Category: Tax

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have issued a reminder to be careful about scam attempts that target people filing Self Assessment tax returns. In the last year, nearly 150,000 scam attempts were referred to HMRC, a 16.7% increase on last year. With the 31 January 2025 filing deadline approaching, fraudsters are likely to step up their activities.

The government has now published the legislation to deliver the business rates changes announced in the recent Budget. These reforms, set to take effect from the 2026/27 tax year, are designed to create a more balanced system, with notable benefits for smaller retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) businesses.

If you’re a new parent, congratulations! Apparently, around 2,000 babies are born on 26 September each year – more than any other day. Therefore, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding parents to claim their Child Benefit. A claim can be made online and the first payment could be made within a week of claiming.

Companies House have rolled out a new penalties regime as part of a broader effort to boost corporate transparency and combat economic crime, following the implementation of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. This could mean tougher consequences in the shape of financial penalties for companies that don’t meet their obligations, including filing their confirmation statements on time.

The Chancellor unveiled a series of announcements last week that could have implications for UK businesses. One of the most relevant for business owners was the government’s push for electronic invoicing (e-invoicing). HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will soon launch a consultation on encouraging the wider use of e-invoicing, with the goal of simplifying business transactions and reducing administrative burdens but perhaps especially, reducing errors in tax returns so that HMRC can ‘close the tax gap’.