If your business operates in a sector covered by the Money Laundering Regulations, you must be monitored by a supervisory authority to ensure compliance. This article outlines who needs to register with HMRC for anti-money laundering (AML) supervision. Your business must be registered with a supervisory authority if it operates in a
More...Employers can generally claim tax relief on contributions made to a registered pension scheme by deducting those payments as an expense when calculating their business profits. This reduces the amount of taxable profit and therefore lowers the overall tax bill. For businesses involved in a trade or profession, employer pension
More...Speculation is growing that rates or allowances applied to dividend income may change in the next Budget. The current tax rates for dividends received (in excess of the £500 dividend tax allowance) are as follows: 8.75% for basic rate taxpayers will pay tax on dividends 33.75% for higher rate taxpayers will pay tax on
More...Bereaved spouses who lost service pensions before 2015 have until 15 October 2025 to claim a one-off £87,500 recognition payment. This scheme was launched in October 2023 to help war widows and widowers who lost their service-attributable pensions due to remarriage or entering new relationships before 2015. Since the scheme was launched,
More...Fraudsters are continuing to target taxpayers with scam emails as the deadline for submission of self-assessment returns for the 2024-25 tax year gets ever closer. In the 12 months to 31 July 2025, HMRC received more than 170,000 reports of suspicious contact from the public, of which more than 45,000 related to fake tax refund claims. A
More...Issuing a VAT invoice without registration or authorisation can lead to HMRC penalties, even if it is done by mistake. A penalty may be charged by HMRC when an individual or business issues an unauthorised VAT invoice showing or including VAT without being allowed to do so. The invoice does not need to be a formal VAT invoice; it only
More...Mr. Aslam, a former Metroline employee, applied to another bus company on 13 April 2019, disclosing that he suffered from partial hearing loss, depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress, and was interviewed on 14 May 2019. He disclosed that he had been dismissed by his former employer on the grounds of capability and was actively pursuing
More...Working capital is a simple but powerful measure of a business’s financial health. It is the difference between current assets and current liabilities. In other words, it shows what is left when a business’s short-term debts are taken away from its short-term resources such as cash, stock and money owed by customers. If the result is
More...Every business has a duty to pay tax, whether that is Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE, or personal tax liabilities for the owners. While these payments are predictable, many businesses still find themselves short of cash when the due dates arrive. One way to reduce this risk is to create a cash deposit reserve specifically set aside to cover
More...Paying Corporation Tax? Always use the correct reference or risk delays and penalties. To pay Corporation Tax via online or telephone bank transfer, you can use either a UK or overseas bank account. UK Bank Accounts You can transfer funds using Faster Payments, CHAPS, or Bacs, either online or by calling your bank. Faster Payments
More...Not all goods and services carry a 20% VAT, knowing the right rate can save costly mistakes. When a VAT-registered business issues an invoice to their customer, they must ensure that they charge the correct rate of VAT. Whilst most businesses in the UK charge VAT at the standard rate of 20% there are a number of different VAT rates and
More...Using your own car or bike for work travel? You may be able to claim tax relief for business mileage. If you are employed and spend your own money on items needed for your job, you may be eligible to claim tax relief on those expenses. However, you can usually only claim tax relief on items that are exclusively used for work
More...Not sure if a business cost is deductible? HMRC’s ‘wholly and exclusively’ rule is the key test. When deciding whether an expense is deductible or not it is important to bear in mind that the expenditure must be incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of your trade or employment. This is a difficult starting point as there is
More...Thinking of gifting income to a spouse or partner? HMRC’s settlements rules may still tax it as your own. The settlements legislation is contained in s.624 ITTOIA 2005. The legislation seeks to ensure that where a settlor has retained an interest in property in a settlement then the income arising is treated as the settlor’s income for
More...Thinking of starting a company at 16? Know the rules, risks and responsibilities before you take the leap. The Companies Act 2006 does not set a minimum age for shareholders, meaning even minors can hold shares unless a company’s articles of association explicitly state otherwise. However, the minimum age for a company director in the UK
More...The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves has confirmed, in a video message, that the next UK Budget will take place on Wednesday, 26 November 2025. Details of all the Budget announcements will be made on a special section of the GOV.UK website which will be updated following completion of the Chancellor’s speech in November. HM
More...1 October 2025 - Due date for Corporation Tax due for the year ended 31 December 2024. 19 October 2025 - PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 October 2025. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 October 2025.) 19 October 2025 - Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5 October 2025.
