CK newsletters

In-depth insights from our experts

Each quarter, we explore a topical subject that is impacting our clients. Read our recent guides to learn more about key changes and financial considerations.

2026

Inheritance Tax: welcome changes

Changes to the availability of agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) are expected from 6 April 2026, as first announced at the Autumn ...
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2026

High Income Child Benefit Charge 

HMRC is now providing the option to pay High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) through PAYE, by having your tax code adjusted, instead of needing ...
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2026

All change for charities

New regulations that trustees and staff of charities and community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) need to be aware of. Various changes to charity compliance measures ...
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2026

AI: no substitute for professional advice

Check AI output before you rely on it, taxpayer warned. It was just one strand in a bad day for taxpayer, Mr Gunnarsson. HMRC had ...
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2025

Winter Fuel Payment options

Winter Fuel Payment options   Under new rules, more pensioners are now eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and ...
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2025

Why HMRC is interested in directors’ loan accounts

Why HMRC is interested in directors’ loan accounts   Many director-shareholders will have a loan account with their company.   This may be an outright ...
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2025

The tax gap: keeping off HMRC’s risk list

The tax gap: keeping off HMRC’s risk list   Figures for the tax gap are published each year. They highlight the difference between the amount ...
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2025

Making Tax Digital latest

Making Tax Digital latest   HMRC presses on with roll-out of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) – but changes plans for Corporation ...
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2025

Inheritance Tax: no ease up on changes

Inheritance Tax: no ease up on changes   Inheritance Tax (IHT) net set to widen. Changes announced last year are set to bring a radical ...
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2025

Employment status

Employment status   It may not be as straightforward as you think.   When is a volunteer not a volunteer? When they’re a worker as ...
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2025

Cryptoassets to become more visible to HMRC

Cryptoassets to become more visible to HMRC   From 1 January 2026, new reporting rules will give HMRC a much better picture of those who ...
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2025

Capital Gains Tax: getting Private Residence Relief

Capital Gains Tax: getting Private Residence Relief   If all else fails, two thousand bottles of wine might clinch the deal.   For most people, ...
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2025

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: a look at the detail

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: a look at the detail It’s been called the biggest change since the introduction of self assessment in the ...
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2025

Why it pays to pay tax on time

Why it pays to pay tax on time   Late payment interest is charged automatically when tax isn’t paid on time, running from the date ...
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2025

Umbrella companies: what they are and why you need to know

Umbrella companies: what they are and why you need to know    Umbrella companies that don’t comply with their tax obligations have been in the ...
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2025

Right to work checks on the way for gig economy

Right to work checks on the way for gig economy    The government clampdown on illegal working will see right to work checks extended to ...
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2025

Payrolling benefits in kind: new timeline

Payrolling benefits in kind: new timeline   More time has been given for businesses to get ready for the change to compulsory payrolling of benefits ...
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2025

PAYE for High Income Child Benefit Charge

PAYE for High Income Child Benefit Charge   As announced at the Spring Statement 2025, HMRC will be providing a new service to allow employees ...
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2025

Official rate of interest could impact your benefits in kind

Official rate of interest could impact your benefits in kind   The Official Rate of Interest (ORI) increased from 2.25% to 3.75% on 6 April ...
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2025

No need to file a tax return: not the same as no tax bill

No need to file a tax return: not the same as no tax bill   The government announced earlier this year that up to 300,000 ...
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2025

New questions for Self Assessment tax return

New questions for Self Assessment tax return    The information required on the Self Assessment tax return will change for some taxpayers from 6 April 2025. ...
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2025

Neonatal care: new entitlement for employed parents

Neonatal care: new entitlement for employed parents   From 6 April 2025, there is a new statutory right to neonatal care leave and pay for ...
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2025

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax going live

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax going live   Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) is being phased in from April 2026, and ...
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2025

HMRC backtracks on employee data requirement

HMRC backtracks on employee data requirement Plans requiring employers to provide more detailed information on the hours worked by employees in their Real Time Information ...
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2025

Work expenses

Work expenses Claims for PAYE employment expenses not reimbursed by the employer now automatically face greater scrutiny by HMRC. Each year, many employees claim tax ...
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2025

VAT: HMRC’s view of the pitfalls

VAT: HMRC’s view of the pitfalls HMRC has recently issued new, detailed Guidelines for Compliance for VAT. ‘Help with VAT compliance controls’ aims to help ...
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2025

SDLT: what makes property uninhabitable

SDLT: what makes property uninhabitable HMRC has recently turned down a high number of claims for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) refunds. The claims were ...
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2025

Paid help at home?

