The last day of January and the self-assessment deadline is a key date in the calendar of the self-employed, yet new research from investment management firm Fidelity International has shown the UK’s freelancers, contractors and so-called ‘gig economy’ workers find it one of the most daunting days, if you’re working for yourself.

Researching the self-employed, gig workers and employed across England, Scotland and Wales, Fidelity discovered that half (50 percent) of the self-employed and gig workers found the concept of dealing with HMRC and taxes a worrying aspect of their work. 

For those in em...