• Bank of England delivers narrow vote rate cut

    The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) last met on 18 December and, in a narrow 5-4 vote, decided to reduce the interest rate by 25 basis points, bringing it down to 3.75%. All four dissenting members voted to keep the rate at 4%. This

  • Student jobs paying tax

    Students that work may need to pay Income Tax and National Insurance. Employers are required to calculate the amount of tax they need to pay on the basis that the students would be working for the rest of the tax year. This means that an overpayment

  • Could you claim the Small Pool Allowance?

    Writing-down allowances (WDAs) are a type of capital allowance that let you deduct a percentage of an asset’s value from your taxable profits each year. In some cases, you may be able to claim more relief using other capital allowances, such as the

  • Selling your UK home and living abroad

    If you live abroad and sell your UK home, you may have to pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on any gain made since 5 April 2015. Only the portion of the gain made after 5 April 2015 is liable for tax. One of the most commonly used and valuable exemptions

  • Extension of FYA for zero-emission cars and charge points

    An extension of First-Year Allowances (FYA) for zero-emission cars and charge points was announced as part of the recent Budget measures. This means that the 100% FYA for qualifying expenditure on zero-emission cars, and electric vehicle (EV) charge

  • Construction Industry Scheme changes

    As part of the Budget measures, the government confirmed plans to make some changes to the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS). From 6 April 2026, HMRC will be able to take immediate action where a business makes or receives a payment that it knew,

  • Employers may now be personally liable for unfair dismissal claims

    A recent ruling has increased the scope of statutory protection for whistleblowers to include covered detriments against co-workers under the Employment Rights Act 1996. A Mr. Rice was dismissed by his company owner on the grounds of redundancy in

  • Funding options for asset acquisition

    Acquiring new assets is often essential for small businesses looking to grow, improve efficiency or remain competitive. Whether the investment is in vehicles, machinery, IT systems or specialist equipment, choosing the right funding method can have a

  • Cash flow pressures

    Cash flow remains one of the most pressing concerns for small businesses, even where trading appears stable. Many businesses are finding that rising costs, cautious lenders and slower customer payments are combining to create ongoing pressure on day

  • Tax Diary January/February 2026

    1 January 2026 – Due date for Corporation Tax due for the year ended 31 March 202519 January 2026 – PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 January 2026. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 January 2026).19 January 2026 –