Accounting

Do you know which supermarket is the cheapest in the UK?Aldi has once again been named the cheapest UK supermarket for a standard basket of groceries. However, according to the latest survey by consumer group Which?, Lidl briefly overtook Aldi last month, claiming the top spot as the UK’s cheapest supermarket for the first time since 2023. However, the lead didn’t last long. Aldi quickly reclaimed its position as the cheapest supermarket, pushing Lidl back into second place.

When living and working in the UK, most people associate October with two familiar events: the clocks going back for winter time and Halloween. But there is something far more important than ‘trick or treat’ for many – the critical deadline for self-assessment tax registration. Most employees in the UK pay tax automatically through the PAYE system.

Many UK business owners will already be aware of upcoming compliance changes. Companies House has confirmed that identity verification will soon be compulsory for company directors and persons with significant control (PSCs). This month, the agency officially announced the implementation date. From 18 November 2025, company directors and PSCs will be required to provide a personal code when filing registration documents.

HMRC to resume taking tax owed by debtors directly from their bank accounts; The government has announced plans to introduce a digital ID system across the UK; Starmer denies putting seven-acre field in trust to avoid inheritance tax

Fast fashion giant Shein has delivered a striking performance in the UK market. In 2024, its sales surged by 32.3% year-on-year to surpass £2.05 billion (around USD 2.77 billion). This result has already pushed Shein ahead of Boohoo and close to overtaking Asos. The figures come from a report filed by Shein’s UK subsidiary with Companies House, revealing how it has managed to win over millions of fans in one of the world’s most competitive retail landscapes.

One of the main advantages of setting up a limited company in the UK is that shareholders can receive income through dividends. Compared with salary, dividends are taxed at lower rates, which can reduce overall personal tax liabilities. For example, in the 2024/25 tax year, each shareholder benefits from a £500 dividend allowance. Beyond this, dividend income is taxed according to the individual’s income tax band. This means that once income exceeds the personal allowances (£

State pension likely to rise by 4.7% in April! Temu’s UK operation doubles revenues and pre-tax profit! Reeves plots ‘taxi tax’ as borrowing costs soar

Home Office data shows that the UK received 111,000 asylum applications in the year to June 2025 – a 14% increase on the previous year, and higher than the previous peak in 2002. Many people ask: where does the money for asylum seekers and refugees actually come from? Is it funded directly by taxpayers’ contributions?

HMRC raises small business ‘phoenixing’ tax loss to £836mn！150,000 people join 'Unite the Kingdom' march in London! UK economy saw zero growth in July

With remote and hybrid working now a widespread trend, tax issues for homeworking employees are increasingly in focus. HMRC has recently clarified that anyone incorrectly claiming tax relief for working from home when they are not eligible could face a substantial repayment bill.

UK Deputy Prime Minister admits to underpaying property tax and steps down; UK rents hit a record high with the cheapest regions revealed; Shein faces a UK tax storm as billions in revenue “flow” to Singapore.

According to HMRC’s latest annual report, a record 46,266 tax penalties were cancelled in the past year. These penalties were originally issued for late filing, but in many cases the taxpayers involved did not actually owe any tax. Automatic late filing penalties can be appealed In the UK, if you miss the filing deadline for Self Assessment or VAT returns, both individuals and businesses are automatically issued with a penalty notice.

Against the backdrop of high taxes and rising living costs in the UK, many people choose to build up their wealth through savings interest or investment products. What some may not realise, however, is that while savings capital itself is not taxed, the interest earned on savings is subject to taxation – this is known as the tax on savings interest. In recent years, the tax burden on British savers has grown heavier.

Britain’s pension system is under mounting pressure, with millions of retirees already struggling to make ends meet and younger generations at risk of even greater hardship in the future. Recent data from the International Longevity Centre (ILC) and the Pensions Policy Institute paints a stark picture of a nation facing a deepening retirement crisis.

HMRC has officially announced new rules – from 1 January 2026, tax reporting requirements for crypto assets will tighten significantly, and tax evasion will face severe penalties.

Protests have recently broken out outside migrant hotels across the UK, with public anger over illegal immigration continuing to escalate. In addition to safety concerns and the controversy over hotel costs, the UK faces a worsening housing crisis, which has become a major source of frustration for citizens and legal immigrants alike.

Following significant progress made by the G7 nations on the global minimum tax and the crackdown on multinational tax avoidance, the United States has agreed to remove Section 899 – a retaliatory tax clause against foreign companies – from the Big Beautiful Bill. This move spares UK-based businesses from what could have been an enormous additional tax burden.

According to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), annual food inflation in June rose to 3.7%, up from 2.8% in May – the largest monthly increase in nearly a year. The price hike breakdown: ‘climate tax’ and ‘policy tax’ on the dinner table.

Under Rent a Room Scheme, if you live in a UK property and rent out a furnished room in your main home, you could effectively boost your tax-free income to £20,070 per year.

One of this summer’s most talked-about limited editions in the UK has undoubtedly been the strawberry and cream sandwich from Marks & Spencer (M&S). However, this viral hit has unexpectedly triggered a VAT (Value Added Tax) controversy, which could prompt an investigation by HMRC – and may even mean that some consumers have overpaid tax. Why are so many choosing to dip into their pension pots early rather than waiting until full retirement age?