CMA Tackles Fake Reviews
How to avoid being caught out The Competition and Markets Authority has launched investigations into five companies to tackle fake and misleading online reviews. The investigations will examine how reviews are obtained, the way they are moderated and displayed and the star ratings that people rely on. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 […]
Three Practical Tips to Deal with Late Payments
Minimise your stress when collecting payments If you run a small business, you will know that late payments can quickly turn from an irritation into a full-blown cash flow problem. The government’s response to the recent late payments suggests that there will soon be additional legislation to help deal with the problem. In the meantime, […]
Government Responds to Late Payments Consultation
First look at proposed changes to support businesses The government has published its response to the late payments consultation that ran from July to October last year. It is estimated that late payments cost the UK economy £11 billion every year, and most businesses are familiar with the pain of dealing with late payments. Here […]
Boost in Grants for Installing EV Chargers
Savings of up to £500 available The government has announced an over 40% increase in charge point grant amounts that will mean businesses, landlords and renters could save up to £500 on installing an electric vehicle (EV) charge point. Previously, the grant provided a discount of £350. The uplift could cover almost half the typical […]
FSB Updates Guidance on Employers’ Liability Insurance
Help in checking your insurance arrangements The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has recently updated its guidance on Employers’ Liability insurance – a useful reminder of the rules and risks around a business insurance that is legally required in the UK. The guidance explains that if you employ anyone – including part-time, temporary, or even […]
How to Protect Sensitive Personal Information
New guidance published by NCSC The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published new guidance to help businesses identify and protect against the risks of holding sensitive personal information. The guidance can help you to understand what sensitive personal information is and identify any that your business holds. It also provides some principles that, if […]
Chancellor Releases 2025 Spending Review
Takeaway Points for Your Business The Chancellor unveiled her Spending Review in June setting out how government departments will allocate money over the coming years. While much of the focus was on large-scale public services like the NHS and schools, there are some important signals here for businesses to take note of – both in […]
Government Targets £7.5 Billion in Unpaid Tax
Focus on Business Compliance The government has announced plans to raise an additional £7.5 billion by stepping up efforts to close the tax gap – the difference between the tax HMRC expects to collect and what is actually paid. Figures published on 19 June show that £46.8 billion in tax went unpaid in the 2023-24 […]
Inflation on the rise again
What the latest figures mean for businesses The latest inflation figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) for October 2024 rose to 2.3%, up from 1.7% in September. This marks the first increase in inflation since July, and it has sparked interest among business owners, economists, and […]
Tax on property you inherit
If you inherit property, you are usually not liable to pay tax on the inheritance you receive. This is because any Inheritance Tax (IHT) due should be paid out of the deceased’s estate before any cash or assets are distributed to the estate beneficiaries. The rate of IHT currently payable is 40% on death and […]