Self Assessment Deadline Approaching
Are You Ready? The deadline for filing your 2024/25 Self Assessment tax return is fast approaching. You must submit your return and pay any tax due by 31 January 2026 to avoid penalties and interest. To meet the deadline, you will need to make sure you have: Filing early not only helps avoid last minute […]
Dividend Tax Rates Rising in April 2026
What Does It Mean for Profit Extraction? The recent Budget confirmed that dividend tax rates will increase from April 2026. The ordinary and upper rates of dividend tax will both rise by 2%. For many small and medium-sized companies, dividends are central to how owners pay themselves. With the tax rates rising, your pay […]
NCSC Launches Free Cyber Action Toolkit
Practical actions to help businesses boost security The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has launched a new free Cyber Action Toolkit to help small businesses strengthen their cyber defences in a simple and affordable way. The toolkit has been designed for businesses that may not have in-house IT expertise or large security budgets, offering clear, […]
New National Minimum Wage Rates Confirmed
Payroll costs to increase again in April 2026 The government has announced the new minimum wage rates that will come into force from 1 April 2026. The new rates are as follows: Current rate New rate Aged 21 and over £12.21 £12.71 Aged 18 to 20 £10.00 £10.85 Aged under 18 £7.55 £8.00 Apprentice […]
Work Starts on Setting Minimum Wage Hourly Rates for 2026
Prepare for potential increases The Government has published the official remit for the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to begin its work on setting the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) rates that will apply from April 2026. While the final figures won’t be confirmed until later in 2025, the direction of […]
Government Unveils Roadmap for Employment Rights Bill
What are the implications for your business? Following publication of the Employment Rights Bill in October 2024, the government has published a comprehensive implementation roadmap. The roadmap outlines a phased timeline for one of the most significant overhauls of UK employment law in decades. Aimed at raising living standards and strengthening workplace protections, it’s […]
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 […]