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A recent ruling has increased the scope of statutory protection for whistleblowers to include covered detriments against co-workers under the Employment Rights Act 1996. A Mr. Rice was dismissed by his company owner on the grounds of redundancy in February 2021. Mr. Rice asserted that his dismissal was automatically unfair, given that it was motivated by his protected disclosures. He subsequently applied to amend his claim to include a detriment claim against his owner-employer, alleging that his dismissal was a detriment in contravention of...

1 January 2026 - Due date for Corporation Tax due for the year ended 31 March 202519 January 2026 - PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 January 2026. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 January 2026).19 January 2026 - Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 January 2026.19 January 2026 - CIS tax deducted for the month ended 5 January 2026 is payable by today.31 January 2026 – Last day to file 2024-25 self-assessment tax returns online.31 January 2026 – Balance of self-assessment tax owing...

Cash flow remains one of the most pressing concerns for small businesses, even where trading appears stable. Many businesses are finding that rising costs, cautious lenders and slower customer payments are combining to create ongoing pressure on day to day finances. In our experience, cash flow issues rarely arise from a single event. They tend to build gradually, which is why early visibility and proactive management are so important. Operating costs have increased across most sectors, and these increases now feel structural rather than...

Acquiring new assets is often essential for small businesses looking to grow, improve efficiency or remain competitive. Whether the investment is in vehicles, machinery, IT systems or specialist equipment, choosing the right funding method can have a significant impact on cash flow, tax efficiency and overall financial resilience. Understanding the main options available allows business owners to make more informed decisions.Using existing cash reserves is the most straightforward option. Paying outright avoids interest costs and keeps...

The government announced at Budget 2025 that dividend income, property and savings income, will be subject to new tax rates. These changes will be legislated for through the Finance Bill 2025-26 and will be phased in between April 2026 and April 2027. Dividend income From April 2026, most dividend income will be subject to higher rates of tax. The ordinary and upper dividend tax rates will each increase by two percentage points, rising to 10.75% and 35.75%, respectively. The additional rate will remain unchanged at 39.35%. Property...

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 the same time encouraging individuals to fund these companies. A number of changes to the schemes were announced at Budget 2025 and will apply from 6 April 2026. The...

The June 2025 reforms introduce a £35,000 income limit for keeping the Winter Fuel Payment, with HMRC recovering the payment from those above the threshold. The WFP is a tax-free payment provided by the government to help older people keep warm during winter. The amount of the payment depends on individual circumstances but ranges from £100 to £300. The amount you receive depends on a number of factors including your age and the age of other people living with you. Pensioners whose taxable income exceeds £35,000 will still receive payment but...

Agricultural and business property relief changes that were first announced at Autumn Budget 2024 will come into effect from 6 April 2026. These measures will introduce significant reforms to Business Property Relief (BPR) and Agricultural Property Relief (APR), which provide Inheritance Tax (IHT) relief on qualifying business and agricultural assets. These measures have faced significant criticism for their potential impact on small farms and rural communities. From April 2026, a new £1 million allowance will apply to the combined value of...

The 2027 reforms will shift more responsibility to personal representatives, who may need to manage withholding arrangements and settle any IHT before pension benefits are released. From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included in IHT, meaning that more pension assets could be taxed when someone dies. This is a major change from the current rules, which largely exclude these funds from IHT. Individuals with significant pension savings should review their estate plans carefully. Under the new rules,...

From 6 April 2026, new tax rules will expand workplace benefits relief. The changes will simplify the treatment of certain low-value workplace benefits-in-kind (BIKs), affecting both employers and employees. The changes extend existing exemptions for eye tests, flu vaccinations and home working equipment to include reimbursements, aligning them with current provisions for direct supply. Under current law, employers can provide these benefits tax-free, but reimbursements were excluded. The upcoming changes will ensure that reimbursed expenses...