Practical guides for UK businesses

Accountant for Contractors and Freelancers: What You Actually Need in 2026/27

A contractor or freelancer needs four things from an accountant in 2026/27: the right structure for the way you work (sole trader, your own limited company or an…

Yoni Finke21/09/2026

Do I Need an Accountant as a Sole Trader? An Honest Answer for 2026/27

No. There is no legal requirement for a UK sole trader to have an accountant. You can register for Self Assessment yourself, keep your own records and file…

Yoni Finke14/09/2026

How to Switch Accountants in the UK: It Takes One Email

Switching accountants in the UK takes one email from you. You tell the new firm you want to move, they write to your old accountant for professional clearance…

Yoni Finke07/09/2026

How Much Does an Accountant Cost in the UK in 2026?

Most UK small businesses pay between £25 and £150 a month for an accountant in 2026, or £150 to £400 as a one-off fee for a self assessment…

Yoni Finke31/08/2026

MTD for Income Tax for Landlords: The Complete 2026 Guide

MTD for Income Tax became mandatory on 6 April 2026 for landlords whose gross property and self employment income was over £50,000 in 2024/25: you must keep digital…

Yoni Finke28/08/2026

The £60,000 Child Benefit Trap: How the High Income Charge Works in 2026/27

If your adjusted net income tops £60,000 in 2026/27 and you or your partner claim Child Benefit, HMRC claws back 1% of it for every £200 you are…

Yoni Finke24/08/2026

Companies House Identity Verification: What Every UK Director Must Do in 2026

Every UK company director and person with significant control (PSC) now has to verify their identity with Companies House, and if you were appointed before 18 November 2025…

Yoni Finke17/08/2026

Tax on Rental Income: What UK Landlords Pay in 2026/27

Landlords pay Income Tax at 20%, 40% or 45% on their rental profits in 2026/27, and the first £1,000 of rental income each year is tax free under…

Yoni Finke10/08/2026

Payroll & Employment

Employee Share Schemes: Pros and Cons for 2026/27

Employee share schemes let you offer your team a genuine stake in the business they are helping to grow, and HMRC actively rewards the well-structured versions with some…

Yoni Finke05/08/2026

Filing Your 2025/26 Tax Return Early: Six Good Reasons Not to Wait for January

You can file your 2025/26 Self Assessment tax return right now, and filing early does not mean paying early: whatever you owe is still not due until 31…

Yoni Finke03/08/2026

Tax & Compliance

How to Register for VAT: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2026

You register for VAT online through HMRC, and it becomes compulsory once your taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000, or you expect it to…

Yoni Finke27/07/2026

How to Form a Limited Company in the UK: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2026

You form a limited company by registering it with Companies House, which costs £100 online and is usually complete within 24 hours. Before you start you will need…

Yoni Finke20/07/2026

Sole Trader vs Self-Employed: What’s the Difference?

If you are a sole trader, you are self-employed. The two are not alternatives you pick between. "Self-employed" describes your status with HMRC: you work for yourself rather…

Yoni Finke14/07/2026

How to Register for Self Assessment: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2026

You register for Self Assessment through the free HMRC service on GOV.UK, and if you started earning untaxed income during the 2025/26 tax year, you must tell HMRC…

Yoni Finke13/07/2026

Xero vs QuickBooks vs FreeAgent: Which Is Right for Your Business in 2026?

If you are choosing accounting software in 2026, the honest answer is that Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent will all handle the basics well, so the right one usually…

Yoni Finke06/07/2026

Allowable Expenses for Limited Companies: What You Can Claim in 2026/27

Your limited company can deduct any cost it runs up wholly and exclusively for the business, which lowers the profit you pay Corporation Tax on at 19% or…

Yoni Finke29/06/2026

Do I Need to File a Tax Return? A 2025/26 Guide for the UK

You need to file a Self Assessment tax return for the 2025/26 tax year if any of these applied to you between 6 April 2025 and 5 April…

Yoni Finke22/06/2026

Accountant in MediaCityUK and Salford Quays: Your 2026/27 Tax Guide for Freelancers, Agencies and Startups

MediaCityUK and Salford Quays have quietly become one of the busiest pockets of small business activity in Greater Manchester. Production companies, design studios, podcast makers, software startups and…

Yoni Finke21/06/2026

Allowable Expenses for the Self-Employed: What You Can Claim in 2026/27

If you are self-employed, you can deduct any cost that is wholly and exclusively for your business before working out the tax you owe, which directly lowers your…

Yoni Finke17/06/2026

Selling Online and Side Hustles: When You Need to Tell HMRC in 2026

You only need to tell HMRC about your online selling if it counts as trading and your gross income tops £1,000 in a tax year. Selling off your…

Yoni Finke15/06/2026

News & Updates

Bank of England Base Rate at 3.75%: What It Means for You

The Bank of England base rate is 3.75%, where it has sat since December 2025. The Monetary Policy Committee held it again on 18 June and 30 July…

Yoni Finke13/06/2026

Limited Company Pension Contributions: The £60,000 Allowance

Your limited company can pay up to £60,000 a year into your pension as an employer contribution, with full corporation tax relief, no employer or employee National Insurance,…

Yoni Finke08/06/2026

S455 Tax Rise 2026/27: What It Means for Director’s Loans

The s455 charge on overdrawn director’s loan accounts rose from 33.75% to 35.75% on 6 April 2026, tracking the increase in the dividend upper rate. The new rate…

Yoni Finke01/06/2026

Trivial Benefits: The £50 Tax-Free Perk Directors Forget

Trivial benefits are small non-cash perks of £50 or less that your company can give you and your staff completely free of tax and National Insurance, with nothing…

Yoni Finke25/05/2026

Self Assessment Payments on Account: The 31 July 2026 Deadline

Your second Self Assessment payment on account for 2025/26 is due on 31 July 2026, just over a week away. The amount is half of your 2024/25 tax…

Yoni Finke24/05/2026

Payroll & Employment

Employment Allowance 2026/27: How to Claim the £10,500 NI Cut

The Employment Allowance lets eligible employers knock up to £10,500 off their employer National Insurance bill for 2026/27. Most businesses with at least two people on the payroll…

Yoni Finke18/05/2026

Approaching the £90,000 VAT Threshold: What UK Small Businesses Should Do Before They Cross It

You must register for VAT when your taxable turnover for the last 12 months (checked at the end of every month, on a rolling basis) goes over £90,000,…

Yoni Finke17/05/2026