Employer’s NI at 15%: Five Legal Ways Small Employers Can Soften the Blow
The increase in employer National Insurance has led to an increase in the cost of employing people in the UK. As of 6 April 2025, the secondary rate for Class 1 employer National Insurance is 15%, as against 13.8% before the rise. In addition, the Secondary Threshold was lowered from £9,100 to £5,000 annually. The […]
What Expenses Can Directors Claim in 2026/27? A Practical Guide
The 2026/27 tax year runs from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. For any expense, directors should ask why it was incurred, whether it was for business purposes, and whether HMRC’s rules and limits allow it.
HMRC Tax Investigation Letter? Do These Three Things First
Receiving a letter from HMRC saying it wants to check your tax affairs can be worrying. It is natural to assume something serious has gone wrong. However, an HMRC tax investigation letter does not automatically mean you have done anything wrong, let alone deliberately.
Switching Accountants: The 3-Step Process (We Handle Your Old Firm)
Most business owners put off changing accountants because they expect an awkward conversation and a pile of paperwork. In practice, switching accountants in the UK takes three steps, and your new accountant does most of the work.
Earning £30k+? You Join Making Tax Digital in April 2027: Prepare Now
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax could apply to you from 6 April 2027 if you are a sole trader, a landlord, or both, with qualifying income of over £30,000 in the 2025/26 tax year.
Hiring Your First Employee: PAYE, Pension and Payslips Step by Step
Hiring your first employee is a big step in growing any small business. You will need to register as an employer with HMRC, run payroll, set up a workplace pension and issue compliant payslips.
Accounting Without the Jargon: Your Year-End Accounts in Plain English
Year-end accounts can look complicated when they are full of terms such as balance sheet, accruals, liabilities, retained profit and depreciation. You do not need to be an accountant to understand what your company’s accounts are telling you.
Dividend Tax Went Up in April: How Directors Should Pay Themselves Now
Paying yourself as a company director is not the same as moving money from the company account to your own. How you take the money decides how much tax is paid, by you and by the company, and how much you actually keep.
Companies House ID Verification: Deadlines Are Rolling. Are You Verified?
If you are a director or a person with significant control (PSC) of a UK company, verifying your identity with Companies House is now a legal requirement. The rules took effect on 18 November 2025. That date was the start of a 12-month transition period, not a deadline. The transition period ends on 18 November […]
Landlords: MTD Applies at £50k Now — and £30k From April 2027
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is now a matter that landlords must plan for and has already been implemented for those whose qualifying income exceeds the amount of ￡50,000, with this figure to be reduced to ￡30,000 as of 6 April 2027.
