Each year we a get tax free allowances:
NI Free £8,164
Tax Free Salary £11,500
Capital Gains Tax Allowance £11,300
Rent a Room £7,500
Dividend Allowance £5,000
Personal Savings Allowance £1,000
Then there are many other tax saving opportunities like tax free childcare https://stevejbicknell.com/2016/08/19/childcare-3-part-report-for-childcare-providers-and-parents/
Plus tax free benefits https://stevejbicknell.com/2016/09/21/are-you-making-the-most-of-tax-free-benefits/
Have you tried to use these allowances?
What if you set out each year to take advantage of these tax free opportunities?
You would need your own business to be able to restrict your earnings to £8,164 or £11,500 as National Minimum Wage would mean you will get pay levels above these £7.50 x 37.5 hours x 52 weeks = £14,625, however, directors can pay themselves below NMW.
To use the Capital Gains Allowance you are going to need to have assets to sell and make a gain
Rent a Room is achievable especially if you take in students
Dividend Allowance is great if you have your own company
Everyone should be able to use the PSA
Why not sit down and work out how you could maximise the use of the tax free allowances that are available