Companies House blunder

A Companies House blunder has raised concerns after a flaw in the WebFiling service briefly exposed sensitive company data. The issue, identified on 13 March 2026, meant that a logged-in user could

Estimate your Income Tax for the current tax year

If you are concerned by the continuing pressures on your take-home pay and need some certainty on your Income Tax liability, the HMRC calculator available at https://www.gov.uk/estimate-income-tax can

How long should you keep your tax records

Following the deadline for submission of self-assessment tax returns for the 2024-25 tax year, it is a useful time to revisit the rules on how long you should keep your tax records. There are no

Tax on inherited property, money or shares

As a general rule, someone who inherits property, money or shares is not liable to pay tax on the inheritance itself. This is because any Inheritance Tax (IHT) due is normally paid out of the

Tax if selling a second property

You may have to pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) tax when you sell or dispose of a property that is not your main home. This includes buy-to-let properties, business premises, land and inherited

The Rent a Room Scheme

The Rent a Room Scheme is a set of special rules designed to help homeowners who rent out a room in their home, creating a potentially valuable tax-free income stream. Under the scheme, rent received

What are dividends and how are they taxed

A dividend is a distribution of a company’s profits to its shareholders. Companies may pay dividends in cash or additional shares, giving investors a share of the business’s earnings. Dividends are a

When is a “self-employed” contractor a de facto employee?

The employment status of a former bricklayer was recently called into question in establishing liability for asbestos exposure. The widow of the late Mr. Eric Alger, who died from mesothelioma, sought

Exit planning, an essential step for business owners

Many business owners spend years building their companies but give far less attention to planning how they will eventually exit. In reality, a successful exit rarely happens by chance. It usually

Business solvency, why it matters

Business solvency refers to a company’s ability to meet its financial obligations as they fall due and to maintain a healthy balance between its assets and liabilities. It is one of the key indicators