Shareholders Agreements and Why They Are Important
The importance of a shareholders agreement For limited companies, when it comes to making decisions, Company Law states shareholders who own more than 50% can pass a motion at a company meeting regardless of the views of other shareholders and if a shareholder(s) owns 75% or more of the shares they, control the company outright…
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How high could interest rates rise?
Earlier this month the Bank of England (BOE) raised interest rates for a 12th consecutive time as the rate of rising prices remains high. The Bank rate has gone up from 4.25% to 4.5%. The BOE has been under pressure to put rates up because it has a target to keep inflation at 2%, but…
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High Income Benefit Charge Catching You Out?
Mistakes made when claiming higher rate child benefit are most frequently the result of poor communication from HMRC and it is more difficult for those with complex, fluctuating earnings The high income child benefit charge (HICBC) raised £416m in 2019-20 but it is a hard tax charge to administer as many of the families affected…
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Virtual Christmas Party
Due to the coronavirus restrictions, you may be unable to host your usual Christmas Party for your employees. We are pleased to confirm that the annual parties’ exemption (s264 ITEPA03) will apply to the costs associated with virtual parties in the same way that it would for traditionally held parties. Therefore, subject to the normal…
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Spring Tax Update
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax letters With just one month to go before the first tranche of individuals are required to sign up to MTD for income tax, HMRC is writing to taxpayers it believes might be affected From April 2026, sole traders and landlords with qualifying income above £50,000, based on the information…
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Bank Reconcilitation
What is Bank Reconciliation? Bank reconciliation is still one of the most important activities on the bookkeeping and the financial statements. Bank reconciliation is the process of matching the bank balances reflected in the cash book of a business with the balances reflected in the bank statement of the business in a given period. Such…
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Time to Pay Your Tax
Paying Your Tax The tax return deadline approaching there will be some people among us that need to settle our tax liabilities by 31 January annually. This comes at a time when some people will have cashflow problems as this is just after Christmas when the credit card bill have arrived and most of us…
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Construction Industry Scheme Hints and Tips
Registering for Construction Industry Scheme When you register for the scheme, it will come with registering for a PAYE (pay as you earn) scheme with HM Revenue & Customs. You must submit a return even if you do not pay anyone working for you for the month known as a nil return. If you are…
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Gifts
🎁 1. Gifts to Clients, Customers, Suppliers As we approach Christmas time there are particular rules around gifts and the tax rules assiocated with them General rule:These are classed as “business entertainment” by HMRC, so costs are non-deductible and no VAT reclaim, unless they meet strict exceptions. [gov.uk], Exceptions (for deductibility and VAT reclaim): If…
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November 2026 Budget
Understanding simple assessments If you owe income tax that cannot be collected automatically via PAYE, such as tax on bank interest or the state pension, HMRC may send you a simple assessment notice This letter shows how much tax HMRC believe you owe based on information they hold. It is important to check the figures…
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Payroll
Managing payroll in the UK is more than just paying employees—it’s about staying compliant with evolving regulations, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring your team is paid correctly and on time. Whether you’re a small business owner or part of a larger organisation, understanding the payroll landscape in 2025 is essential. What Is Payroll? Payroll is…
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10 VAT Questions
Should I be VAT Registered Navigating VAT (Value Added Tax) registration can be confusing for small business owners, freelancers, and startups. Here’s what you need to know to decide whether you should register. You must register for VAT with HMRC if: This threshold applies to standard-rated, reduced-rated, and zero-rated goods and services. It excludes VAT-exempt…
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Autumn Tax
Advisory fuel rates If you reimburse fuel or charging costs for employees using a company car for business travel there will be no taxable profit and no Class 1A national insurance, provided the mileage amount paid does not exceed the advisory rates From 1 September 2025 the advisory rates per mile for non-electric vehicles are:…
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What Is a Director’s Loan Account (And Why Does It Matter)?
Director’s Loan Accounts (DLAs) can be a helpful financial tool for small business owners, but they can also cause unexpected tax problems if not managed correctly. Whether you’re lending money to your company, withdrawing funds for personal use, or just trying to keep everything straight, it’s important to understand how DLAs work—and the tax rules…
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