• Selling a second property?

    CGT on certain UK residential property sales often has a strict 60-day reporting and payment deadline, so early planning can avoid penalties. If you are selling a second property, such as a buy-to-let or a former home that is no longer your main

  • Struggling to meet tax payments this month?

    With the balancing payment and first payment on account both due on 31 January 2026, it is worth checking your options early if funds are tight. The final balancing payment for the 2024-25 tax year is due by 31 January 2026, which is also the

  • Basis period reform – spreading rules for payment

    If your business has transitional profits from basis period reform, spreading over five years may reduce the cash flow impact, but it is important to understand the deadlines. The self-employed basis period reform has changed the way trading income

  • What factors affect a person’s credit rating?

    A person’s credit rating (often referred to as a credit score) is a measure used by lenders to assess how reliably someone manages borrowing and financial commitments. It can affect whether credit is offered at all, the interest rate charged and even

  • What banks look at when a small business applies for a loan

    When a small business applies for a bank loan, the bank is mainly trying to answer one question, “How likely is it that we will be repaid, on time and in full?” To reach that decision, they will review a mix of financial evidence, trading

  • Tax Diary February/March 2026

    1 February 2026 – Due date for Corporation Tax payable for the year ended 30 April 2025.19 February 2026 – PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 February 2026. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 February 2026)19 February

  • Pre-trading expenditure for companies

    Starting a new business can be expensive, but many of your pre-trading costs may qualify for tax relief if they meet the right conditions. There are special tax reliefs for pre-trading expenses that are incurred before a business starts trading.

  • Expenses for the self-employed

    If you are self-employed, knowing which everyday costs you can legitimately claim can make a real difference to how much tax you end up paying. The question of which costs you can claim against your self-employed business is a common one. If you are

  • Creative Industry Corporation Tax reliefs

    If your business works in film, TV, games or the arts, Creative Industry Tax Reliefs could reduce your Corporation Tax bill and may even generate a payable tax credit. Creative Industry Tax Reliefs (CITR) are a range of UK Corporation Tax reliefs

  • What is the advance tax certainty service?

    If your business is planning a major UK investment, HMRC’s new advance tax certainty service could give you binding clarity on the tax position before you commit. HMRC has recently published draft guidance on the new advance tax certainty service as