News

Higher rate tax relief on pension contributions

16/04/2025

Want to make the most of your pension savings? You could claim up to 45% tax relief on contributions, plus carry forward unused allowances. Here’s how to boost your retirement pot with generous HMRC incentives. Tax relief on private pension contributions is generally available up to 100% of your annual earnings, subject to specific

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Understanding VAT Bad Debt Relief

16/04/2025

Struggling with unpaid invoices? If you've paid VAT to HMRC but never received payment from your customer, you may be able to reclaim that VAT. Learn how bad debt relief works and whether switching to cash accounting could ease your VAT woes. The VAT bad debt relief provisions enable businesses to reclaim VAT that has been paid to HMRC

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Still time to repay private fuel costs and avoid tax charge

16/04/2025

Use a company car for personal trips? Avoid a hefty tax charge by reimbursing your employer for private fuel by 6 July 2025. It’s called “making good” - and it could save you a chunk in tax if your private mileage is low. To avoid the car fuel benefit charge, an employee must "make good" the cost of all fuel used

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Tax and employee suggestion schemes

16/04/2025

Have you set up a suggestion scheme for ideas that could save or earn you money? Employee suggestion schemes can offer up to £5,000 tax-free for valuable input — and even £25 for smaller efforts. A win for innovation and your employee payslip! An employee suggestion scheme can offer many advantages for businesses, not only in terms

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Tax relief for landlords replacing domestic items

16/04/2025

Swapped an old fridge or carpet in your rental property? Landlords can claim tax relief on replacing domestic items - but not if it's an upgrade! Know the rules and save money by claiming what you are entitled. The replacement of domestic items relief allows landlords to claim tax relief when they replace movable furniture, household

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Statutory Redundancy rights

16/04/2025

Redundant? You could receive up to £30,000 tax-free, whether it’s statutory pay or a better deal from your employer. Know your rights, check the 2025-26 limits, and understand how your age and service affect your payout. There is a tax-free threshold of £30,000 for redundancy payments, regardless of whether the payment is your statutory

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UK Responds to New US Tariffs

14/04/2025

The UK’s Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, has set out the government's position following the United States' recent imposition of new tariffs on UK exports. These include a 10% reciprocal tariff on British goods and a separate 25% global tariff on cars — moves that have prompted concern among UK manufacturers and

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£13.9bn of R&D funding

14/04/2025

The UK government has announced a record-breaking £13.9 billion in research and development (R&D) funding for the coming year. This major investment is designed to drive innovation, create quality jobs, and support long-term economic growth across the country. A large share of the funding, amounting to £8.8 billion, has been

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Employment Restrictions After Termination: Be Cautious

10/04/2025

Kau Media Group (KMG) Ltd. sought to enforce two post-termination employment restriction (PTRs) contained in a contract of employment to restrict Mr. Hart, a former employee, from working for his proposed new employer, MiSmile Media Ltd. (MML). Mr. Hart had worked for KMG from November 2020 to late 2024 as an Account Director. From 2021,

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Tax Diary May/June 2025

10/04/2025

1 May 2025 - Due date for corporation tax due for the year ended 30 July 2024. 19 May 2025 - PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 May 2025. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 May 2025). 19 May 2025 - Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 May 2025. 19 May 2025 - CIS tax deducted

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Child Benefit increases April 2025

10/04/2025

Child Benefit has risen for 2025-26: £26.05 for eldest, £17.25 for others. Claim continues to age 20 in approved education. HICBC still applies for incomes over £60K - but PAYE option coming this summer! The child benefit rates for the only or eldest child in a family increased to £26.05 (from £25.60) for the 2025-26 tax year and the

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Don’t forget to update your NMW and NLW wage rates

10/04/2025

Minimum wage rates rose on 1 April 2025. NLW now £12.21, and big increases for younger workers too. Make sure you're compliant - underpayment can cost up to £20K per worker and a director ban. Time to check your payroll! Employers must ensure they are paying staff at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or National Living Wage (NLW).

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Frozen tax allowances and fiscal drag

10/04/2025

Tax thresholds frozen till 2028? That’s fiscal drag in action - more tax paid without rate rises. It’s a stealthy revenue boost for HM Treasury, projected to bring in £38bn a year by 2029. Inflation and pay rises make it worse. The freezing of tax thresholds often results in a phenomenon known as fiscal drag. When tax thresholds remain

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Checking your tax code for 2025-26

10/04/2025

Do you know what your 2025-26 tax code means? It affects how much tax is taken from your pay or pension. Check now to make sure you're on the right code and not overpaying! Here's what the letters and numbers really mean. You can find your tax code: by checking your tax code for the current year online - you’ll need to sign in to or

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Filing ATED return April 2025

10/04/2025

From April 2025, updated ATED rates apply to residential properties held by companies and other Non-Natural Persons (NNPs). Make sure returns and payments are submitted by 30 April to avoid penalties. Reliefs may apply for commercial use. The Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) applies to NNPs who own interests in residential

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Make the most of trivial benefit payments 2025-26

10/04/2025

Small gifts can mean big tax savings! Use the trivial benefits exemption in 2025-26 to reward employees with non-cash perks under £50 - no PAYE, no P11D, and no NIC. A smart, simple way to say thanks. The rules providing trivial benefit payments provide a great opportunity to give small rewards and incentives to employees in the new

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Dealing with supply line interruptions

07/04/2025

Supply line interruptions can be a nightmare for any business. Whether it’s a delay in deliveries, a shortage of materials, or problems with international shipping, things can grind to a halt fast. But with a bit of planning and a calm approach, you can keep things ticking over and reduce the impact. 1. Know your supply chain inside

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Managing gross profit returns

07/04/2025

Gross profit is one of the clearest indicators of how well your business is performing. It’s the amount left after deducting the cost of goods sold (COGS) from your sales revenue. Managing your gross profit returns well is crucial because it directly affects your bottom line and helps you understand whether you’re pricing correctly,

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