Paid help at home? It’s always best to check the responsibilities around tax and employment rights. There are two key questions to ask. What is ...
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2025

Extra income: trade or hobby?

Extra income: trade or hobby? HMRC has a new online checker to help those with sources of income outside PAYE decide if they need to ...
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2025

Employment status: keep on top of the game

Employment status: keep on top of the game Employers will be aware how important it is to make sure you have got the employment status ...
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2025

Double cab pick-ups: all change again

Double cab pick-ups: all change again It’s been a long and winding road for a final decision on the tax treatment of double cab pick-ups ...
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2025

Child Benefit: need-to-know

Child Benefit: need-to-know Since 6 April 2024, higher income thresholds have applied for the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC), putting Child Benefit payment back ...
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2024

Tax owing?

Tax owing? HMRC offers Time to Pay (TTP) where a business or individual is struggling to make a tax payment because of genuine financial hardship ...
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2024

Major change for holiday lets

Major change for holiday lets Preferential tax rules for furnished holiday lettings (FHLs) end in April 2025, removing any tax incentive to offer short-term holiday ...
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2024

Jointly-owned property: get it right

Jointly-owned property: get it right A need-to-read case came before the Tax Tribunal recently. The property and the problem This was the story of an ...
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2024

HMRC targets sales of cats and dogs

HMRC targets sales of cats and dogs If you’ve made money from breeding or selling cats, dogs and other animals, HMRC could be on your ...
Read More →
2024

HMRC’s new VAT tool

HMRC’s new VAT tool If you are thinking about registering voluntarily for VAT, or hovering around the £90,000 compulsory registration threshold, the new VAT Registration ...
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2024

HMRC construction industry concerns

HMRC construction industry concerns Subcontractor verification is under HMRC’s spotlight. With records showing that some contractors are making incorrect Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) deductions, HMRC ...
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2024

Extra staff for Christmas

Extra staff for Christmas Employers boosting their workforce — even temporarily — need to remember the pensions automatic enrolment rules. Under the rules, every employer ...
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2024

Employers: avoid unwanted attention from HMRC

Employers: avoid unwanted attention from HMRC  The latest tax gap figures show a black hole of more than £3 billion for PAYE. This gap is ...
Read More →

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Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

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2024

HMRC eyes potentially underdeclared dividend income

HMRC eyes potentially underdeclared dividend income HMRC is using its data analytic powers to contact taxpayers where it thinks there’s a chance that income has ...
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2024

Capital Gains Tax – in the news

Capital Gains Tax – in the news There continue to be significant changes to the already complex Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rules. Capital Gains Tax ...
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2024

Budget Surprises

Budget Surprises If they weren’t exactly rabbits out of the hat, Spring Budget 2024 still sprang its share of surprises. VAT registration limit Having been ...
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2024

RETIREMENT AND PENSIONS ROUND-UP

RETIREMENT AND PENSIONS ROUND-UP What happens to your pension when you die? A recent survey by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) found that more ...
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2024

REAL OR FAKE? HOW HMRC COMMUNICATES

REAL OR FAKE? HOW HMRC COMMUNICATES Out of the blue, a text or phone call claiming to be HMRC. It threatens legal action over your ...
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2024

MAKING TAX DIGITAL: REMODELLED AND GOING AHEAD

MAKING TAX DIGITAL: REMODELLED AND GOING AHEAD Autumn Statement 2023 has confirmed the start dates for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD ITSA). In ...
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2024

EMPLOYER ADVICE AHEAD OF MAJOR CHANGE FOR PAYROLL

EMPLOYER ADVICE AHEAD OF MAJOR CHANGE FOR PAYROLL Minimum wage: know the rules, not just the rates. Forthcoming changes highlight the need for employers to ...
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2024

HMRC PAY BY BANK ACCOUNT SERVICE

HMRC PAY BY BANK ACCOUNT SERVICE HMRC is offering a new facility as part of its pay by bank account service. Previously, payment has been ...
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2024

DOING BUSINESS AFTER BREXIT: LATEST

DOING BUSINESS AFTER BREXIT: LATEST Leaving the EU has meant new rules and procedures when importing and exporting goods. With major regulatory changes still taking ...
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2024

