog, let it be this:
👉 Open a separate savings account just for tax.
From February onwards:
Put 20–30% of all income into that account
Don’t touch it
Pretend it doesn’t exist
Why?
Because then January stops being terrifying.
This is especially important for:
Dog walkers with fluctuating weekly income
Trainers with course launches
Groomers with busy seasons and quiet spells
When tax money is already set aside, it becomes boring — and boring is good.
5. Know Your Allowable Expenses Before You Spend the Money
One of the biggest mistakes dog professionals make is learning about expenses after they’ve spent the money.
February is the time to get clear.
Common allowable expenses for dog pros include:
Leads, harnesses, long lines, muzzles for client dogs
Grooming tools, blades, clippers, shampoos
Treats used in training (not personal dog snacks — HMRC can tell the difference)
Van or car mileage for work
Professional insurance
First aid courses, CPD, workshops
Uniform with logos
Phone and internet (business proportion)
Marketing, website, software
Cleaning supplies (yes, poo bags count)
HMRC’s guidance on allowable expenses is here:
Knowing this before the year really gets going helps you:
Keep receipts properly
Make smarter purchasing decisions
Avoid under-claiming next January
6. Sort Your Mileage Tracking Now (Not in a Panic Later)
If you drive between clients, mileage is often one of the biggest deductions dog walkers and trainers miss.
HMRC allows:
45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles
25p per mile after that
But only if you can evidence it.
February is the perfect time to:
Start a mileage log
Choose an app
Keep a simple notebook in the van
HMRC mileage guidance is here:
Future-you will thank you for this one.
7. Check Your Payments on Account (Important and Often Confusing)
If your tax bill was over £1,000, you may have made:
A payment for last year
Plus a payment on account for this year
February is a good time to:
Log into HMRC
Check what you’ve already paid
Understand what’s due in July
You can view this in your account here:
If your income is likely to drop this year, you may be able to reduce payments on account — but do this carefully or get advice first.
8. Put Key Tax Dates in Your Diary (Now, While You’re Calm)
February is a great month to set reminders for:
31 July – second payment on account (if applicable)
Monthly or quarterly “tax check-in” dates
5 April – end of the tax year
5 October – registration deadline for new businesses
People who diarise tax dates don’t get fines.
People who don’t… fund HMRC’s Christmas party.
9. Decide: DIY or Get Support?
February is also when many dog pros realise:
“I can do this… but do I want to?”
If January felt overwhelming, this is the month to:
Speak to an accountant
Ask other professionals what they use
Decide if support would free up your time and energy
Accountants are far more relaxed — and often cheaper — outside of January.
10. February Is a Power Move Month
January is reactive.
February is proactive.
By using February to:
Reflect
Set systems
Understand expenses
Ring-fence tax money
…you quietly turn Self Assessment from a yearly nightmare into a routine admin job.
And that is exactly what professional, sustainable dog businesses do.
Next Month?
March is ideal for:
Quarterly reviews
Goal setting
Pricing check-ins (yes, tax affects pricing)
About Tori Lynn C. & The Dog House
Welcome to The Dog House — my cosy corner of the TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub. I’m Tori Lynn C., the founder of TLC Dog Walking Limited, mentor to professional dog walkers, and lifelong advocate for dogs and the people who care for them. With over 17 years of hands-on experience in the industry, my mission is to guide you through the realities of running a successful, sustainable dog walking business — from client care and safety to wellbeing, confidence, and professional growth.
The Dog House is where I share the honest, behind-the-scenes conversations we all need: the tricky moments, the funny bits, the business lessons, and the mindset work that keeps us thriving rather than merely surviving. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, you’ll always find support, guidance, and a friendly nudge forward here.
You’re never alone in this journey — you’re part of a community of canine crusaders.
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