News

Basis period reform – spreading rules for payment
22/01/2026 - More...
If your business has transitional profits from basis period reform, spreading over five years may reduce the cash flow impact, but it is important to understand the deadlines. The self-employed basis period reform has changed the way trading income is allocated to tax years. Under these reforms, the basis of assessment moved from a

Struggling to meet tax payments this month?
22/01/2026 - More...
With the balancing payment and first payment on account both due on 31 January 2026, it is worth checking your options early if funds are tight. The final balancing payment for the 2024-25 tax year is due by 31 January 2026, which is also the deadline for filing your self-assessment tax return. This payment will settle any remaining tax

Selling a second property?
22/01/2026 - More...
CGT on certain UK residential property sales often has a strict 60-day reporting and payment deadline, so early planning can avoid penalties. If you are selling a second property, such as a buy-to-let or a former home that is no longer your main residence, CGT will usually apply. This is different from selling your main home, which is

Saving tax using the Marriage Allowance
22/01/2026 - More...
If one partner earns under £12,570, you could transfer part of their unused personal allowance and cut your tax bill by up to £252 a year. The Marriage Allowance applies to married couples and civil partners where one partner does not pay Income Tax, usually because their income is below the personal allowance. For the 2025-26 tax year,

Annual payroll reporting chores
22/01/2026 - More...
There are a number of annual payroll reporting issues that employers are required to complete. With the tax year ending on 5 April 2026, this means there are several key payroll reporting chores that will need to be considered over the coming months. One of the main requirements is submitting a final PAYE return for the tax year. The

Corporation Tax 19% or 25%?
22/01/2026 - More...
If your company profits sit between £50,000 and £250,000, marginal relief can soften the jump from 19% to 25% Corporation Tax. The Corporation Tax main rate applies to companies with taxable profits above £250,000 and is currently set at 25%. Companies with profits of up to £50,000 are subject to the Small Profits Rate, which remains at

Spring Statement 2026
22/01/2026 - More...
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has confirmed that she will deliver the Spring Statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday, 3 March 2026. The Spring Statement is used to give an update on the state of the economy and will respond to the economic and fiscal forecast published by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The Spring

Take care when labelling a bonus as discretionary in a contract
22/01/2026 - More...
The High Court recently ruled on the interpretation and enforceability of "discretionary" bonus provisions in employment contracts. Mr. Gagliardi brought a breach of employment contract claim against a former hedge fund which had contracted him as a senior portfolio manager. The contract in question included a salary, a sign-on payment, a

What banks look at when a small business applies for a loan
19/01/2026 - More...
When a small business applies for a bank loan, the bank is mainly trying to answer one question, “How likely is it that we will be repaid, on time and in full?” To reach that decision, they will review a mix of financial evidence, trading performance and the overall risk profile of the business. A key factor is affordability.

What factors affect a person’s credit rating?
19/01/2026 - More...
A person’s credit rating (often referred to as a credit score) is a measure used by lenders to assess how reliably someone manages borrowing and financial commitments. It can affect whether credit is offered at all, the interest rate charged and even the size of deposit required for certain products. Although each lender uses its own

Tax Diary February/March 2026
16/01/2026 - More...
1 February 2026 - Due date for Corporation Tax payable for the year ended 30 April 2025.19 February 2026 - PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 February 2026. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 February 2026)19 February 2026 - Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 February 2026.19

MTD for Income Tax – what’s required from April 2026
15/01/2026 - More...
From April 2026, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for IT) will become mandatory for many self-employed persons and landlords, marking a significant change in how they manage their tax affairs. The new regime is designed to modernise the tax system by requiring taxpayers to interact with HMRC through an online tax account, rather

What is the advance tax certainty service?
15/01/2026 - More...
If your business is planning a major UK investment, HMRC’s new advance tax certainty service could give you binding clarity on the tax position before you commit. HMRC has recently published draft guidance on the new advance tax certainty service as part of the government’s Corporate Tax Roadmap at the Autumn Budget 2024, where the

Creative Industry Corporation Tax reliefs
15/01/2026 - More...
If your business works in film, TV, games or the arts, Creative Industry Tax Reliefs could reduce your Corporation Tax bill and may even generate a payable tax credit. Creative Industry Tax Reliefs (CITR) are a range of UK Corporation Tax reliefs designed to support companies operating in the creative sector. The reliefs allow qualifying

Expenses for the self-employed
15/01/2026 - More...
If you are self-employed, knowing which everyday costs you can legitimately claim can make a real difference to how much tax you end up paying. The question of which costs you can claim against your self-employed business is a common one. If you are self-employed it is important to be aware if an expense is allowable or not. Any

Pre-trading expenditure for companies
15/01/2026 - More...
Starting a new business can be expensive, but many of your pre-trading costs may qualify for tax relief if they meet the right conditions. There are special tax reliefs for pre-trading expenses that are incurred before a business starts trading. This could include expenses that are required to help a business prepare for trading such as

Company information in the public domain
15/01/2026 - More...
Did you know you can monitor any UK company for free and get email alerts when key details change, which can help protect your own business from unexpected or unauthorised filings? A significant amount of information about companies is available in the public domain from Companies House. Companies House is responsible for incorporating

Company liquidations and insolvencies are still elevated
12/01/2026 - More...
The Insolvency Service data for England and Wales shows monthly company insolvencies remain high by historical standards, even though they move up and down month to month. For example, November 2025 recorded 1,866 registered company insolvencies, down on October 2025 and also below the same month a year earlier. The wider context matters,

Pre-tax year end planning
12/01/2026 - More...
Pre-tax year end planning is one of the most practical and controllable ways for UK businesses and higher rate taxpayers to reduce unnecessary tax exposure. Unlike long term restructuring, it focuses on decisions that can still be influenced before 5 April or, for companies, before the accounting year end. When done properly, it is not

The scope of the trivial benefits legislation
08/01/2026 - More...
The trivial benefits legislation provides a simple and practical tax exemption that allows employers to give small non-cash benefits to employees without triggering tax or National Insurance charges. To qualify as a trivial benefit, the cost to the employer must not exceed £50 per item. The benefit must not be cash or a cash voucher and

New First Year Allowance from 1 January 2026
08/01/2026 - More...
The new 40% First Year Allowance (FYA) for qualifying main-rate plant and machinery expenditure first announced at Autumn Budget 2025 has now come into force. Effective from 1 January 2026, the new FYA applies to qualifying main-rate plant and machinery expenditure. It was also announced at the recent Autumn Budget 2025 that the main

Changes to Agricultural and Business Property Relief reforms
08/01/2026 - More...
The government recently announced significant changes to the planned reforms to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR). The threshold for 100% relief will be increased from £1 million to £2.5 million when the changes take effect from 6 April 2026. The change will be introduced via an amendment to the Finance

Did you file your tax return over the festive period?
08/01/2026 - More...
HMRC’s figures show thousands of taxpayers are filing over the festive period, but leaving your return until late January risks penalties, stress and avoidable payment problems. A new press release by HMRC has highlighted that 4,606 taxpayers took the time to file their tax return online on Christmas Day with a further 10,479 taxpayers

Company car expenses and benefits – what’s exempt?
08/01/2026 - More...
While company cars often come with tax implications, there are specific situations where the associated benefits may be exempt. There are circumstances where it can be possible to offer employees car benefits that are exempt from tax. Exempt expenses and benefits include the following: Business-only use: This rule has been the subject