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Although the colour of the rosette has not changed, the views of those now leading the Government appear to have shifted. As a result, there is growing speculation that the announcements within the Autumn 2026 Budget (28-Oct-26) could contain further significant tax reforms, adding to changes already announced for next April (inclusion of pensions within…

HMRC have announced changes to the rules on which trusts are required to register on the Trust Registration Service (TRS). Low-value trusts From 30 June 2026, a new general exemption from the TRS is available for certain low-value trusts.   A trust may qualify under this new exemption if it: Does not hold any UK…

What would happen if your newest employee confidently quoted statistics they couldn’t source, misunderstood a tax rule and always agreed with your ideas? Most business owners would probably treat their work with a degree of caution. Yet that’s often how people use Artificial Intelligence. AI has quickly become part of everyday business life. Whether drafting…

The Department for Education has confirmed the updates to student loan interests for the 2027/28 tax year.   The major change sees an increase in the threshold from £26,900 to £28,005 for Plan 1 (loans taken out between 1998 & 2012) borrowers before they start making repayments. Interest rates on the loans are based against…

For many years, pensions have enjoyed a unique advantage in estate planning. Savings, investments and property would normally be included in an individual’s estate for Inheritance Tax (IHT) purposes. Unused pension funds could often pass to beneficiaries outside the scope of IHT. As a result, many people preserved their pension wealth for as long as…

With much of England now experiencing drought conditions, many farmers are facing the reality of reduced grass growth, lower forage availability, pressure on water supplies and concerns around crop performance. DEFRA has recently published guidance and support available to help farmers manage the ongoing dry weather.   For many farming businesses, the priority right now…

The first Making Tax Digital for Income Tax filing deadline was on 7th August. HMRC have released some early statistics. They have also confirmed plans to automatically register taxpayers required to complete quarterly submissions from 26/27 who have not yet registered.   HMRC Statistics HMRC have announced that more than 570,000 taxpayers are now signed…

HMRC is stepping up its use of data analytics and “nudge letters” to identify individuals who may have omitted income, gains or other relevant information from their personal tax returns. HMRC is increasingly able to spot discrepancies and contact taxpayers before launching a formal enquiry. They do this by comparing Self Assessment returns against: Data…

From Trainee Accountant to Payroll Queen! On 31st July, we celebrate an incredible achievement as Ruth marks 25 years at Whitings. That’s right—Ruth has been here so long that when she started, people actually used paper for payroll and nobody knew what a Teams meeting was.   When did Ruth start at Whitings? Ruth joined…

Your Will Covers Your Assets. Does Anyone Know How To Access Them? Estates used to arrive in a box. Bank statements, share certificates, a building society passbook, maybe a bundle of Premium Bond numbers. More and more of them now arrive as a phone that nobody can unlock. That shift has created a quiet problem…