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Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for IT) will become mandatory in phases from April 2026. If you are self-employed or a landlord and have over £50,000 in qualifying income you need to start preparing to submit quarterly updates, keeping digital records and cope with a new penalty system.Your qualifying income is the total income you receive in a tax year from self-employment and property. Other income, such as from employment (PAYE), partnerships or dividends (including from your own company), do not count towards your qualifying...

If you earn fees or sell goods as a side hustle, you may need to pay tax on your profits. HMRC has launched a new press release encouraging Christmas crafters and anyone with a fee earning hobby to check their tax reporting obligations as part of its Help for Hustles campaign. This is relevant to individuals earning extra income, whether from crafting Christmas decorations, selling festive items at market stalls, or upcycling furniture for seasonal sales. Those earning more than £1,000 in total from these activities may need to report their...

A demerger involves splitting the trading activities of a single company or group into two or more independent entities. This can be facilitated by distributing the assets of a holding company to its shareholders. There are special statutory demerger provisions that are designed to make it easier to divide and put into separate corporate ownership the trading activities of a company or group of companies. An exempt demerger will be deemed to occur under these provisions. As a result, the distribution is typically exempt from Income Tax and...

While there are many state benefits available, it is not always clear which of these are taxable and which are tax-free. HMRC’s guidance outlines the following list of the most common state benefits which are taxable, subject to the usual limits: Bereavement Allowance (previously Widow’s Pension) Carer’s Allowance or (in Scotland only) Carer Support Payment Contribution-Based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Incapacity Benefit (from the 29th week you receive it) Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) Pensions Paid by the Industrial Death...

Claiming Child Benefit can provide an important benefit by granting National Insurance credits. If you claim Child Benefit and your child is under 12, you will automatically receive National Insurance credits. This in turn will protect your contribution record during periods of home responsibility. The child benefit rates for the only or eldest child in a family is currently a weekly amount of £26.05 and the weekly rate for all other children is £17.25. Child Benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks. There is no limit to how many children...

If you use your own money to buy items for work, you may be eligible to claim tax relief as long as the items are essential for your job and are used solely for work purposes. Flat rate expenses (also known as a flat rate deduction) allows you to claim tax relief for a fixed amount each tax year to cover the costs of work clothing and tools required for your job. This tax relief reduces the amount of tax you owe. For example, if you claim a flat rate expense of £60 and pay tax at a 20% rate, you will pay £12 less in tax. When claiming a flat...

The claimant began employment as a Contracts Coordinator on 23 January 2023, subject to a contractual 6-month probationary period, one which required 5 weeks' notice for termination. The contract included a garden leave clause, but no clause permitting Payment in Lieu of Notice (PILON). Disputes soon arose over his work patterns and behaviour, and by 22 February 2023, the claimant had emailed the respondent detailing an irrevocable breakdown in trust and confidence. On 3 March 2023, HR obtained authorisation to dismiss the claimant, citing...

The daily charge for driving within the London Congestion Charge zone will rise from £15 to £18 from 2 January 2026. This is the first increase in several years and forms part of Transport for London’s wider plan to manage traffic levels, improve air quality and support sustainable travel across the capital. Transport for London has said that without an updated charge the central zone is likely to experience a noticeable increase in vehicle volumes during the next year. The higher charge is intended to discourage unnecessary journeys, smooth...

Many small businesses rely on a mix of overdrafts, card facilities and short term loans to maintain day to day cash flow. During the past year banks and alternative lenders have become more cautious, and several indicators suggest that credit conditions will tighten further during 2026. For business owners, a little early preparation can make a noticeable difference. Lenders are placing greater emphasis on consistent record keeping, realistic forecasts and clear evidence that a business understands its cash cycle. This means that up to date...

The Department for Business & Trade has recently published a report that outlines the government's enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) for the 2024–25 financial year.The Government is committed to ensuring that all workers receive the minimum wage to which they are entitled, and HMRC enforces this on its behalf through a strategy known as ‘Promote, Prevent and Respond’.The 'Promote' strategy aims to address non-compliance due to lack of understanding rather than deliberate underpayment, focusing on...