Business
Payroll changes as state pension age rises
Payroll changes as state pension age rises Upcoming changes to the state pension age for men and women will see retirement age increase from 66 to 67 years, affecting payroll and national insurance contributions. From 6 April 2026, the increase will be phased in over the course of two years, meaning that people born between…
Read MoreSmall employers’ relief (SER) rate of compensation for statutory sick pay and other benefits increase from 06 April 2026
Small employers’ relief (SER) rate of compensation for statutory sick pay and other benefits increase from 06 April 2026 Employers who qualify for small employers’ relief (SER) will be able to reclaim a higher percentage from HMRC to offset their costs as the rate increases to 9%. Employers can currently reclaim 92% of employees’ statutory…
Read MoreResearch & Development (R&D) Tax Safeguards
Research & Development (R&D) Tax Safeguards After several years of reform, shifting rules and heightened scrutiny, the government’s decision at the last Budget to keep research and development (R&D) tax relief policy largely unchanged for a second consecutive year sent a clear message to industry: the system seems to have entered a more predictable phase.…
Read MoreWarning – VAT registration and Government Gateway fraud
Warning – VAT registration and Government Gateway fraud What is happening? The new scam involves scammers fraudulently linking VAT services to a Government Gateway ID they control, before the genuine business owner has the chance to set these up themselves. The aim of the scam is to submit false VAT returns and divert repayments into…
Read MoreA record £5.7billion tax paid by the top 100 taxpayers in the UK
A record £5.7 billion tax paid by the top 100 taxpayers in the UK The last year has seen a 15% increase in tax paid by the country’s leading taxpayers as total hits £5.7bn in the top 10 taxpayers. The top five alone paid £1.38bn, accounting for a quarter of the total tax paid, including…
Read MoreUK wine duty is becoming the highest in Europe
UK wine duty is becoming the highest in Europe The chancellor recently announced a 15% cut in business rates for pubs and grassroots music venues, however the price of alcohol in pubs and supermarkets is set to increase. The price of wine, spirits, lagers, and ciders is set to rise after the alcohol duty increase…
Read MoreGovernment delays small company filing of Profit and Loss reports beyond 2027
Government delays small company filing of Profit and Loss reports beyond 2027 An overhaul of accounts filing rules has been dropped by the government who have confirmed that an introduction of mandatory ‘software only’ accounts filing will not go ahead in 2027. The ‘software only’ accounts filing and the changes to ‘small company filing options’…
Read MoreGarden Office – What You Need to Know!
Garden Office – What You Need to Know! With people continuing to work from home, many UK business owners, freelancers, and remote workers are eyeing up their garden as the perfect spot for a dedicated home office. But the question is: Can you put your garden office through your business and claim it as a…
Read MoreNational living wage rate goes up 4.1%
National living wage rate goes up 4.1% The government has confirmed above inflation rises in the national living wage with a 4.1% rise, while national minimum wage will go up 8.5% from 1 April 2026. This year’s hike to national living wage is down on last year’s 6.7%, which caught employers off guard. This time…
Read MoreEmployer NI up 23% with a record amount paid of £93.7bn
Employer NI up 23% with a record amount paid of £93.7bn Businesses hit by soaring employer national insurance (NI) raise billions in extra tax for the Treasury in first eight months of the tax year. The latest HMRC figures for November 2025 showed the tax take from employer NI was up 23%, with a record…
Read More