More...From 13 October 2025, access to Companies House WebFiling will require GOV.UK One Login. This replaces the older Government Gateway sign-in and is part of the wider move towards a single, more secure login across government services. When you next log into WebFiling after that date, you will be prompted to connect your existing account
More...Running a small business comes with plenty to juggle, and while insurance might not be the most thrilling task, it is absolutely essential. There is one policy you are legally required to have: employers' liability insurance (EL). If you employ anyone, EL covers legal and compensation costs if someone falls ill or gets injured at work.
More...From 2024, platforms like eBay, Vinted and Airbnb must report seller data to HMRC, so check your tax responsibilities. If you sell goods or services on a digital platform it is important to understand your tax responsibilities. This can apply whether your sales are a part-time income source or your main income. Even casual selling online
More...The letters in your tax code indicate whether you are entitled to the annual tax-free personal allowance. These codes are updated each year and help employers calculate how much tax should be deducted from your salary. For the current tax year, the basic personal allowance is £12,570. The tax code corresponding to this amount is 1257L,
More...Employers must ensure they are paying staff at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or National Living Wage (NLW). The NMW and the NLW are the minimum legal amounts that employers must pay their workers. The latest NMW and NLW rates took effect on 1 April 2025. The current hourly rate for the NLW is £12.21. For those aged 18 to 20, the
More...Gift Hold-Over Relief is a form of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) relief that allows you to defer paying CGT when certain assets, such as qualifying shares, are given away or sold for less than their market value, typically to benefit the recipient. Instead of paying tax at the time of the gift, the gain is "held over" and passed on
More...Gifting assets can cut inheritance tax, but traps like “gifts with reservation of benefit” may undo the plan. The majority of gifts made during a person's lifetime are not subject to tax at the time they are made. These lifetime transfers are known as "potentially exempt transfers" (PETs). A PET becomes fully exempt
More...New rules mean late VAT filings and payments now trigger points, fines and interest charges. The VAT late filing penalties regime changed for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. Under the new system, there are now distinct and separate penalties for late filing of VAT returns and for the late payment of VAT
More...An extended civil restraint order (ECRO) was issued against a prolific Employment Tribunal (ET) litigant for presenting repeated and baseless claims. A Mr. Khan has been described as a prolific litigant, having issued no fewer than 42 largely unsuccessful tribunal claims since 2017. These various failed claims have typically involved
More...Running a small business often feels like walking a financial tightrope. Cash can be flowing in nicely one month, only to dry up the next. With interest rates higher than they were for years and lenders tightening their checks, access to money has become a bigger challenge. That is why focusing on cash flow resilience is so important
More...For many small business owners, finding and keeping good staff is one of the biggest headaches. Recruitment is costly, time-consuming and uncertain. That is why focusing on staff retention is one of the smartest moves you can make. People stay where they feel valued. Pay matters, of course, but many small businesses cannot simply compete
More...Income Tax applies to earnings, pensions, savings, dividends and more, with different bands across the UK nations. Individuals can be liable to Income Tax at any age. There are special rules to stop parents avoiding tax by putting assets into their children’s names. The tables below shows the tax rates you pay in each band if you have a
More...With a £50bn shortfall looming, the Chancellor may need to revisit last year’s Corporation Tax roadmap commitments. As this year’s Autumn Budget approaches, it is an interesting time to revisit the Corporation Tax Roadmap published alongside last year’s Budget on 30 October 2024. The roadmap sets out the government’s plans for
More...From April 2026, the self-employed and landlords must use MTD for IT, but exemptions may apply in limited cases. If you are self-employed or a landlord with income over £50,000, you will need to prepare for digital record keeping, quarterly updates and a new penalty system. While most affected taxpayers will be required to comply, there
More...You can claim tax relief on pension contributions up to 100% of earnings, but exceeding the annual allowance may trigger charges. Tax relief is paid on pension contributions at the highest rate of income tax paid. The first 20% of tax relief is usually automatically applied by your employer with no further action required if you are a
More...From 6 April 2027, new measures first announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 will come into force. These changes will bring most unused pension funds and death benefits into the scope of Inheritance Tax (IHT) from April 2027. This represents a major change to the tax treatment of pensions on death and will significantly broaden the IHT net
