News

August 27, 2026

Cost of business crisis for British SMEs

UK businesses are facing a “cost of business crisis”, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Its new cost-stack calculator shows government policy alone has pushed up an average firm's expenses by 70% over the past decade, adding roughly £827,000 a year in costs for a typical mid-sized business. About a quarter of the rise stems from the increase in employer National Insurance contributions, with the higher minimum wage and mandatory pension auto-enrolment also major contributors.

August 26, 2026

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax first quarter statistics published

Under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, sole traders and landlords with income of more than £50,000 have been required to keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC since 6 April 2026.

February 19, 2026

CMA Moves to Secure Fairer App Store Rules for UK Businesses

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced a set of proposed commitments from Apple and Google that could make it easier for UK businesses that rely on app stores to reach their customers.

February 18, 2026

DBS Launches New Safeguarding Podcast for Employers

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has launched a new weekly podcast series, ‘DBS discussions: Safeguarding in Focus,’ aimed at employers, HR teams and anyone working in safeguarding.

February 16, 2026

HMRC Moves to GOV.UK One Login for New Users

HM Revenue & Customs has started using GOV.UK One Login for taxpayers signing up to its digital services for the first time.

February 12, 2026

One Million Miss the Tax Return Filing Deadline

HMRC has estimated that around a million people missed the 31 January 2026 Self Assessment tax return filing deadline.

February 11, 2026

CMA Proposes New Rules to Give Businesses More Control Over Google Search

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced a set of proposed measures aimed at increasing fairness, transparency and choice for businesses and consumers using Google’s search services in the UK.

February 9, 2026

Deadline Approaching for Business Rates Valuation Checks

Enterprises that pay business rates are being encouraged to check their current property valuation and make sure the details held by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are correct.

February 5, 2026

Business Confidence Falls Again as Tax Concerns Reach Five‑Year High

The latest Business Confidence Monitor, an Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales survey, shows confidence continuing to fall. Confidence has now fallen for six consecutive quarters and is now at its lowest since the final three months of 2022.

February 4, 2026

VAT Flat Rate Scheme: Could It Work for You?

If you are a small VAT-registered business, how you calculate your VAT could make a real difference to your cash flow and the time you spend keeping records.