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.

August 13, 2026

Playday: HMRC remind parents to use the Tax-Free Childcare Scheme

HMRC is using Playday, the national day for play, to remind working parents about the Tax-Free Childcare scheme, which can help eligible families meet the cost of nurseries, childminders, holiday clubs, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs.

August 12, 2026

AI pricing leaves businesses struggling to predict costs

According to a BBC report, businesses investing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are finding it increasingly difficult to predict what their technology bills will look like, as reliance on AI increases.

August 10, 2026

Date of Budget 2026 announced

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey, has announced that Budget 2026 will be presented on 28 October 2026.

August 6, 2026

Getting a shareholders’ agreement right

A shareholder’s agreement can be one of the most valuable documents a business ever puts in place. It allows a company’s owners to set out, in detail, how they will work together, make decisions, deal with disputes and manage future changes in ownership.