More...Employers must report pay and deductions correctly to HMRC, but errors can usually be fixed in your next FPS. Employers need to use payroll software or other payroll services to record employees pay, deductions and national insurance contributions on or before each payday. They also need to consider other deductions such as pension
More...Many business owners see their bank overdraft as a flexible safety net. When cash runs short, the temptation is to ask the bank for a higher limit to keep things moving. While this can provide breathing space in the short term, relying on overdrafts to cover trading losses is one of the riskiest financial strategies a business can
More...In every market, businesses face competition. Some competitors may be larger, others may have deeper pockets, but gaining a competitive advantage is not always about size or spending power. It is about finding ways to stand out, deliver value, and build loyalty in ways that others cannot easily copy. The starting point is understanding
More...Company directors have a legal duty to act responsibly and in the best interests of their business. If a director fails to meet these responsibilities, they can face disqualification from acting as a company director for up to 15 years. Disqualification can result from ‘unfit conduct,’ which includes actions such as trading while
More...If you cannot pay your tax bill, it’s crucial to contact HMRC as soon as possible. They may offer support through a Time to Pay arrangement, allowing you to repay your debt in instalments based on your financial situation. Ignoring the debt can lead to enforcement action, including visits to your home or business by HMRC or the use of
More...The Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA) is a pension rule designed to prevent individuals from gaining double tax relief on pension contributions. It targets situations where someone withdraws money from their defined contribution pension pot and then reinvests it, effectively receiving tax relief on the same funds twice. The normal
More...Under the Companies Act 2006, dividends can only be paid from realised profits, never from capital, no matter what a company’s Articles of Association say. Dividends can only be paid by a company out of profits available for distribution, not from capital, even if the company’s Articles of Association suggest otherwise. This rule is
More...If a call from your bank feels suspicious, just hang up and dial 159 to be connected safely to your bank’s fraud team. The 159 helpline was launched in September 2021. The helpline is designed to help consumers quickly and safely reconnect with their bank when they receive a suspicious or unexpected call about a financial matter. 159 now
More...Did you know a missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) record could reduce your State Pension, but you may still have time to put it right. Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was a scheme designed to help individuals, mainly those with caring responsibilities, to build entitlement to the basic State Pension by reducing the
More...1 September 2025 - Due date for corporation tax due for the year ended 30 November 2024. 19 September 2025 - PAYE and NIC deductions due for month ended 5 September 2025. (If you pay your tax electronically the due date is 22 September 2025) 19 September 2025 - Filing deadline for the CIS300 monthly return for the month ended 5
More...The question was raised as to whether, in a tripartite agency relationship, an employment relationship exists between an employee and their intermediary agency. For instance, Ryanair DAC employs some pilots directly, while subcontracting others. A Mr. Lutz successfully applied to an advertisement for pilots and was contracted on 10 August
More...Why cash flow matters Profit is important, but cash pays wages, suppliers and loan repayments. Even strong businesses can struggle if money arrives late. A few disciplined habits around invoicing and collections can shorten the time it takes to get paid, reduce borrowing costs, and create headroom for growth. Set clear expectations
More...A management buyout keeps the business in familiar hands. The team that already understands customers, systems, and culture steps into ownership, which reduces disruption and protects service quality. For founders, a management buyout allows a planned transition with clear handover milestones and an agreed role after completion if
More...HMRC’s Time to Pay lets eligible taxpayers spread tax bills over time, avoiding immediate enforcement. If you owe tax to HMRC, you may be able to set up an online ‘Time to Pay’ payment plan depending on the type of tax debt and your circumstances. For self-assessment, you can create a payment plan online if you’ve filed your latest tax
More...SMI loans can help pay mortgage interest for those on benefits, but repayment is due when the home is sold. Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) is a government-backed loan provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) designed to assist homeowners receiving certain benefits in covering the interest on their mortgage or home
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Kalirai & Co
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Wolverhampton
WV3 9BJ
