The way families make Child Benefit repayments to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is changing. From the summer, many families will have the option to report their Child Benefit payments and pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) directly through their PAYE tax code instead of filing a Self-Assessment tax return. How will it […]

57 per cent of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have warned of rising costs over the next quarter, according to Intuit QuickBooks’ latest Small Business Insights survey. Given this startling figure, all businesses should take care to manage cash flow constraints caused by inflation. Boost financial awareness across your staff Financial awareness should not just […]

The UK Government has confirmed that it will reduce green levies for energy-intensive industries. These cuts aim to drive growth in key sectors, such as manufacturing and clean energy. What are green levies? A green levy is an environmental charge added to energy bills to help fund renewable energy projects and reduce carbon emissions. For […]

While the 2025 Spending Review focused on long-term investment rather than introducing new taxes, the scale of spending suggests that future tax rises are likely. Where have the Government recently invested funds? The Chancellor pledged multi-year funding for health, defence and public infrastructure, setting departmental budgets until 2028–29. Key announcements included: Defence spending to rise […]

It is not uncommon for directors of a company to take loans from the business during each financial year, often to cover unexpected bills. However, you must keep track of any directors’ loans – money withdrawn from the company that is not a salary, dividend, or business expense repayment or a loan made by a […]

How much State Pension you get depends on your National Insurance (NI) record when you reach the State Pension age. Gaps in your NI record could affect how much you receive. Unfortunately, too many sole traders are still missing out on the full State Pension due to a range of factors. Why are National Insurance […]

On 8 April 2025, Companies House introduced identity verification for those who make filings on behalf of a business. It is currently a voluntary process, but will become mandatory for new businesses by the end of the year and mandatory for everyone within 12 months of their most recent filings. Who needs to verify their […]

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded the UK’s 2025 GDP growth forecast to 1.2 per cent, citing a strong first-quarter performance and signs of a recovering economy. The official figures indicate that increases in customer spending and business investment have contributed to this economic growth. These early signs of recovery present an opportunity to […]

Public borrowing hit £20.5 billion in April, the highest level for that month since 1993 and nearly £3 billion above forecast. Economists warn the Chancellor may have little choice but to plug the gap with tax rises, spending cuts or changes to fiscal rules if elevated levels of borrowing persist. While nothing is confirmed, several […]

Receiving a Kittel VAT notice is something that many businesses dread. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) can demand the repayment of tax already reclaimed, and this can sometimes amount to a significant amount of money. The notice comes when a trader “knew or should have known” their transaction was linked to fraudulent evasion of VAT. […]