u/Frosty-Number2822

not sure if this is the right place to ask…..

have been employed my whole working life and now want to switch up and start contracting, but the issue I face is that I have no idea how to actually do it? I’ve been in my IT field about 10 years and get requests/offers for contract work constantly through LinkedIn and only now starting to consider it

there’s bits im assuming such as:

• set up own Ltd company
• invoice client the agreed day rate

things I have no clue about are:

• does the agreed day rate include VAT or do I add that on?
• how do I maximise net pay and pay as little tax as possible?
• do I pay myself as dividends after a certain amount?
• do I need an accountant to sort all my tax?
• how do I even work out how much tax I pay?
• once I start this as a Ltd company am I filing lte company stuff every year and if so, how easy/difficult is this to do?