The government is pressing ahead with Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax – and it will affect many sole traders and landlords over the next few years. Here’s what’s changing, when it’s changing, and how to get ready. What is MTD for Income Tax? Under MTD, sole traders and landlords whose “qualifying income”...
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England have reduced the Bank Rate to 4% (previously 4.25%). The decision was made by a narrow 5-4 majority and required 2 votes. This perhaps highlights the uncertainty that continues in the economy. What Factors Led to the Reduction? The MPC’s report shows that they...
HMRC have identified an issue affecting some Self Assessment taxpayers in relation to Class 2 National Insurance contributions (NICs) for 2024/25. Some self-employed taxpayers with profits above £12,570 have seen a Class 2 NICs charge of £358.80 added to their accounts when they shouldn’t have been. In some circumstances it will be less. HMRC say that...
HMRC are pushing ahead with the implementation of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, set to commence from 6 April 2026. Legislation Day saw the publication of draft MTD legislation, which makes the following recently-announced changes to the planned regime: • More individuals will be exempt from MTD – Ministers of religion, Lloyds...
Employees who join their employer’s pensions salary sacrifice scheme stop paying pension contributions and instead sacrifice part of their gross salary in return for higher employer pension contributions. This means that both employers’ and employees’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs) are saved whilst maintaining the same amount of pensions savings. This is because employers’ pension...
“What’s the most tax-efficient way to take funds out of my company?” is perhaps the most common question put to accountants by their owner-managed company clients. The answer used to be simple: “Take a salary up to the level of the personal allowance and take the rest as a dividend”. Unfortunately, we are no...
If you’re considering buying a property, especially as an investment, one of the key decisions you’ll face is whether to hold it personally or through a limited company. This choice can have long-term tax, financial, and administrative implications, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Here’s a look at some of the main considerations. Tax on...
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have released their latest figures on the take-up of Tax-Free Childcare. For the 2024-25 tax year, almost 826,000 families saved up to £2,000 per child. During March 2025, 579,560 UK families used the scheme, a 16% increase on the number using the scheme in March 2024. What is Tax-Free...
If you run your own company, you might have the option to take a bonus either as salary or as a dividend. But which one leaves you better off? The answer depends on several factors: how much profit your company has, your existing income, the current rates of tax and National Insurance, and whether...
P11D forms for reporting expenses and benefits in kind provided to employees and directors in 2024/25 need to be submitted by 6 July 2025. Note that paper forms are no longer acceptable; the return must be made online using PAYE Online for employers or commercial software. Remember that reimbursed expenses no longer need to...