For many taxpayers, the second Self-Assessment payment on account for the 2025-26 tax year falls due on 31 July 2026. While the January payment often receives most attention, the July instalment can arrive surprisingly quickly, particularly for business owners, landlords and self-employed individuals who have experienced fluctuating income or increased costs during the year. Planning […]

Working capital is the difference between a business’s current assets, such as cash, stock and money owed by customers, and its current liabilities, such as supplier invoices, taxes and other short-term debts. In simple terms, it measures a business’s ability to meet its day-to-day financial obligations and continue operating smoothly.Why working capital mattersMany profitable businesses […]

While the government recently hit the pause button on those big Companies House changes until 2028, another massive digital shake-up is already here. As of April 2026, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD ITSA) is officially live for thousands of self-employed people and landlords across the UK. If your gross business or property income […]

What Smaller Businesses Need to Know The UK government has officially delayed major changes to small business and micro-entity accounts filing under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) from April 2027 to April 2028. This delay grants small businesses exactly one full accounting year and nine months of breathing room. However, directors […]

Another rising cost for businesses Many business owners are continuing to face increasing financial pressure during 2026 and concerns over possible business rates increases are adding to the uncertainty. For retail businesses, hospitality operators, offices, workshops and many other commercial premises, business rates remain a significant fixed cost which can have a major impact on […]

A useful point to review your business For many businesses, summer provides a useful opportunity to pause and take stock before the pressures of the autumn trading period and the approach of the tax year end begin to dominate attention again. The first half of 2026 has brought continuing financial pressures for many owner-managed businesses. […]

Businesses are being urged to remain alert after Companies House and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) issued a joint warning about unsolicited payment requests and misleading invoices being sent to UK companies. According to the government announcement, some businesses are receiving letters and emails that appear official and request payment for services connected with Companies […]

For many years, employees and directors using their own cars for business journeys have relied on HMRC’s approved mileage allowance rates as a simple way to recover motoring costs. However, despite the recent increase in the approved rate from 45p to 55p per mile from 6 April 2026, many motorists may still find themselves substantially […]

Dividends are taxed differently from other types of income, with separate allowances and tax rates that depend on your overall level of income. You do not pay tax on dividends that fall within your Personal Allowance (2026-27: £12,570), and there is also a separate tax-free dividend allowance of £500 each year. Any dividend income above […]