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TAX COMPLIANCE

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TAX COMPLIANCE New change raises the bar for gross payment status (GPS). GPS allows subcontractors to be paid gross under the construction industry ...
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2024

CASH BASIS CHANGE MEANS CHOICE FOR UNINCORPORATED BUSINESSES

CASH BASIS CHANGE MEANS CHOICE FOR UNINCORPORATED BUSINESSES Rules extending use of the cash basis to calculate trading profits need consideration now. At present, accounts ...
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2024

What employers need to know

What employers need to know In England, Scotland and Wales, new rules impact the following areas: Holiday pay and entitlement: irregular hours and part-year workers ...
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2024

Trade and customs: commodity codes

Trade and customs: commodity codes A figure of Captain America (think Marvel comic books), the Tin Man, some Norse gods and Grey Worm from ‘Game ...
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2024

National Insurance: where we are now

National Insurance: where we are now Spring Budget 2024 announced further cuts to National Insurance contributions (NICs) taking effect from the start of the tax ...
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2024

Minimum wage

Minimum wage A reminder that minimum wage rates changed on 1 April 2024. The new hourly rates are: £11.44 for workers aged 21 and over ...
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2024

HMRC eyes potentially underdeclared dividend income

HMRC eyes potentially underdeclared dividend income HMRC is using its data analytic powers to contact taxpayers where it thinks there’s a chance that income has ...
Read More →
2024

Capital Gains Tax – in the news

Capital Gains Tax – in the news There continue to be significant changes to the already complex Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rules. Capital Gains Tax ...
Read More →
2024

Budget Surprises

Budget Surprises If they weren’t exactly rabbits out of the hat, Spring Budget 2024 still sprang its share of surprises. VAT registration limit Having been ...
Read More →
2024

Update: pensions automatic enrolment  

Update: pensions automatic enrolment Significant change to the pensions automatic enrolment regime, extending enrolment to younger workers, and removing the lower earnings threshold for qualifying ...
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2024

Travel expenses: flexible and hybrid workers 

Travel expenses: flexible and hybrid workers Travel costs make up a large part of necessary expenditure for many businesses. With the shift to some form ...
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2024

Training costs: HMRC shifts ground

Training costs: HMRC shifts ground Updated HMRC guidance makes interesting reading if you are self-employed and decide to upskill. Is the training tax deductible — ...
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2024

Staff tips: when do new employer duties begin?

Staff tips: when do new employer duties begin? Temporary delay buys more time for preparation. Earlier this year, a new Code of Practice on the fair ...
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2024

Scottish taxpayers

Scottish taxpayers Correctly identifying Scottish taxpayer status matters. With Scottish Income Tax rates and bands steadily diverging from those in the rest of the UK, employers ...
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2024

Reporting benefits in kind 

Reporting benefits in kind Get ready for change. From April 2026, it’s expected that employers will be required to report and pay Income Tax and Class ...
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2024

Plant and machinery allowances

Plant and machinery allowances What records should you keep to keep right side of the rules? HMRC is publicising common areas of error where businesses ...
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2024

It’s your main residence

It’s your main residence But if HMRC asks, can you prove it? It’s an important question when it comes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and ...
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2024

Tax owing?

Tax owing? HMRC offers Time to Pay (TTP) where a business or individual is struggling to make a tax payment because of genuine financial hardship ...
Read More →
2024

Major change for holiday lets

Major change for holiday lets Preferential tax rules for furnished holiday lettings (FHLs) end in April 2025, removing any tax incentive to offer short-term holiday ...
Read More →
2024

Jointly-owned property: get it right

Jointly-owned property: get it right A need-to-read case came before the Tax Tribunal recently. The property and the problem This was the story of an ...
Read More →
2024

HMRC targets sales of cats and dogs

HMRC targets sales of cats and dogs If you’ve made money from breeding or selling cats, dogs and other animals, HMRC could be on your ...
Read More →
2024

HMRC’s new VAT tool

HMRC’s new VAT tool If you are thinking about registering voluntarily for VAT, or hovering around the £90,000 compulsory registration threshold, the new VAT Registration ...
Read More →
2024

HMRC construction industry concerns

HMRC construction industry concerns Subcontractor verification is under HMRC’s spotlight. With records showing that some contractors are making incorrect Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) deductions, HMRC ...
Read More →
2024

Extra staff for Christmas

Extra staff for Christmas Employers boosting their workforce — even temporarily — need to remember the pensions automatic enrolment rules. Under the rules, every employer ...
Read More →
2024

Employers: avoid unwanted attention from HMRC

Employers: avoid unwanted attention from HMRC  The latest tax gap figures show a black hole of more than £3 billion for PAYE. This gap is ...
Read More →
2023

PAYING VOLUNTARY NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS

PAYING VOLUNTARY NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS It’s all about plugging holes in your National Insurance record. And that in turn, is about making sure there are ...
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2023

WHAT IS EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR PACKAGING?

