Most business owners do not set out to be reactive. It just happens. A customer needs something urgently, a staff member calls in sick, a supplier increases prices, a bank balance looks tighter than expected, and suddenly the day has gone. You have been “busy”, but you have not moved the business forward in any […]
Running a business is a steady stream of decisions, but some choices carry far more weight than others. The most difficult business decisions are usually the ones where there is no perfect answer, just trade-offs. They often involve risk, uncertainty, and a fear of getting it wrong. For many business owners, the hardest decisions are […]
The Spring Statement on 3 March 2026 is best thought of as an official “state of the economy” update, rather than a full Budget. It is the point in the tax year when the Chancellor reports on how the UK economy and public finances are performing and confirms whether the government is still on track […]
The UK government has confirmed the revised terms of its wide-ranging workers’ rights reform programme, now enacted through the Employment Rights Act 2025. Although some of the original proposals have been softened, the legislation still represents the most significant change to UK employment law in many years. For business owners and employers, the key issue […]
For many taxpayers, an increase in income feels like a straightforward positive. Higher earnings should mean more disposable income, even after paying a bit more tax. In practice, the UK tax and benefits system does not always work that way. There are a number of income thresholds built into the system where allowances and state […]
In December 2025, HM Revenue and Customs announced the finalists in a competition aimed at helping close the UK tax gap. The initiative forms part of HMRC’s wider effort to modernise tax administration and improve its ability to identify and address deliberate tax evasion. The announcement signals a growing reliance on external innovation and data […]
In late 2025 the government confirmed a significant change of direction on inheritance tax reliefs for farmers and family owned businesses. Following sustained criticism of earlier proposals, ministers announced an increase in the threshold at which full inheritance tax relief applies to qualifying agricultural and business assets. The move has been widely described as an […]
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, or should have known, was connected to fraud. In these circumstances, HMRC will have […]
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 from CGT is Private Residence […]
The new rules will allow companies to raise more capital under the following schemes although investors will need to factor in reduced VCT Income Tax relief when assessing opportunities. The Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) and Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) are designed to encourage private investment into trading companies. Both schemes help support business growth while at […]