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Effective date of VAT registration

A calculator with the word VAT on it.

Businesses must register for VAT when their turnover exceeds the registration threshold (currently £90,000). This must be done if, at the end of any month, the taxable supplies in the previous 12 months or less exceed the registration threshold or if the business expects that in the next 30 days alone their turnover will exceed … Read more

When do you need to register for VAT and how do you do it?

A form showing someone registering for VAT

If you are running a business, regardless of whether you operate as a sole trader, in partnership or the business is run as a limited company, you will need to register for VAT if your total taxable turnover in the previous 12 months exceeds the VAT registration threshold of £90,000 or if you expect your … Read more

Employ a worker on a small salary to access the Employment Allowance

Employer’s National Insurance rose considerably from 6 April 2025. Not only did the rate increase from 13.8% to 15%, but the secondary threshold also fell from £9,100 to £5,000. This is the amount that an employer can pay before a liability to secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions arises. For 2025/26, the secondary threshold is … Read more

Five tax-free health and welfare benefits

hands holding people representing health and welfare

Employers are able to provide employees with a range of health and welfare benefits without giving rise to a tax charge under the benefits in kind legislation. Employees can benefit from one health screening assessment or medical check-up each tax year free of tax. A health screening assessment is an assessment to identify employees who … Read more

Official rate of interest

Percentage symbol representing rate of interest

The official rate of interest is a rate set by HMRC which is used to calculate the benefit in kind tax charge on cheap employment-related loans, and also the amount charged to tax in respect of the provision of employer-provided living accommodation where the cost of that accommodation is more than £75,000. Employment-related loans The … Read more

Should we pay a dividend before the end of the tax year?

Should we pay a dividend before the end of the tax year?

If you are the owner of a personal or family company, it is prudent to review your dividend strategy before the 2024/25 tax year comes to an end as assessing whether paying a dividend before 6 April 2025 would be beneficial. Sufficient retained profits The first point to note is that dividends are payable from … Read more

Starting a business as a sole trader

A lady who has just started a business as a sole trader holding a sign saying 'open'

When starting a business, there are various decisions to make and tasks to perform. One of the first questions to address is whether to run the business as a sole trader, whether to set up a partnership with others or whether to form a company. The way in which a business is operated will determine … Read more

Is it worth paying voluntary Class 3 NICs?

Man looking pondering a question about whether to pay voluntary Class 3 NICs

The payment of National Insurance contributions is linked to entitlement to the state pension. If sufficient National Insurance contributions of the right type are paid for a tax year, that year counts as a qualifying year for state pension and benefit purposes. A person may also secure a qualifying year if they are awarded National … Read more