Changes to Bereavement Forms
HMRC has completed a long-overdue overhaul of the forms and associated guidance used to report chargeable events on which inheritance tax (IHT) is due on a trust. Previously, if you needed to report IHT due on gifts or trusts you had to complete the ‘one-size-fits-all’…
Furnished Holiday Lettings Regime Abolished
HMRC has published draft legislation explaining how the abolition of the special tax rules for furnished holiday lettings (FHLs) will work. From 6 April 2025 for sole traders and partnerships, or 1 April 2025 for companies, properties currently classed as FHLs will no longer benefit…
RTI Reporting Changes Delayed
HMRC has delayed planned changes to real-time information (RTI) reporting requirements for employee hours worked. Draft legislation was published in May aimed at improving the range of data collected by HMRC. The proposed changes will require businesses to provide more detailed information to HMRC via…
Making Tax Digital: Jointly Owned Property
From April 2026, sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 will have to comply with the Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax requirements. Quarterly updatesMandated taxpayers will need to use third party MTD-compliant software to keep digital records and file quarterly summaries…
Tax Refunds No Longer Automatic
HMRC is no longer automatically issuing cheques to refund PAYE overpayments. It is common for employed taxpayers to get to the end of the tax year and find that they have under- or over-paid income tax via PAYE. These discrepancies are calculated by HMRC at…
Corporation Tax Small Profits Rate
Certain types of company are not eligible to apply the small profits rate for corporation tax, regardless of their profit levels. On 1 April 2023, the main Corporation Tax (CT) rate was increased from 19% to 25%. A small profits rate of 19% was introduced…
Workplace Nurseries
Providing a nursery can be a powerful way to attract and retain staff, with childcare costs in the UK among the highest in the world. Tax relief is available to employers providing workplace nurseries if certain criteria are met. These requirements are strict; many childcare…
Cash Basis By Default
From 6 April 2024 the cash basis has replaced accruals as the default method for preparing sole trader and partnership accounts for tax purposes. Previously, only unincorporated businesses with total receipts below £150,000 were entitled to opt out of accruals and file their accounts with…
Basis Period Reform: Additional Profits
From 6 April 2024 all unincorporated businesses (sole traders and partners in a partnership) are required to report profits or losses in line with the tax year. Businesses with an accounting period end other than 5 April or 31 March will need to report pro-rated…
Reporting Rules for Digital Platforms
From 1 January 2024 online platforms such as websites, online marketplaces and apps that allow individuals and businesses to sell items and services are required to collect and report seller information and income to HMRC. If you sell items through eBay, Etsy, Facebook or another…
Major R&D Scheme Overhaul
A new merged research and development (R&D) scheme has come into effect for periods beginning on or after 1 April 2024. The new scheme unifies the old R&D expenditure credit (RDEC) for large companies and the small and medium entity (SME) relief schemes. In line…
Consider restarting child benefit
The clawback threshold for the high-income child benefit charge (HICBC) was increased to £60,000 from 6 April 2024. If you are entitled to child benefit and your or your higher-earning partner’s adjusted net income (ANI) is above £60,000 it is possible that you will have…