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AccuCounts Pro Ltd | Tax News & Updates | October 2026 HMRC is urging more sole traders and landlords to get ready for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, with the next major threshold taking effect from 6 April 2027. From that date, individuals with more than £30,000 a year in qualifying self-employment and property income will need to keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC using compatible software. For many taxpayers, this will be a bigger change than it fi

Most people see tax as a line on a payslip, a VAT return, a Corporation Tax bill, or a Self Assessment payment. The money leaves your account, HMRC receives it, and life moves on. But that tax does not disappear into a black hole. It helps fund the public services that people, families, and businesses across the UK use every day. From hospitals and schools to roads, pensions, policing, and local services, tax plays a central role in keeping the country running. That does not

A short video can make tax look simple. “Claim this expense.” “Set up this company.” “Use this loophole.” The problem is that tax rarely works well in one-size-fits-all advice. Plenty of creators share useful financial education online. Some are careful, qualified, and clear about limits. Others are not. Bad tax advice can be wrong, out of date, missing key conditions, or designed to sell a scheme that sounds easier than it really is. This guide is informational only and is n

More than 436,000 sole traders and landlords have now sent their first Making Tax Digital for Income Tax quarterly update for the 2026 to 2027 tax year, marking a major step in HMRC’s move towards digital tax reporting. HMRC says more than 570,000 customers have signed up to the service so far. The first quarterly update covered the first three months of the tax year, following the start of mandatory Making Tax Digital requirements in April 2026 for those with qualifying inco

The dividend rules for limited companies have not been rewritten, but the personal tax cost is changing. From 6 April 2026, basic-rate and higher-rate dividend tax rates rise by two percentage points, while the dividend allowance stays at £500. That matters for company owners who take a mix of salary and dividends. The legal process for declaring a dividend remains much the same, but the tax due on some dividends will be higher in 2026/27. This article is for general informat

Keeping business accounts on spreadsheets or paper can feel manageable at first. A few invoices, a handful of receipts, a simple list of payments in and out. Then the business gets busier, and the system starts to creak. Receipts go missing. VAT becomes harder to track. Bank payments need matching. A formula in a spreadsheet gets changed by accident. Suddenly, bookkeeping takes longer than the work it was meant to support. Good bookkeeping software helps bring order to that p

When you start a business in the UK, the default structure for many new ventures is self-employment — usually trading as a sole trader. It feels simpler, cheaper, and less administrative. But at AccuCounts Pro Ltd, we regularly see people stay self-employed longer than makes financial or strategic sense. Some pay more tax than necessary, miss out on contracts because of their structure, and struggle to be taken seriously by larger clients. Here’s why trading through a limite

Whether sick leave, maternity leave or unexpected absence — contact AccuCounts Pro Ltd / contact@accucountspro.com / 07846574965 When you need temporary financial support — for example if a key employee is on sick leave or maternity leave — hiring a freelance accountant can be a smart, cost‑effective alternative to paying recruitment agency fees or engaging temporary staff through an agency. 1. Lower Costs Without Agency Overheads Freelancers generally operate with much lo

Employment with Additional Contract Work Umbrella Company vs Limited Company (Outside IR35) 1. Overview This document provides a structured comparison of tax efficiency for an individual in stable employment who is considering additional contract work. The comparison evaluates engagement via an umbrella company versus operating through a limited company , where the contract work is assumed to be outside IR35 . The purpose of this document is to outline cost implications, tax

Handling VAT returns is often a complex and time-intensive task for numerous businesses. Errors in VAT submissions can result in penalties, delayed refunds, and undue stress. Fortunately, contemporary accounting tools provide effective solutions to streamline the VAT return process. Why VAT Returns Can Be Challenging in the UK Preparing VAT returns in the UK requires accuracy, up-to-date records, and compliance with HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) rules. Businesses must appl

Accounting has evolved dramatically over the past decade. Manual bookkeeping and spreadsheets no longer meet the demands of accuracy, speed, and compliance that modern accounting requires. Today, cloud-based accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks have become indispensable tools for accountants. These platforms not only simplify financial management but also improve collaboration, reporting, and decision-making. This post explores why Xero and QuickBooks are essential fo

Running a small limited company means managing many moving parts, and one of the most critical is tax. Paying more tax than necessary can drain resources that could otherwise fuel growth, innovation, or even personal income. Understanding how to maximize tax efficiency can save your company significant money and improve its financial health. This post breaks down practical ways small limited companies can reduce tax liabilities legally and effectively. Whether you are a new b