WHAT IS EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR PACKAGING? As part of the government’s pledge to eliminate avoidable waste, and recycle a greater proportion of municipal waste, ...
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2023

R&D SINGLE SCHEME UNCERTAINTY FOR COMPANIES

R&D SINGLE SCHEME UNCERTAINTY FOR COMPANIES The government has now consulted on replacing the two existing Research and Development (R&D) schemes for tax relief with ...
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2023

CHILD BENEFIT – WATCH THE STING IN THE TAIL

CHILD BENEFIT – WATCH THE STING IN THE TAIL If you or your partner get Child Benefit, keep the High Income Child Benefit charge (HICBC) ...
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2023

Academy Newsletter

Academy Newsletter Welcome to our new Academy Newsletter. With every school, academy and education trust under pressure, facing constantly changing regulations, it is important to stay on ...
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2023

CK Systems News

CK Systems News Pegasus release AP for SQLse With accounting admin staff’s time becoming more and more pressed in recent years there has been a ...
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2023

VENTURE CAPITAL TAX RELIEF: WHERE ARE WE NOW?

VENTURE CAPITAL TAX RELIEF: WHERE ARE WE NOW? It’s all about providing early stage finance to new, higher-risk companies, and rewarding individual investors with generous ...
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2023

WHAT CAN HMRC’S APP DO?

WHAT CAN HMRC’S APP DO? HMRC’s app has been revamped in a move to push traffic online. Improved functionality lets you see, for example, your tax code, National ...
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2023

DIRECTOR DUTIES IN LANDMARK LAW CASE

DIRECTOR DUTIES IN LANDMARK LAW CASE Are there circumstances in which directors must act in, or at least consider, the interests of the company’s creditors? ...
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2023

CRYPTO LOSS?

CRYPTO LOSS? Cryptoassets are a hot topic, but amid the plunging prices of a crypto winter, what’s the position if you make a loss? HMRC ...
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2023

COMPANIES HOUSE GETS MAJOR NEW POWERS

COMPANIES HOUSE GETS MAJOR NEW POWERS The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, currently going through parliament, impacts company directors, secretaries, and people with significant ...
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2023

CRYPTOASSETS GET A MENTION ON THE TAX RETURN

CRYPTOASSETS GET A MENTION ON THE TAX RETURN HMRC wants to raise awareness of the fact that cryptoasset transactions can mean tax bills – and ...
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2023

CARS, VANS AND BENEFITS IN KIND

CARS, VANS AND BENEFITS IN KIND If it’s a car you provide to your employee, the taxable benefit is higher. If it’s a van, the ...
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2023

A COMMON PAYROLL PROBLEM: AND HOW TO AVOID IT

A COMMON PAYROLL PROBLEM: AND HOW TO AVOID IT Nearly 90% of businesses made payroll mistakes in the last year, research suggests. Errors can easily ...
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2023

Academy Newsletter

Academy Newsletter Welcome to our new Academy Newsletter. With every school, academy and education trust under pressure, facing constantly changing regulations, it is important to stay on ...
Read More →
2023

PAYING VOLUNTARY NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS

PAYING VOLUNTARY NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS It’s all about plugging holes in your National Insurance record. And that in turn, is about making sure there are ...
Read More →
2023

WHAT IS EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR PACKAGING?

WHAT IS EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR PACKAGING? As part of the government’s pledge to eliminate avoidable waste, and recycle a greater proportion of municipal waste, ...
Read More →
2023

R&D SINGLE SCHEME UNCERTAINTY FOR COMPANIES

R&D SINGLE SCHEME UNCERTAINTY FOR COMPANIES The government has now consulted on replacing the two existing Research and Development (R&D) schemes for tax relief with ...
Read More →
2023

CHILD BENEFIT – WATCH THE STING IN THE TAIL

CHILD BENEFIT – WATCH THE STING IN THE TAIL If you or your partner get Child Benefit, keep the High Income Child Benefit charge (HICBC) ...
Read More →