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HMRC has launched an improved online service to make it easier for individuals to register for self-assessment. Anyone who needs to submit a tax return for the first time for the 2025-26 tax year should notify HMRC by 5 October 2026 to avoid a potential penalty.
The new service is available through
Seeking to claw back training costs from wages is common practice. However, a recent ruling has set clearer boundaries as to how this can become an unenforceable restraint of trade. An appellant joined an IT services provider as a trainee quality assurance engineer and entered into an employment
The British Business Bank has launched a £210 million investment fund to help smaller businesses in the South East of England start, develop and grow.
The South East Investment Fund will offer loans ranging from £25,000 to £2 million, together with equity investments of up to £5 million. The area
The Government has announced plans to simplify corporate reporting and reduce the administrative burden placed on UK businesses. It estimates that the proposed reforms could save businesses more than £450 million each year.
The measures are expected to include replacing some paper-based reporting
1 October 2026 – Corporation Tax payment is due for companies with an accounting period ending 31 December 2025, unless the company is required to make quarterly instalment payments.
5 October 2026 – Deadline for notifying HMRC of a new liability to Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax for the 2025-26
Self-employed people can deduct allowable business expenses when calculating their taxable profits. However, where a cost has both a business and private element, only the business proportion can normally be claimed.
For example, if a mobile phone bill is £200 for the year, with £70 relating to
Self-employed people can choose to use simplified expenses to calculate certain business costs using flat rates rather than working out their actual expenses.
The system can save time and make record keeping easier, but it will not necessarily produce the best tax position. It is therefore worth
Employers must make sure their staff receive at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate that applies to them. The correct rate depends on the worker’s age and, in some cases, whether they are an apprentice.
Since 1 April 2026, workers aged 21 and over are entitled to the
A company does not have to be formally closed to become dormant for Corporation Tax. A company is usually considered dormant if it has stopped trading and has no other income, such as investment income.
A new limited company that has not yet started trading can also be dormant for Corporation Tax.
Making a trading loss whilst not ideal can sometimes generate a tax refund. If you are a self-employed individual or a member of a trading partnerships, a trading loss can potentially be set against other income or capital gains. This can reduce the amount of tax payable and, where tax has already