Latest General Practice

The UK government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative aims to modernise the tax system by requiring individuals and businesses to maintain digital records and submit regular updates to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Initially, MTD for Income Tax Self-Assessment (ITSA) was set to apply to sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000 from April…

Happy New Tax Year!   Now that the new tax year has begun it is time to look at taking advantage of the tax opportunities provided by the renewal of your tax allowances whilst also being the best time to gather and prepare your information for the previous tax year (2024/25).   We will be…

After being fixed at £85k for the last 8 years, w.e.f 1 December 2025, the FCA are consulting on increasing the Financial Services Compensation Scheme limit to £110k.   This is a very useful Government protection scheme, giving depositors security up to this level on amounts invested with each bank or building society. In the…

Employment Related Securities (‘ERS’) are securities that are acquired in connection with an employment. The ERS legislation aims to tax as employment income any value received by reason of an office or employment on the acquisition, holding or disposal of shares and other securities.   The term securities is broad and includes shares, debentures, loan…

The 2024 Autumn Budget made several announcements in relation to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) all of which were re-affirmed in the 2025 Spring Statement. Most of these are due to commence from 6th April 2025 and here is a reminder of the changes.   Business Asset Disposal Relief: Business Asset Disposal Relief, previously known under…

From April 2026 the first phase of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax self-assessment (ITSA) begins.   What will this mean for you: If your income from sole trader profits and rental income is over £50k then you will need to start completing quarterly returns to HMRC through software, as well as the year…

Celebrating (sic) its 20th anniversary, HMRC have just set out the Government’s vision for the future of the UK tax authority: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/exchequer-secretary-to-the-treasury-20-years-of-hmrc-reflections-and-looking-ahead   This keynote speech by James Murray, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, has given us advance warning of what specific modernisation and reform changes to the tax system that we might now…

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have issued a warning to UK resident tax payers with over £3,500 in savings interest that they could face unexpected tax bills to 5th April.   HMRC are aware of interest received on savings accounts excluding ISA’s which are tax free and as such know who have exceeded their personal…

Are you aware of how the April NIC increases will effect Directors’ salaries?   From 6th April 2025, increases in Class 1 Employer’s National Insurance will come into effect, with the following changes: Employer’s NIC rate increasing from 13.8% to 15%. The secondary threshold, above which employer’s NIC are due, reducing from £9,100 to £5,000.…

The results are in. HMRC have released their 2025 Self Assessment facts and figures.   The 2025 Self Assessment facts and figures are as follows: 12,026,540 Self Assessment Tax Returns were issued to tax payers 10,887,810 expected tax returns were received by 31 January (90.5% of returns expected – down from 94.5% in 2024) an estimated…