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Tax Diary February/March 2026

1 February 2026 - Due date for Corporation Tax payable for the year ended 30 April 2025.19 February 2026 - PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 February 2026. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 February 2026)19 February 2026 - Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 February 2026.19 February 2026 - CIS tax deducted for the month ended 5 February 2026 is payable by today.1 March 2026 - Due date for Corporation Tax due for the year ended 31 May 2025.2 March 2026 – Self-Assessment tax for...

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MTD for Income Tax – what’s required from April 2026

From April 2026, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for IT) will become mandatory for many self-employed persons and landlords, marking a significant change in how they manage their tax affairs. The new regime is designed to modernise the tax system by requiring taxpayers to interact with HMRC through an online tax account, rather than relying solely on an annual self-assessment return. Initially, MTD for IT will apply to individuals with qualifying income of more than £50,000 a year from self-employment and/or property. From 6 April 2027,...

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What is the advance tax certainty service?

If your business is planning a major UK investment, HMRC’s new advance tax certainty service could give you binding clarity on the tax position before you commit. HMRC has recently published draft guidance on the new advance tax certainty service as part of the government’s Corporate Tax Roadmap at the Autumn Budget 2024, where the Chancellor set out plans for a new HMRC service to give major investment projects clarity on how tax law will apply in advance. As part of the Autumn Budget 2025 measures last November, it was confirmed that the new...

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Creative Industry Corporation Tax reliefs

If your business works in film, TV, games or the arts, Creative Industry Tax Reliefs could reduce your Corporation Tax bill and may even generate a payable tax credit. Creative Industry Tax Reliefs (CITR) are a range of UK Corporation Tax reliefs designed to support companies operating in the creative sector. The reliefs allow qualifying companies to increase the amount of allowable expenditure when calculating their taxable profits, thereby reducing the Corporation Tax they are required to pay. Where a company is loss-making, it may be...

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Expenses for the self-employed

If you are self-employed, knowing which everyday costs you can legitimately claim can make a real difference to how much tax you end up paying. The question of which costs you can claim against your self-employed business is a common one. If you are self-employed it is important to be aware if an expense is allowable or not. Any allowable costs can be used to reduce your taxable profit. HMRC lists the following office expenses as being allowable: office costs, for example stationery or phone bills travel costs, for example fuel, parking,...

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Pre-trading expenditure for companies

Starting a new business can be expensive, but many of your pre-trading costs may qualify for tax relief if they meet the right conditions. There are special tax reliefs for pre-trading expenses that are incurred before a business starts trading. This could include expenses that are required to help a business prepare for trading such as buying stock and equipment, renting premises, getting insurance and initial advertising expenditure. A deduction may be allowed where the following conditions are met: The expenditure is incurred within a...

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Company information in the public domain

Did you know you can monitor any UK company for free and get email alerts when key details change, which can help protect your own business from unexpected or unauthorised filings? A significant amount of information about companies is available in the public domain from Companies House. Companies House is responsible for incorporating and dissolving limited companies, examining and maintaining statutory records, and making company information publicly accessible. Much of this information is available free of charge, in line with the...

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Company liquidations and insolvencies are still elevated

The Insolvency Service data for England and Wales shows monthly company insolvencies remain high by historical standards, even though they move up and down month to month. For example, November 2025 recorded 1,866 registered company insolvencies, down on October 2025 and also below the same month a year earlier. The wider context matters, monthly totals through 2025 have generally been slightly higher than 2024, but lower than 2023, which saw a 30 year high in annual insolvencies. New company formations: still strong, but down on the prior...

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Pre-tax year end planning

Pre-tax year end planning is one of the most practical and controllable ways for UK businesses and higher rate taxpayers to reduce unnecessary tax exposure. Unlike long term restructuring, it focuses on decisions that can still be influenced before 5 April or, for companies, before the accounting year end. When done properly, it is not about aggressive schemes, it is about making sure allowances, reliefs and timing opportunities are not wasted. Why timing matters The UK tax system is sensitive to timing. Income, expenses, capital purchases...

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The scope of the trivial benefits legislation

The trivial benefits legislation provides a simple and practical tax exemption that allows employers to give small non-cash benefits to employees without triggering tax or National Insurance charges. To qualify as a trivial benefit, the cost to the employer must not exceed £50 per item. The benefit must not be cash or a cash voucher and must not be provided as a reward for work or as part of the employee’s contractual entitlement. It must also not be provided in recognition of particular services performed. Typical examples include modest...

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