Accounting

Recently, the UK's economic data has sounded the alarm once more. UK retail sales grew by only 1.6% in October 2025. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the unemployment rate rose to 5.0% in the three months to the end of September.

On 26 November 2025, British Chancellor of the Exchequer Reeves announced the highly anticipated Autumn Budget. This Autumn Budget includes several tax measures aimed at businesses and individuals, covering areas such as venture capital, business rates, income tax thresholds, and high-value property taxes.

The UK plans to abolish the tax exemption for low-value parcels by March 2029; the income-tax threshold freeze is pushing millions into higher tax bands, increasing the burden on working households; and net migration has fallen sharply as work and study visa arrivals decline significantly.

We have summarised several effective tax planning methods to help small and medium-sized enterprises legally and efficiently reduce their corporation tax burden and improve financial performance.

From 1 February 2026, Companies House will officially increase the Annual Filing Fee for existing companies and the Incorporation Fee for new companies.

Biggest overhaul of legal migration model in 50 years announced; Rail fares to be frozen for first time in 30 years; UK inflation rate hits lowest level in four months

The reforms are widely regarded as the most significant overhaul of the system since Brexit, with major implications for visa-sponsoring employers, international students and foreign professionals seeking long-term residence in the UK.

From the 2025 tax year, the Benefit-in-Kind regime will undergo several changes: higher tax rates for electric vehicles, reclassification of certain car models, and the upcoming introduction of the ‘payrolling’ system for real-time taxation of benefits.

Labour will abandon its plan to raise income tax in the upcoming budget; Black Friday spending in the UK may reach £14 billion amid rising scam risks; and ticket-resale platform Viagogo has been hit with a £15 million tax demand.

The 2025 Autumn Budget is scheduled for 26 November, more than a month later than last year. The following are among the most discussed possibilities.

If you plan to start a business or are already operating from commercial premises, business rates are a crucial tax to understand in addition to company registration, accounting and tax filing. Business rates are closely tied to your eligibility for Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR).

Millions of UK social media users may face £100 tax penalty risks; HMRC is reviewing the suspension of 23,500 child benefit payments; and the Bank of England expects inflation has peaked while maintaining current interest rates.

Under current UK law, life insurance payouts are not automatically exempt from Inheritance Tax. Whether they are taxed depends entirely on how the policyholder and beneficiaries are arranged. The key factor is whether the payout forms part of the deceased’s estate.

Whether transferring all your shares or disposing of part of the business assets, the key question you’ll face is: how much tax will you need to pay when selling a business in the UK. This does not only involve Capital Gains Tax (CGT) but also requires careful planning around available reliefs and the compliance of the transaction structure.

In recent years, QR codes have become an indispensable part of daily life and are increasingly common across the UK. Whether ordering drinks in a bar or paying for parking, a quick scan can complete the transaction within seconds. According to British media reports, in just one year QR scams have cost consumers more than £3.5 million.

More than 1.1 million UK pensioners may soon pay income tax on savings interest; Temu’s EU profit nears $120 million despite having only eight employees, sparking tax controversy; and UK inflation remains unchanged at 3.8% for the third consecutive month.

As winter approaches, heating, electricity and food expenses are expected to climb even higher, potentially pushing more households into debt crises. At the same time, HMRC has announced the restart of its Direct Recovery of Debts (DRD) scheme, which allows the tax authority to deduct unpaid taxes directly from individuals’ bank accounts.

Recent UK tax compliance data has sounded the alarm once again: in the past three years, nearly half a million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) repeatedly missed tax deadlines, with as many as 19% admitting they delayed tax payments more than five times in just the past 12 months. A combination of complex tax rules and cash flow pressures is dragging UK SMEs compliance levels down.

UK weather maps show the exact 3 consecutive days snow is forecast in October; Nearly 500 companies have been fined by the government for failing to pay employees the legally mandated minimum wage; Rachel Reeves plots £1bn cut to Motability scheme.

Since April this year, multiple tax increases in the UK have not only added pressure on businesses but also made the cost-of-living challenge for households more severe—water, electricity, and energy bills have all gone up. From October 1, Ofgem has updated the energy price cap, increasing the average annual household bill by £35.14 to £1,755.14 (up from the £1,720 rate effective since July).