Can I claim professional subscriptions?

For UK sole traders. Checked against gov.uk on 8 July 2026.

Yes, if it's your trade.

Trade and professional journals and subscriptions are claimable as other business expenses.

HMRC's wording for the other-business-expenses box includes "trade or professional journals and subscriptions". A professional body membership tied to the trade you carry on, a trade magazine, an industry directory listing: claimable.

Two neighbours to keep straight. Software subscriptions are claimable but live with office costs on the return, not with trade subscriptions. And an entertainment subscription with a research justification, Netflix included, has a personal purpose: dual-purpose costs fail the test in full.

Quick answers

My professional body membership?
Yes, when it relates to the trade you're carrying on.

Netflix or Spotify, for research?
No. Watching and listening is personal too, and dual-purpose spending is disallowed in full.

Where do software subscriptions go?
Claimable, but as office costs, a different box from trade and professional subscriptions.

Compliance first.Every figure checked verbatim against gov.uk, with the date on the page

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Sources: HMRC's SA103F Notes 2026 (Boxes 23 and 30) and the Business Income Manual (BIM35800; BIM37007). Checked on 8 July 2026.